West Pensacola Street - real estate is totally devalued.  The liberal Tallahassee City Government opened a "Shelter" that offers 3 meals per day, bed to sleep on at night, no questions asked. 

    There are hundreds of vagrants wandering around.  "Work for food" transients are on every street corner.   Stores in the area are shoplifted, many are now shuttered.   Apartment complexes had homeless people bathing in their swimming pools, so they drained them and fenced them off.  They have cut their rents to rock bottom.  Everybody avoids that part of town.

Poverty and mental health issues exist in all parts of our society.

Is it a problem. Yes.

Should it be criminalized? No.

Be aware, the option most used results in innocent people being shot and killed by those sworn to protect and serve.  It is a fine mess we've got ourselves into.

The real question is what will each one of us actually do to help in these situations? Actually do? Will agents hire a homeless, a felon, someone without an address, no recent work history? And there you have it. What are these poor souls to do?

Yes (but not close to where I typically sell) and no (have never had an issue with a vacant listing occupied by homeless).

HUGE issue of homeless in my area. It is sad and depressing.  Thankfully none are camping in my listings.  

I think homelessness is both a local and national concern.  I'm glad people "see something and say something ".

There are homeless, but they usually aren't a problem. Some years back a homeless couple did burn down an old vacant house where they were trying to stay warm. Most homeless know how to move around and blend in. I bought a homeless man a cheesburger and coke the other day at McDonald's in Frederick MD. It was over 90 degrees out, and some will hang out in fast food restauarants which some businesses don't like.

I always tell the neighbors to call me or call the police if weird stuff starts happening. I don't have a problem with vacant listings but I have had a few instances with REO's where squatters moved in. I think that if I were in a more urban area that would happen more.

The village that I live in don't even acknowledge homeless people.

Homelessness is a big problem in our area; however, most gather in the downtown area.  I have never found anyone in one of my vacant listings.

We have a couple of Shelters , that take them in 

Not a big problem however, as we grow I see it more often.  As far as the vacant homes being occupied, not that I've heard of, as it means prison time in our state.

They are fairly concentrated in a few areas and we have very few issues with vagrancy in our vacant listings...thank goodness!

We do have a problem in the area... 

On occasion they do make their way into vacant homes...

There are programs to help the homeless in the area... (though not all appear to want to receive the help)

It's a shame in the USA that there is a homeless issue... and issue that many try not to see...

OMG... where do you live???? no we don't have those issues..... do you want to move to Franklin MA? we'll have a spot for you on The Todaro Team.... another exciting and rewarding career for you....and a future personal trainer for free.....

I really don't have that issue.

No and IDK

Yes, Chicago has a problem. No they don't find listings attractive.

That said, when I was in Martin County Florida, they found some commercial listing a place to congregate!

Not in my listings, however, I have an investor that loves these properties and we come across undocumented tenants all the time. It used to be worse.

I haven't run into this.

Over the years I've had squatters help themselves to some of my vacant listings

In my area we do not. But, in the downtown area there there are homeless, more than often druggies breaking in center city properties to use drugs. I see it more in the winter than warm weather periods. The metal thieves never seem to take a break. Having neighbors that watch is key. 

Not so much here in the middle of the country but the homeless are everywhere.

Paul,

Many years ago, I was about to show a small office building to a baseball pro.  Music and a Christmas tree greeted us.  We backed out of the building, and I called the owner whose office was two buildings away.  A homeless guy had moved with an electic plate to cook on and made himself at home...

A

Across from where homeless reside, they are building $1.2-1.4M KB tree houses on ~672 sf lot. The homeless moved to next street. CA is a favorite place for them. Warm, I volunteered to work in the kitchen. Some get to sleep there at night in a shelter about 2 blocks away. Some high tech workers who earn at least6 figures sleep inside truck so they can afford a 1 br condo at similar price range.

You think homes do not sell? Wrong DOM is about 4 days..............

The Beautiful Way One City Is Helping The Homeless (link jumps to a Facebook video). - Tim

It's growing problem throughout our country. Haven't heard of it being a partiular issue with vacant listings but would be surprised.

Yikes! So, no homeless problem here but I seen my fair share of it when I lived in NYC. Some do inhabit vacant dwellings. 

We do have homeless people in our city. I am not aware of any homeless person getting into vacant properties. 

Most of the homeless in our town are friends, I see them and care for them at Franciscans Downtown, and they dont bother my properties.

I remember showing a vacant condo to a lady.  I opened the door to an empty place except for a man sitting at a table in the kitchen (no other furniture)  wearing only his underwear. 

We did not go in.

I called the listing agent to tell her that she had a squatter...she kept denying and told me I was a liar.

So, I hung up.

Eve

The homeless are a problem, but not as much as the panhandlers a.k.a. "The Fake Homeless."  We typically have neighbors watching vacant homes and/or security installed, so it's not an issue.

Yes

and

Yes

Yes we do, but fortunately, San Diego puts them up in  5 star hotels at our expense

No

I recently have seen more homeless in my current area, and thought they were more in the downtown Denver area.  Still have not had any issues in my vacant listings.

Wow,  never had that happen to me.

I do not see that here in my affluent towns, Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®,CRS,. 

None that I know of gere

Yes and no.

There are homeless in our community but they are not problem very often.  There were squaders at one of our listings last year.  Fortunately the showing agent made us aware of it and we got them out and they didn't return.

Yes to a homeless problems...No to my stuff having issues.