11-16-2018, 02:52 PM
(11-16-2018, 12:23 PM)tomh009 Wrote:(11-16-2018, 11:59 AM)Viewfromthe42 Wrote: It's still a cost. It's never a "direct cost" when police have to come and deal with mental health issues, but they otherwise could be dealing with something else, so the cost is still there to the system.
All right … but can you calculate this "cost?" I can't.
It's difficult to calculate unless anyone had to work overtime. You can calculate; water, gas, wear & tear on all equipment + costs to citizens that needed to do the detour because of the road closure. It's not like Oktoberfest or the Ezra Street party where services are stretched thin and/or OT is required.
So I guess you could calculate two figures: Total costs which include costs being their regardless (existing wages, etc): Assuming 15 EMS staff (police, FD, utilities) at an average of $65/hour (wages plus benefits) for 10 hours, $9,750.00 and added expenses, water, gas for vehicles, wear and tear (especially the hoses), which I am assuming to be about 1/3 of the manpower costs, so about $3,300 for a total of about $13,050. The second figure only includes water, gas, W&T, and assume no OT: $3,300.
Someone suggested the related costs could house these individuals. I really wish it were that easy, but these problem are serious mental health issues/drug issues, etc. Many of them *could* find a place to sleep, but get kicked out because of behaviour issues. Housing is less of an issue in most of these cases.
I wouldn't be saying the above if I wasn't so intimately involved with the homeless over the past couple years. I am unsure if there is any real solution for many of the individuals.