Hey WTC, I don't assume anything about you.
I just posted this to your Journal in response to your thoughts there, but pasting here for the sake of this conversation:
WTC, this isn't true of me. I'm the furthest thing from bourgie-esque, lived on the streets for too long, live very modestly now, etc. But, as noted on the thread, my last three municipal libraries have become day shelters for people who have severe addiction, no where else to go, no where to bathe, and lots of symptoms I don't want my kid around and that also overwhelm me PTSD-wise from my own shelter days, etc.
I think it's a matter of having very different libraries? i.e., You'd have to see it to believe it, kinda thing.
I think people left to homelessness should indeed have a day shelter at the very least [and therefore volunteer in one]. I just don't like hanging out in a dayshelter when I don't have to anymore [and am not actively working in one to keep it open].
I've used libraries heavily my whole life, and got put off only the last few years, when this shift in use happened. The three I didn't like have full-time security guards now, and police are regularly called to attend.