[Old School Hound]

What are your thoughts on the homeless problem? And it is a big problem and not just in big cities, either.  You see the homeless everywhere. I've seen them sleeping on park benches, gazebos, in restaurants, cemeteries, and even hospitals. I was visiting my dad in the hospital a couple weeks ago and hospital personnel told me they lock down the floors  after 9pm because the homeless have been making it a habit of coming in and camping out in the units and being a security risk to patients. 

You can't go to a Walmart without seeing a homeless person bumming for money(seems like a lot of "veterans" needing help and make their way to Walmart).  I saw a homeless woman and her service dog occupying a section in Wendys all week long awhile back. People were handing money and food to her(and her dog) right and left.  I've given food to homeless people many times but I don't give them money. From what I've observed,  many of them have issues with drugs and I don't want to enable their drug problem by helping finance their habit.

City officials all over the country are faced with a homeless problem. Do you run them off the streets, out of public places, put them in jail, or just let them be? Do you give them a choice between jail and a bed at a rehab facility? You know it's a real problem when hospitals are in lockdown mode at night because of a deluge of homeless people trying to occupy the units.

As a progressive, I empathize with those who are homeless but I also recognize that an out-of-control homeless population poses many significant problems for a community.  I'm sure that whatever town you're from, you've been a witness to this ever-growing problem. What is the correct approach, in your opinion, in dealing with people who camp out 24/7 in public places. Let them camp out or kick them off the curb?