Homelessness: Fort Lauderdale Considers Buying One-Way Bus Tickets To Clear Streets

After placing 7,000 people in shelters and housing programs earlier this year, Fort Lauderdale is considering an alternative solution to homelessness -- buying those without a roof over their heads a one-way bus ticket out of the city, The Palm Beach Post reports.

Proponents of the Homeless Reunification Program, which aims to take people off of the streets and into the arms of family members, say that spending thousands of dollars on bus tickets is a more efficient long-term option to spending money on shelters.

"We're not pushing them out," Mayor Jack Seiler told The Palm Beach Post. "If somebody has a network of support, a group of family and friends that will provide for them back home, that's probably a good place for them to be."

Funding for the one-way bus ticket program in St. Petersburg, Fla., recently doubled, The St. Petersburg Times reports. Last week alone, three times as many homeless people were shipped out of the city as compared with a typical month last year.

Those who oppose the transportation program simply see it as a way to redistribute the problem, not a way to fix it.

G.W. Rolle, a homeless advocate, told The St. Petersburg Times that he talked to several homeless people who took the free ticket, but had nowhere to go once the bus stopped.

"It doesn't solve the problem," Rolle told the news outlet . "It just moves it around."

Some major cities have expanded the program to include plane tickets.

New York will pay to reunite those living on the streets with family living as far away as Johannesburg, Paris and San Juan, according to The New York Times.

The Big Apple spends $500,000 on its program each year, with accommodations arranged by the Department of Homeless Services. Of the 550 families helped each year, about 100 of those are flown back to Florida, the same state that's looking to replicate the busing model.

"We want to divert as many families as we can that need assistance," Vida Chavez-Downes, director of the Resource Room, told The New York Times. "We have paid for visas, we've gone down to the consulate, we've provided letters, we've paid for passports for people to go. Anyone who comes through our door."

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Comments

[Karma2U]

03:37 PM on 01/17/2012

Fire Rick Scott.

[MaryfromIL]

02:34 AM on 12/24/2011

Many people have stayed with friends and relatives before they became homeless, but it either caused tension or lasted too long, or the person had mental, criminal or addiction issues that caused the eventual homelessness.

People that have to live with someone else like this are legally considered homeless, as are people living in motels. It's because it usually is a temporary situation and doesn't last.

[stjoshy]

02:30 PM on 12/25/2011

i agree. many of these people have no opportunity to dig themselves out of their dependent hole and would rather roam the world alone than lose a piece of their self pride each day as they are provided for (often times with a flavor of being loathed at)

[MaryfromIL]

02:59 PM on 12/25/2011

No, we don't agree. These children didn't choose homelessness. The others I mentioned above, and we had one in our family, get kicked out because: 1) most people don't want a permanent guest 2) Many of the adult homeless have addiction or mental health problems (thanks Reagan for closing the mental hospitals). It has NOTHING to do with pride.

In my family, a vet with PTSD came back hooked on drugs, eventually turning to crime to support his habit. His family took care of him for years, but that was the final straw. He then lived in his car for a few years. Luckily he survived and is off the streets, but still has a drinking problem.

[Denise Cook]

03:34 PM on 12/22/2011

I'm all for it, however, it doesn't always work. The person "gets home" but family won't let them drink or smoke or disappear for days at a time. Everyone soon gets fed up and the original homeless person then takes off again, usually back to the place from where they began. I've actually seen this happen on the non-family end of the deal. This happened to a guy who lived in my parking lot. He'd rather live outside the way he wants than to live inside under someone else's rules. It's just another way to spend tax payers's money.

[poppyCa]

12:07 AM on 12/22/2011

Madonna is like Obama, the great leader has a half brother living in a hut in Kenya.

[crazydogchick]

11:09 AM on 12/23/2011

Assuming an Obama hater could actually sputter the truth, maybe Barack's brother likes living in a hut in Kenya! Perhaps he doesn't see himself as a charity case, unlike whiney Americans! Madonna on the other hand, has always been a self-absorbed, ego-maniac! I predict she will help the brother, but, only to silence her detractors! Her brother is as dumb as she is, if he thinks "sibling rivalry" is the answer! Really? Madonna competes with her brother to live under a bridge and smell like sweat and cigarettes? More likely that she was hoping against hope that no one discovered HE was her brother!

[poppyCa]

01:18 PM on 12/23/2011

I know nothing about either sibling and could care less for their family dramas, I was simply pointing out the obvious have/have not situation, involving both families.

[poppyCa]

12:04 AM on 12/22/2011

I think San Francisco is the perfect destination, so much love and compassion there. Every homeless person in the nation should go to the city by the bay, they will put flowers in your hair.

[MaryfromIL]

02:24 AM on 12/24/2011

Typical, conservatives want to dump their problems on everyone else.

California already only gets $.78 back for every tax dollar they send the federal government. Most of that excess money goes to Red states.

By the way, you are about 40 years too late for the "flower in your hair". Last time I was in San Fran. it was more into expensive real estate. Surprised you don't know this, since your ID infers you live in California.

[poppyCa]

03:37 AM on 12/24/2011

Considering that John Seiler the Mayor of Fort Lauderdale is a Democrat, it kind of puts big holes in your post. Was born in Frisco, long gone.

[lpcrsotp]

01:45 PM on 12/21/2011

With South Florida's mild climate, especially in the winter, most of the homeless sent away will eventually return to South Florida.

[CamelPaw357]

01:34 PM on 12/21/2011

Fort Lauderdale is doing the right thing by booting these rubbish people right out of town. Hopefully they make them sign an agreement as part of receiving their ticket, never, never to return again under any circumstances.

[Ramon Moreno]

03:18 PM on 12/21/2011

I wonder who will be next.

[MaryfromIL]

02:26 AM on 12/24/2011

Red states love to dump their problems elsewhere, then wonder why Blue states have the poor.

[ThomasPaine1776]

12:45 PM on 12/21/2011

These "homeless" people are your NEIGHBORS. They are you FRIENDS, your FAMILY and your co-workers. They are your fellow AMERICANS. There, but for the grace of god, goes any one of YOU.

[lpcrsotp]

01:46 PM on 12/21/2011

As is said, many working people are only two paychecks away from the street.

[laser focused]

02:52 PM on 12/21/2011

they're not any of those to me. I've never known a homeless person. if you know any personally, you have the responsibility to rescue them, unless you're one of those phony do-gooders, which is very likely.

[Ramon Moreno]

03:19 PM on 12/21/2011

laser focused blindness

[majesticjkr]

12:33 PM on 12/21/2011

the goverments need to sort this out, why are there people living on the streets, they should be placed into a health farm so they can get fit and healthy, get them off the drink and drugs and give them somewhere to live and a job,

[Pavane]

12:22 AM on 12/22/2011

There is no government of the people any more. Our government is now owned by corporations. And, corporations are all about profit and control, not people.

[hedah]

12:04 PM on 12/21/2011

Madonna's Brother Anthony... HOMELESS ?!!! OMG ! :-(

[lpcrsotp]

01:53 PM on 12/21/2011

Although this is certainly not true of all homeless people, some cannot be helped due to addiction and an unwillingness to address it. Any "help" given only goes to buy more substances. This may not be true with Madonna's brother, but it should be ascertained before before judgment. (I am aware that your post implies surprise, not judgment,)

[hedah]

11:55 AM on 12/21/2011

Ratpublicon State of Florida.

[poppyCa]

12:14 PM on 12/21/2011

DemocRAT state of New York.

[anthonytaurus]

12:21 PM on 12/21/2011

Probably the first time a conservative has ever spelled something correctly. Good job there, Sparky!

[GraphicMatt]

12:22 PM on 12/21/2011

The mayor of Ft. Lauderdale is a Democrat. Instead of making this a partisan politics issue, why don't we just call it like it is, NEITHER SIDE IS OFFERING SOLUTIONS!

[lpcrsotp]

01:53 PM on 12/21/2011

Absolutely on target!

[laser focused]

02:53 PM on 12/21/2011

that is the solution for them.

[sfbbmom]

11:51 AM on 12/21/2011

This shows how bad off America is. We need jobs, health care, housing etc for the poor and working poor. This situation does not occur in most of Europe. Why are we so far behind??

[GraphicMatt]

12:21 PM on 12/21/2011

It doesn't occur in Europe? So the French don't have a policy of sending the Roma out of the country that is exactly like this program? Is that what you are saying?

[Jack Davies]

11:33 AM on 12/21/2011

The destination cities of this program need to sue the livin bejeezus out of Ft Lauderdale.

[GraphicMatt]

12:20 PM on 12/21/2011

They've been sending their homeless down here for years.

[Jack Davies]

01:49 PM on 12/21/2011

Or perhaps they actually just go there on their own, as it is warmer. Show me some sort of evidence where they got *sent* there.

[gurke75]

11:24 AM on 12/21/2011

It's like hot potato, but with homeless.

I think this is one of those good-on-paper-but-bad-in-reality kind of solutions.

[So silly]

10:15 AM on 12/21/2011

If the person has somewhere to go with that ticket it is a fine plan however I would have to guess that most do not or they would have already contacted a friend or family member in an attempt to reunite with them.

[CrawfishFestival]

11:39 AM on 12/21/2011

You would be surprised......most homeless people will gladly accept a bus ticket - in hand - to get to their lived ones.

Usually - if in the past - money was sent for a bus ticket or train ticket - by a family member - once it was sent the homeless person might buy a meal, pay for a bed in the mission - to take care of themselves - or in worse cases, buy alcohol and drugs. It is not their fault either way - but it surely affects their dealings with their family members sending money.

With Catholic Charities, they help the homeless to contact their family - to ensure the homeless person has a place to go - and Catholic Charities provides the "unrefundable" one way - bus ticket or train ticket - to help the homeless to get where they want to be = with their family. Most of the time, CC will give contact numbers in the next city, for the homeless person to get counseling - w a fresh start.

It is worth a chance. That is why Catholic Charities is hands-on assistance.

Any city that is offering any kind of assistance to the homeless = more power to them.

[Ramon Moreno]

03:22 PM on 12/21/2011

I wish Florida would subsidize my escape before I'm actually homeless.