MONTANA HOMELESS CRISIS: Missoula spends estimated $40,470 on homeless camp cleanups

After city crews cleaned up a homeless encampment along the Kim Williams Trail in Missoula, NBC Montana took a look at how much a cleanup costs.
Here’s what we know from city documents -- cleanups have cost the city an estimated $40,470 since June 3.
Cleanups can range in cost, and covering those costs comes out of existing department budgets, including the Street Department and Parks and Recreation.
Clearing out a large encampment on Cedar Street in late June cost $15,455. That includes the staffing of police, parks department and more.
FULL STORY: nbcmontana.com/news/local/mis...
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[@davidnicholas7516]

We go through this here in California, where $40k would be essentially pocket change. Before you guys are so blase about this, with all the pretentious jerks explaining to you that compassion and socialism will solve all your problems, let me show you what's a bit further down the road. I live in Los Angeles, where the current mayor and her predecessor tried desperately to to posture as incredibly compassionate to the homeless. Homeless people are harmless (supposedly) and don't damage anything around them. If you were trying to buy a house in LA that was on a corner lot, and had a homeless person's shack built on a sidewalk next to the house, that wouldn't influence your willingness to buy the property, would it? Of course it would. And yes, that actually happened in my neighborhood; it was the best part of 6 months before the shack was cleared out. We have homeless people living in derelict RVs and campers all over the city; good luck getting rid of them because the impound lots, where the vehicles would be taken, are overflowing already. The city has numerous private/public partnerships, organizations to "fight" homelessness, but they seem to do little other than attract more homeless people to our state. I suppose a few of them come from Montana, so it's probably in my best interest to insist that you guys follow our example and set up your own "homeless-industrial complex". Not my words, those of the former sheriff, who was driven from office amidst him investigating wrongdoing by local pols who seem to benefit from the whole fiasco personally. Best condo in town, across the street from a park, block from the beach, ocean views, multiple amenities, oh and by the way, you paid literally millions for your condo, but you can't let your kids play in the park because it's one big homeless encampment, with drug abuse, prostitution, fights, feces and urine everywhere, the whole gamut. But yeah, go on thinking you need to be more compassionate. Your real estate isn't anywhere near as expensive as ours, but that doesn't mean you can't screw up your community and descend into despair and poverty. Come on, California's rooting for you!

[@MargaretFinnell]

Some people have more nerve than a broken tooth. I feel for you and I will not insult you by saying you voted for this. We have trouble keeping poachers off of the family farm, these guys have high powered rifles too. Back to your problem, I wish you could have open air jails for the drug abuse. Give them all the drugs they want and let them die. What good are they? Most of their mind is already gone. If some one doesn't agree let them take them.

[@ericheine2414]

Wow that's almost the price of a Volkswagen.

[@sherriroe4806]

Why were they allowed to stay there in the first place!! The tax payers don't deserve this!

[@wayneroberts6642]

Better talk to your business community why they pay like a chump..

[@MikeWhiskey427]

Montana winter and living in a tent.... good luck with that. Better start watching youtube survival videos... lol

[@nelsonluke6007]

Homeless in san diego...and I'm on my way..via greyhound of course..whether u like it or not!

[@thomasmerrill3585]

Hire homeless to clean up

[@leonitissparta5911]

Nice rainbow flag in there Gods Promise 🙏

[@dalerobinson8456]

BS, don't let the first tent go up! Enforce vacancy laws, constant police patrol and immediate enforcement.

[@Owl350]

How could that help that cost you to much money ?

[@montana_freedom]

Anybody who doesn't recognize that Missoula and Bozeman are heading the same direction as San Francisco, Portland, Seattle has their eyes closed. Each of those cities has rampant crime, drug use and homelessness and it's democrat policies that allowed each of those "once great cities" to turn into the horrible places they are today.

[@gurkagurkadurka6688]

"Horrible places." 🤣

[@Soapboxstomper]

Its distribution of wealth thats the problem, NOT dem policies!! Dems are the only ones fighting timo house homeless, treat addiction and mental health issues.. repubs are the first ti cut off funding of social service programs, first to criminalize homelessness!! Complicated causes require multifaceted solution approach!!

[@Ray96744]

Are used to go to Bozeman 40 years ago. It was an amazing place what in the world has happened

[@montana_freedom]

@@Ray96744 That is very true. I remember Bozeman when it was a ranch town mixed with a cool kind of local ranch artist flair. It was great. Out of state people thought so also. They bought the land at such high prices it made it impossible for the locals to afford to live there anymore. They brought their politics and city mentality and that is why Montanan's often refer to it as Bozotown today.

[@thecrawlingspleen]

Doesn't help that other states keep sending us their problem patitents.

[@Owl350]

Use the science of Economics each and every day, to have the right current events.

[@bricks-mortar]

Send the bill for CLEANUP to WALMART. Make that OLIGARCH Walton family PAY BACK, RATHER THAN KEEP "TAKING".

[@dennisyoung4496]

We know a lot of families are homeless not because of addiction, but because of the high rent prices and the new rental requirements. We could cut homeless with affordable housing. Which would also help with drug addiction. Drug addiction is partially caused by depression, depression is caused by not being able to supply basic needs like food and housing. Yes mental health is another aspect. But lets look at families first and get them off the streets. Then work on mental issues.

[@megaflux7144]

sorry but no. the more you give the more they will want. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

[@stonemagic540]

YEP. AND the 1st and Last month rent AND security deposits AND all the BS that goes with RENTAL AGREEMENTS...the regular person is lookin at 6,000 to Rent , UPFRONT !!!!

[@MargaretFinnell]

Drug addition is a choice . We see it in all levels of income, and ages. Low income housing unfortunately often becomes a blight on the neighborhood. Sometimes it becomes generational . Yes I would like to see some sort of "help" with strict conditions. Monthly drug testing and must have a job or be actively looking for one. I for one am tired of my taxes being raised so I can raise another generation of bums .

[@megaflux7144]

@@MargaretFinnell preach!

[@MargaretFinnell]

@@megaflux7144 Ok ! Get ready to yell amen.

[@thecrawlingspleen]

Stop sending us other cities problems. Other cities literally pay for their tickets to missoula, and that's it.

[@YankMil1]

Urban camping? She’s woke.

[@jjGriffiths]

Leave them to the wildlife 😂 free food for the bears coyotes, wolfs ,snakes and what ever others animals there is.

[@mizzury54]

What a true Christian in God's country.

[@Soapboxstomper]

I rest my point!!

[@stonemagic540]

But for the Grace of GOD, we could be homeless too

[@jjGriffiths]

😂 to unbecome homeless you have to get a job and save money, and I have been homeless before for two years it sucked but that's what it's going to take, a job and save money a job and save money no free handouts the more people let them freeload they will never get off their butts and just keep freeloading that is the harsh reality and to bathe use baby wipes that's what I had to do.

[@mousetreehouse6833]

@@mizzury54 You should study the term "sarcasm" to understand Jim's comments. Understanding dark humor might help, too.