Man told by city to stop having slumber parties in his house for homeless people

[JonLP24]

(Snip)

Schiller told NBC 5 he started letting homeless people sleep in his unfinished basement last month during brutally cold nights in the city. He also offered food, warm drinks and a cot to sleep on while they watch movies.

"I would stay up all night with them and give them coffee and stuff and feed them," Schiller said.

He said no drugs or alcohol were allowed inside his home when the homeless would stay there.

(Snip)
"While we appreciate those who volunteer to provide additional resources in the community, Mr. Schiller's house does not comply with codes and regulations that guard against potential dangers such as carbon monoxide poisoning, inadequate light and ventilation, and insufficient exits in the event of a fire," Center said.

Schiller said city officials and police came to his house with a warrant Tuesday where they told him the basement's ceiling height was too low and windows were too high and small. He originally had people sleep in his garage last winter, but moved everyone down to the basement after EMTs had to come help a man with a heart condition.

http://www.nydailynews.com/amp/news/national/chicago-man-ordered-stop-homeless-slumber-parties-article-1.3735142?__twitter_impression=true

[Soxfan58]

1. When your cold and hungry

Basement ceiling height dont mean shit. I know these regs are important, and if he was getting paid or getting federal funds I could see, but what is the difference between this and just having some friends over. Your a good man

[Le Gaucher]

6. Sorry to nitpick

Your ?You are

You probably want to use "you're"

[Soxfan58]

12. Thanks

I couldn't have got through the day knowing I had commited such a horrible act. Fuck the fact the country is going to hell, we don't need bad grammer to go along with it

[Le Gaucher]

14. I said nitpick .. plus

This is easier to fix than the country is.

[AllyCat]

11. Im with you on this. If he wants to take the risk (if any)

And put them up, that’s his choice. The city interfering has no basis in “protecting him from litigation” as another one down thread says. Just being nasty.

[Soxfan58]

15. Mean and nasty

I have no doubt the police in my hometown, upon finding out about this. Would have brought pizza.

[janterry]

2. Tallahassee, FL

used to put overflow folks in the back YARD of the shelter (they gave them a sleeping bag - it was fenced in). In the last few years, they came up with an adequate overflow shelter (Tally is above the freeze line, right near the GA line, so it sure does dip down to the 20's and 30's at night in the winter).

I guess those guys had adequate ventilation and light - out there in the yard?

[TheBlackAdder]

3. A local supermarket was giving day old food to homeless until a group of them sued the store.

They won tens of thousands from the store, since they violated state code and dispensed expired food.

This was the same food that employees and the store's own family were taking home to eat.

Now, all of it goes into a dumpster and gets destroyed.


The township, while being a hardass, is actually protecting the guy.

If something were to happen to them, they might turn on the homeowner in a second and sue the guy.

What's worse is that their families, who have forsaken them, would come out of the woodwork to sue.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. This why we need tort reform -- to stop the scourge of litigious homeless people!

We also need slumber party reform!

The guy under the viaduct on my way home has Johnny Cochran on speed dial (I don't have the heart to tell him)

[TheBlackAdder]

13. Hey, if there are 10 people in a room, what's the odds at least 37% are self-affecting assholes?

Just look at our population of Trumpsters.

Besides, if someone got really hurt, there would be no homeowner's insurance, and criminal charges.


If you think that every houseguest would remain loyal to the guy, when they know they can make bank...

[DLevine]

4. Assholes would rather people freeze to death. nt

[marble falls]

5. Strange situation: the city knows were they can't be but can't come up with a place they can be.

[spooky3]

7. Maybe a go fund me to modify his basement for safety?

Sounds like a good guy.

[colorado_ufo]

17. Even if such modifications could be made, the need is right now.

[Ligyron]

9. The real question is: Why are so many people homeless?

They had homeless people when I was a kid but never so many as now. You can't freeze to death in South FL so many rode the rails to here.

Back then, they were usually just colorful characters called "hobos" who chose to live that way. Many of them hated work and liked to drink. There was an abandoned rail spur off the FCC tracks not far from where I lived with old boxcars they used to hang out in, i.e., a "hobo" camp. They told funny stories and would buy us cigs and booze if we gave them money. What you didn't see were them wandering the town and posted at every stop light begging for money.

[AllyCat]

10. Yet, sleeping on the ground or under a bridge in

-2 degree weather is a-okay with them of they would have built a residence for these people.

[Horse with no Name]

16. Simple solution

They all sign a waiver upon staying.

[JI7]

18. Isn't this an emergency situation ?

It's not like he is making money off of it and they aren't permanent residents.

[IluvPitties]

19. Compassionate conservatism at work!