Excellent response by anti-bigotry!! Those who condemn homeless people for their homelessness are indulging in "blame the victim". Most homeless people are living within 5 miles of the last place they had housing. The average length of homelessness in Santa Cruz is four months. Many people are down on their luck, have lost a job, have suffered an illness, or are escaping domestic violence. We should be willing to help these people. Our government shouldn't be involved with adding to their woes by ticketing or arresting them sleeping, covering up with blankets, sitting on a sidewalk, or asking for spare change. Scott should be concerned about the enormous waste of money we spend criminalizing homelessness at public expense.

Also Scott, no one is eligible for welfare unless they have a minor dependent. So the homeless vet you see on the streets is NOT picking up a welfare check.

A homeless person might be eligible for General assistance, but not if they have been convicted of a felony and the money is considered a loan which they are to pay back.