I worked contract security at the Justice Dept in DC for about a year and a half. During that time I encountered my fare share of the bums (homeless). One day I was working a foot post on Constitution ave when these two bums walked by.
"We used to live there" one of them said pointing at the building.
I asked, "You mean inside the building itself?".
"No, under that tree there."
"You lived under that tree?" I didn't believe them.
"Yeah, when Clinton was prez, Janet Reno let us live under the trees here". Later, I asked some of my coworkers, and found the story to be true.
"When Bush came in, Ashcroft kicked us out", the other said.
I asked "Well where do you live now?"
"In an apartment".
I was confused, "Well that's better isn't it?".
One bum looked at me like I had three heads. "No, not really". Then walked off.
That incident made me realize that the majority of the bums (homeless) problems are probably of their own making.
Other Justice Department people told me that it was really bad in the summer because the bums would piss and shit right there under the trees. Those of you that have been to DC have probably seen the bums pissing into public garbage cans in broad daylight. They don't care.