When fact conversations veer into emotional attacks

A neighborhood conversation is going on about homelessness in Atlanta.  It is increasing and the spillover in terms of property risk, physical safety, environmental impact, etc. are all getting much worse.  

There are those who are well meaning but want to police the language of others.  They want to shame people for complaining about the issue.  In one interaction the respondent complained that the original complainant was a bad person for ignoring the difficulties of the homeless.  Specifically that the complainant was being gross and insensitive.  

One party of the conversation made reference to the homeless choosing to live that way to which another responded 

"This is such a mean spirited and gross comment. “Most homeless people chose to live that way”….. what? Something tells me you don’t exactly talk to them to see what they want. People are trying to survive and you want to call the cops on them. Puke."

How easily we veer from real conversations into moral attacks and emotionalism.  Below is my contribution (though elaborated and formalized).  

I suspect the "choose to live that way" refers to the very high refusal rate among homeless when offered shelter or assistance.  That refusal rate can run from 65-85% depending on jurisdiction.  I think here in Atlanta it is closer to 85% in recent years.  

The reasons for refusal are various but include

1. They view shelters as dangerous places.

2. They feel inundated with religion and substance abuse and mental health counseling when in them.

3. They cannot bring their pets into the shelter with them.

4. They refuse to comply with mandatory drug treatment requirements.

5. They do not like shelter rules.

6. They feel like shelter workers treat them like children.

7. They know that many homeless shelters have bed bugs or body lice.

8. They feel stressed and crammed when in a shelter.

9. They enjoy the sense of community that people on the street share. They do not want to leave their friends or family behind.

Those concerns represent a challenge to people seeking to assist the homeless.  Certainly nothing available in Atlanta comes close to addressing those concerns (hence the high rejection rate.)

Public health concerns, property security concerns, and physical safety are all perfectly legitimate issues for residents of Atlanta to complain about.  The fact is that City of Atlanta is not providing the appropriate assistance to the homeless population and that APD is not enforcing public safety and order.  The complaint may or may not be artless but it is valid.  

And the problem is intractable.  It is a known problem which has been growing in magnitude in Atlanta for years (though declining nationwide).  There are known (but challenging) solutions.  People have been complaining, writing letters to government officials, attending public meetings etc. for those many years and to no affect.  The problem worsens, the complaints increase, and the blind eye of City government remains determinedly closed.  

I might add, that there is plenty of money from City of Atlanta for income transfer programs, for densification development, etc.  Just not enough money to ensure secure streets and proper treatment for the most marginalized.