$18 Million to House 300 Homeless

[Ben]

In tents. In San Francisco. It includes full services plus apparently  fulltime police protection. According to the article, if they were housed in hotels instead, the city would be reimbursed by the fed.giv (i.e., you and me) for the housing.

I don't know everything that goes into "housing the homeless", but if you're going to do it, I can't believe it can't be done, even in SF, for less than $54K/yr per person (the article says $61K, but 16,100,000/300 gets me $53,666).

One conservative, one liberal link:

https://pjmedia.com/news-and-politics/rick-moran/2021/03/05/san-francisco-pays-16-1-million-to-shelter-300-homeless-in-tents-n1430271

https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2021/03/04/san-francisco-pays-16-million-to-house-homeless-in-tents/

[MechAg94]

I saw the thread title and my first thought was the National Guard soldiers at D.C.      ...but that is a lot more than 300 and probably more money.

[MechAg94]

I am sure someone influential is got a contract for some of the services.

[Ben]

I am sure someone influential is got a contract for some of the services.

One of the stories quoted an official saying that they didn't have time to do a full bidding process.

[Fly320s]

That is just the budgeted/estimated cost.  Actually cost will be much higher because the tents and other infrastructure will be destroyed by the homeless population.

[WLJ]

Next a $20 million 5 year study on how to fix the the problem

[Jim147]

Next a $20 million 5 year study on how to fix the the problem

That study will cost at least 20 million a year.

[WLJ]

And the fix will be.............More tents

[ConstitutionCowboy]

Looks like the cost of buying votes in California is going up. 

Woody

[MillCreek]

I am reminded of a recent story in the Seattle media about the cost of foster care for a special medical needs kid: $ 37,000 per month.

https://www.king5.com/article/news/investigations/one-foster-child-cost-washington-state-37000-per-month-for-his-care-records-show/281-db00198b-fcbb-4773-a858-363002214614

[HankB]

I am sure someone influential is got a contract for some of the services.

I think you nailed it.

Many - probably most - government projects AREN'T about providing a necessary service, but about converting public (taxpayer) funds into private profits. It's been this way for generations. I remember back when I was in high school a project was proposed by the graduating senior class and bid out (using licensed and bonded contractors) at under $2k. The school board came up with a price tag of $43,750 and told the seniors NOT to dispute or discuss it with anyone.

Much hilarity ensued when the students went directly to the press, which still was doing some honest reporting back then.