It's about impossible to question homeless advocacy in Sacramento without being branded as anti-homeless, but here it goes:

More government intervention for homeless services – by the city of Sacramento or any local government – would be a huge misallocation of money and good intentions.

The idea of a government-funded homeless camp in Sacramento is simply a bad idea that won't go away. It was being pushed again Tuesday by Mayor Kevin Johnson but should be opposed again, for many reasons.

First, Sacramento always follows the same unjust pattern when it comes to homeless services: They are generally shunted next to poor people with no political voice. The people doing the shunting are generally wealthy or influential people, such as Johnson, and others who wouldn't dare put the homeless where they live.

I've made that point repeatedly, so here is another one: KJ shows a big heart for trying to do what he can. So does Councilman Jay Schenirer. And despite occasional scorched-earth political tactics, the folks at Loaves & Fishes, Sacramento's largest homeless charity, are wonderful people.

But no matter how well-meaning their intentions are, enabling and subsidizing unhealthy lifestyles is a mistake for everyone.

It doesn't benefit homeless people who need to get back on their feet or taxpayers whose money would go to a homeless camp that would never go away. Check out Portland or other cities.

You build them as temporary solutions and they become permanent.

Maybe if Roseville, Davis and Elk Grove built and subsidized their own homeless camps, the idea would be more equitable.

Don't hold your breath.

What's going to happen is what always happens – community leaders will quietly make this go away because they know that homeless facilities become unsanitary magnets for more homeless people and require escalating support by government.

What this situation requires is separating who wants help from those who don't. For those who don't, I'm sorry but you have to go somewhere else. For those who do: Transitional housing with rules to stay clean, law-abiding and focused on employment.

Cottage Housing, a nonprofit that moves homeless people into housing and toward jobs, is the idea that needs promoting here.

Helping people who want to help themselves is something the public can get behind.

I wish Johnson, Schenirer and others would abandon a camp and focus on providing a hand up for the homeless – not a handout.

I wish they would focus the energy they spend on a camp and direct it toward creating more jobs in Sacramento.

Many people in Sacramento are hurting right now, not just those supported by homeless advocates.

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Call The Bee's Marcos Breton, (916) 321-1096.

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