We are presented with an opportunity here. All over the country the military is shutting down bases. And all over the country the cost of welfare is increasing.
This is a simple solution. Anyone one wanting support from the government moves onto one of those bases. If they do not then they get no support. The bases have every facility needed for living even if in a rather spartan style.
Barracks living is not all that bad. The slight modifications would be for small children, beds and bathing facilities and such. There are mess facilities, medical facilities, everything needed for a self contained community.
And on the plus side, no food stamp payments, no welfare payments, perhaps a small amount for personal needs but that could be earned by work to maintain the facilities. As these would not be a generally criminal class only a modest number of staff and policing personnel would be required.
Of course this would not apply to the elderly or the sickly, those truly incapacitated who need more than what a military base would be equipped to handle.
What are the objections? Only that they would be moved out of the city. They would certainly have clean facilities. And cleaning could earn the spending money. The work would be within walking distance and always enough for everyone. It would be a safe environment. Personal possessions could certainly be warehoused on the base. As for moving them to the base that would be a bus trip for the people and some workers from the base to pack any personal possessions into an army truck and drive it to the base storage facility.
Everyone wins all around.
Of course there would have to be some degree of discipline and the penalty would be being kicked off base and losing all support. Leaving base and having visitors would not be a problem save that there would be body searches to prevent alcohol and drugs being introduced onto the base. There would be no problem with leaving clubs open to sell drinks as people could be shut off before becoming drunk.
So there would be a safe and drug free environment. There are plenty of recreation facilities. Would this not save billions and at the same time give these people what they need? In many cases more than they have now.
If this were done qualifications could be relaxed. People could show up at the welfare office ready to move to the base. No more hassles over who is qualified or who is not getting what they need.
Of course if they want to keep their freedom then there is a clear way to do it, work. If they can not find work then they do have an option that keeps them well fed and healthy.
They can be trained for work on the base. It could be part of the discipline requirements. And who takes care of the kids? They do, train and work in shifts while they pool resources to take care of each other's children.
I see it as a win win situation. A few bugs to work out perhaps but overall everyone gets what they want and need. Of course there is a problem, it is too radical an idea. For some reason people have to have their own apartments and the like.
The more "horrified" among us will hold that living in camps is undignified. They will have to answer where they were when our soldiers were living on them.