SquareHobo predicted early on how Denver Mayor Mike Johnston would start handling homeless encampments in his city.  We paid attention to his actions and not his words.  His strategy comes right out of the old hobo playbook.  Believe it or not, there was a time when hobos policed themselves and dealt with issues in our camps internally.  It’s not complicated, it’s actually pretty simple.  We explained the strategy in our post: SLEEPING OUTSIDE WHILE HOMELESS PART 1: THE BASICS.  Staying out of sight and out of the mind of the public, and keeping your camp clean will give you a better chance of staying in your encampment long term.  If you become a nuisance or a danger to the public, then the more likely your camp will be swept.

This is part of the social contract that we have with society.  You may not like it, but it’s the only contract that we’re gonna get that allows us to stay safe and out of dangerous places like shelters or jails.

With all of that being said, Mike Johnston still needs to be more clear to the public on his policies dealing with homeless encampments.  Not everyone can read between the lines.  He seems to be avoiding the standard of “awarding bad behavior” when dealing with homelessness.   The more he wiggles around it, the deeper he sinks himself into that sandpit.  The housed of Denver are scratching their heads every time they hear about a sweep of a homeless encampment.  They don’t know if they should say thank you or call the mayor out on going against his self-professed policies.  Homeless people seem to think they will get a free hotel if they get swept out of their encampment.  Many know that’s not true.  But it’s not about the truth.  It’s about what people think is true.

This is both confusing and dangerous.  Winter is coming and more homeless people will start camping in public instead of being discreet as the temps start dropping.  It gives homeless people false hope and leaves them filled with more resentment on top of the resentment they may already have towards society.   The Mayor should just lay all of his cards on the table.