First, it's an odd factor.....there's homelessness in DC, and across the area in Maryland. But in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandra (all Virginia)....it's awful hard to find homelessness.
At the bus-stop one day....two former homeless folks (residents of Arlington) told me the basic story.....cops in Virginia will treat you as 'problems' and give you a choice.....you get treatment, or leave the city. Both ended in alcohol rehab, and in controlled dorms.
Second, DC homeless population? It's generally figured in the 4,100 to 4,500 range.
Third, you can divide the group into five categories: (1) druggies, (2) paranoid shizophrenic folks, (3) severe alcoholism (to the level that they burned out most brain cells), (4) individuals with no income skills to handle housing, and (5) military folks with PTSD and no real help from the VA.
Fourth, you could pick up 100 folks a day, and put them through a line....establishing forced rehab/treatment, or a compound situation for the remainder of your life. I'd be blunt...staying on the street is no longer your option (or you need to leave for NY City asap). It'd take about three months to clear the problem, or put them on someone else's street.
Fifth, I'm fairly skeptical that the homeless charity groups are doing much constructive....except have management folks with high salaries.
Sixth, a lot of the crazies and the druggies....all fall into the same 'path', and mostly need a controlled lifestyle for the remainder of their life.
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