The do-gooders in Dallas have come up with another way to solve the homeless problem. They are going to build 50 400 square foot cottages on Malcolm X Boulevard. The qualification for being allowed to occupy one of these cottages is quite simple -- be a loser. Felons are preferred. The construction cost is $8.2 million, then footing the bills for the occupants will cost an additional $15,000 each annually.
Fifty cottages for $8.2 million? That's $164,000 per cottage. That figures out to about $410 per square foot. I looked up a mansion in University Park, and the estimated square foot value on it was less than $210. Are they gilding these with gold?
The argument is that this is cheaper than "cycling them through the prisons and the jails and the emergency rooms." Do they think that they'll quit their criminal activity just because somebody is giving them a place to stay? The thing is, they are not criminals because they had no home -- it's highly possible they have no home because they are criminals. As far as emergency rooms, do these cottages come complete with health insurance? Do they really think a drug addict will say, "Oh, I have a place to sleep so I don't have to do drugs anymore"? I highly suspect that the taxpayers will still be paying for prisons and jails and emergency room care for these folks in addition to their $164,000 homes and their $15,000 annual upkeep.
"Cottages closer to fruition." The Dallas Morning News; April 17, 2014; p. 1B.
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It's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard! There is no wonder why our national debt is so extreme.
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