****, dude. You're scaring me on the Perry's Pond comment. My kid's best friend lives right on that sucker and they are there all the time. Do undesirables hang in the PP area?

quote:

Just because they are homeless doesn't mean they are bums/drunks/drug addicts.

Yes it does.



I kid.

quote:

Originally posted by Clamato:
****, dude. You're scaring me on the Perry's Pond comment. ... Do undesirables hang in the PP area?

You apparently did not grow up here. There's also that area just south of there along the Prairie Path (Glacial 10 or some such name somebody's trying to attach to it), and a bit further afield in the vicinity of Ackerman.

quote:

Originally posted by Gus:
As word spreads about the great PADS opportunities, more and more harmless homeless will appear but also more derelicts will be drawn to our town. It's just a matter of statistics. People won't take note until a real tragedy happens though one already did. I'm talking a "real" tragedy. Sort of like hitch hiking. 9 out of 10 times you are OK. It's the 10th that's a killer.

As Ive said before, seeing some of the homeless roaming around Perry's Pond gives me the shivers. Did I have concerns about my kids fishing there alone? You bet. A perfect setting for a crime scene that you read over and over in today's newspapers.

This is an excellent post and I certainly agree with you. However, I still am very concerned about what happened to that young girl as that incident will forever alter who she is and how she perceives herself.

quote:

Originally posted by David St. Hubbins:

quote:

Just because they are homeless doesn't mean they are bums/drunks/drug addicts.

Yes it does.



I kid.

Ahhhh.....St. Hubbins. You crack me up.

That has been on the the MHD channel on Direct TV the past couple of weeks. I question anyone's intelligence who does not find it funny.

Off topic...but funny nonetheless.

Big Bottom at Live earth

Possibly NSFW.

This is just a thought:

If PADS is designed and designated as a temporary solution, why are people using it on a permanent basis?

Why not place a limit on the number of nights an individual can utilize PADS shelters (180 aggregate nights for example) All it would take is a laptop computer that moved from location to location and a thorough check in. When they are getting to their limit, you warn them: "Sir, you only have 30 more lifetime nights to utilize PADS, please be aware of this and make other arrangements." Then, when their time is up - their time is up.

I doubt anyone would hang around downtown GE if they could not sleep there at night.

quote:

Originally posted by Mamattorney:
This is just a thought:

If PADS is designed and designated as a temporary solution, why are people using it on a permanent basis?

Why not place a limit on the number of nights an individual can utilize PADS shelters (180 aggregate nights for example) All it would take is a laptop computer that moved from location to location and a thorough check in. When they are getting to their limit, you warn them: "Sir, you only have 30 more lifetime nights to utilize PADS, please be aware of this and make other arrangements." Then, when their time is up - their time is up.

I doubt anyone would hang around downtown GE if they could not sleep there at night.

Simple, yet brilliant.

I think orginially the plan was to serve only as temporary. Now, it serves anyone who needs a place to sleep so they don't freeze to death during the night. I agree that PADS should allow a maximum number of nights but what do we do about those who are chronically homeless and need long-term help? I'm not willing to just give them the town but I'm also not morally able/willing to just let them die....

quote:

Originally posted by Mamattorney:

If PADS is designed and designated as a temporary solution, why are people using it on a permanent basis?

PADS was created in 1985. This was in the heart of the Reagan years and was also around the time that Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne was living in the infamous Chicago Housing Project "Cabrini Green".

PADS purpose was to import homeless into affluent communities in order to display the reality of the homeless situation. It was a reaction to the perceived excess consumption and conspicuous displays of wealth that occurred as the US came out of a deep recession and period of "malaise" during which mortgages had gone over 21%. It was about class politics.

I'm not an expert on the homeless and the resources available to them in the Chicagoland area, but the people who run PADS are (or should be). Since their shelters are designed as temporary (or rather "interim") and presented to the public as temporary -- they should be temporary.

I found this written as their mission:

"DuPage PADS is committed to end and prevent homelessness in DuPage County in Illinois. We provide shelter, food, basic needs assistance, support services: basic needs assistance, case management, employment readiness and support, transitional housing for individuals, and permanent supportive housing for individuals. Services are for individuals or families who are homeless or living at risk of becoming homeless."

PADS itself should be able to analyze an individual's needs and advise and provide to them either (a) the services the individual needs if it is within PADS's capacity to do so or (b) refer them to the appropriate agency/organization who can provide appropriate services. Anything else, in my opinion, is both misleading to the public (who thinks that the services offered in town are of an "emergency" or temporary nature) and enabling of the clients/customers or whatever you call them.

Dear Clam Man: yes, it's true. Ive seen it myself as well as my kids. I also believe that Jombl is referring to the "bajas", a former gravel pit dating back to the 40'/50's where we used to race our dirt backs. All sort of illicit activities going over there, from what I hear!

I have a question. Let's be real. How can one expect to end homelessness in DuPage when 49% of your clients come from outside of DuPage? As long as you import, it will never end.

From www.dupagepads.org:

quote:

Homelessness in DuPage County
DuPage PADS:
• 70% are male
• 70 families have received assistance, with more than half of the year remaining (last year, a total of 60 families were served the entire year)
• 7% are children
• 66% are Caucasian
• 23% are African-American
• 5% are Hispanic
• 49% are between the ages 41 and 61
• 56% have received a high school education or above
• 51% of PADS guests come from DuPage County
• Of 1,192 people who received assistance from DuPage PADS, 1,137 (95%) have an extremely low incomeself

PADS, like all bureaucracy's has engaged in turf building and mission creep, it's mission statement also includes "DuPage PADS has moved from managing to ending homelessness...". It does seek to take market share and funding from Bridge.

The fact is that perhaps not one individual served by PADS is homeless with any GE connection, with only about 1/2 even from Dupage County. A minority served are actually homeless (Most PADS clients stay only for the meal) and of those most are chronically or professionally homeless. (Being exceptionally generous with the numbers by assuming that EVERY client actually stayed, the average PADS stay is over 31 days, it's more likely 2-3 times this number.)

And the output as claimed by PADS? 5 secured permanent housing. Five.

quote:

Originally posted by Yossarian:

quote:

Originally posted by Mamattorney:
This is just a thought:

If PADS is designed and designated as a temporary solution, why are people using it on a permanent basis?

Why not place a limit on the number of nights an individual can utilize PADS shelters (180 aggregate nights for example) All it would take is a laptop computer that moved from location to location and a thorough check in. When they are getting to their limit, you warn them: "Sir, you only have 30 more lifetime nights to utilize PADS, please be aware of this and make other arrangements." Then, when their time is up - their time is up.

I doubt anyone would hang around downtown GE if they could not sleep there at night.

Simple, yet brilliant.

I agree.

Or we can put computer chips in them to track their movements?

Okay okay, the other idea was better.

Did anyone ever figure out who, or what entity, granted Dupage PADS, Inc. a legal waiver from zoning and occupancy laws?

quote:

Or we can put computer chips in them to track their movements?

I find your idea intriguing and would like to subscribe to your newsletter. At least we would know whose doing # 2 behind the theater.

One last comment and I got to go see the Cubbies...

Based on www.dupagepads.org., during 2005 and 2006 approx 30% of DuPage PADS funding came from the federal gov't. The 42% as stated earlier, is as a whole for all of PADS. So...Littleway, there you have it. We as a society do help. What more do you want?

Where are all you folks who believe in separation of church and state? PADS has formed alliances with over 130 congregations using federal money to support itself? Where is the outrage?