McMaster Graduate Student Residence | ? | 31 & 10 fl | Complete

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

yep. That area of downtown is a shitshow. We need police to enforce the law. Whatever happened to that idea?

I can't pretend to know what the solution is, but I have to imagine that a stronger police presence would be a small step in the right direction.

[ScreamingViking]

Originally Posted by TheHonestMaple

yep. That area of downtown is a shitshow. We need police to enforce the law. Whatever happened to that idea?

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7443c07...1-53d6bc5dc350


I think we need the provincial and federal governments to step in and acknowledge that this isn't a city problem, and work on solutions (there won't be a magic bullet, but perhaps an array of policies and funding streams may help)

It's a widespread issue across all provinces in the nation. Hamilton is exemplary, but hardly unique.

[TheHonestMaple]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7443c07...1-53d6bc5dc350


I think we need the provincial and federal governments to step in and acknowledge that this isn't a city problem, and work on solutions (there won't be a magic bullet, but perhaps an array of policies and funding streams may help)

It's a widespread issue across all provinces in the nation. Hamilton is exemplary, but hardly unique.

I agree. Can't wait for the Conservatives to get elected federally. They've made it quite clear that the drug/homeless crisis is a top priority for them.

[downtown_eddie_brown]

Originally Posted by ScreamingViking

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/7443c07...1-53d6bc5dc350


I think we need the provincial and federal governments to step in and acknowledge that this isn't a city problem, and work on solutions (there won't be a magic bullet, but perhaps an array of policies and funding streams may help)

It's a widespread issue across all provinces in the nation. Hamilton is exemplary, but hardly unique.

Since the problem fundamentally stems from the cost of housing being egregiously out of whack with wages in this country, I don't know how any problem could address homelessness long-term without a massive investment in affordable housing (to the extent that it actually has knock-on effects to make market-priced housing cheaper) or, worse, a complete housing crash to knock prices back to mid-2000's levels.

One of the reasons Hamilton became a regional hub for people on the margins was that comparatively cheap housing could be found. This led to a clustering of social and addictions services, and because of the lower-city/upper-city divide they're all clustered in the core instead of spread around the City.

Even with a tough love approach, without affordable places for people making minimum wage to live, very few people will be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps into some semblance of an independent life. I don't see any solutions that wouldn't be massively expensive.

[ScreamingViking]

Apparently the water problem is no longer one.
https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilto...bfeed181f.html

A recent water-quality issue at a downtown residence building has been resolved, McMaster University says.

Results from the latest round of testing, which followed findings of total coliform bacteria in two unoccupied apartments, came back clean, university spokesperson Wade Hemsworth said.

Water contamination has been a recurring problem at 10 Bay St. S. since about a dozen floors were opened in the partially built residence last September. Construction is now complete, and the university hopes that more tenants running taps and flushing toilets will better circulate fresh water through the plumbing system.

[Chronamut]

Originally Posted by downtown_eddie_brown

Since the problem fundamentally stems from the cost of housing being egregiously out of whack with wages in this country, I don't know how any problem could address homelessness long-term without a massive investment in affordable housing (to the extent that it actually has knock-on effects to make market-priced housing cheaper) or, worse, a complete housing crash to knock prices back to mid-2000's levels.

One of the reasons Hamilton became a regional hub for people on the margins was that comparatively cheap housing could be found. This led to a clustering of social and addictions services, and because of the lower-city/upper-city divide they're all clustered in the core instead of spread around the City.

Even with a tough love approach, without affordable places for people making minimum wage to live, very few people will be able to pull themselves up by their bootstraps into some semblance of an independent life. I don't see any solutions that wouldn't be massively expensive.

Wait why would a housing crash be WORSE? Boo-hoo people selling houses get less money..

we NEED a crash.. everywhere.

The question becomes... what's the minimum you can sell a house for and still profit? How much of this is gravy on top of a house's ACTUAL value? Why do things have to cost as much as they do, esp existing houses? It's not like you're factoring in the cost it made to build it like lumber etc. If it was refurbished, then maybe the cots of materials used could play a role.. but enough to make it a million dollars? There is no excuse for that..

[TheHonestMaple]

That is a very basic understanding of economics if you think a housing crash is a good thing. Housing will be the last thing on your mind if housing prices crash - because it will literally mean that people aren't able to pay their mortgages so the supply of houses dramatically increases. If people aren't able to pay their mortgage its because they've lost their jobs. If they lost their jobs.... well you get it.

[BCTed]

Originally Posted by Chronamut

Wait why would a housing crash be WORSE? Boo-hoo people selling houses get less money..

we NEED a crash.. everywhere.

The question becomes... what's the minimum you can sell a house for and still profit? How much of this is gravy on top of a house's ACTUAL value? Why do things have to cost as much as they do, esp existing houses? It's not like you're factoring in the cost it made to build it like lumber etc. If it was refurbished, then maybe the cots of materials used could play a role.. but enough to make it a million dollars? There is no excuse for that..

A house's actual value is whatever someone will pay for it.