Suspected firebug hobo hoist on his own petard

Kenmore still exists in much-reduced form, but much nicer than the old buildings.

ACT has an equivalent (Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre) but it probably isn’t big enough. Australian governments haven’t really cottoned on to this population growth thing – inexorable population growth means you need to continually expend your services. Increasing budgets with CPI each year doesn’t cut it – you also need to build in the population growth factor. There also a nice new forensic facility at Orange.

He may well end up in BHRC or Kenmore or Orange, or in an aged care facility (depending on the disabling extent of his injuries and ongoing mental health status and risk of repeat incidents).

Of course none of these places allow dogs. They’re not too keen on smoking either, which is a big disincentive for people to voluntarily stay there. I do hope this incident wasn’t contributed to by ACT Health’s ban on smoking.

By the way, shame on you who referred to a 48yo as old (I’m 47¾).

IP

Yes, unfortunately care in the community only works if the patient has a strong community of his own family and friends. Good luck to him!

Why is it that PC has made us blind to the fact that some individual’s mental state renders them unable to comply with social norms?

These unfortunates are forced onto the streets, when once the Kenmores of the world would have supplied a stable, ongoing existence.

IrishPete said :

But there are a few aspects to this story that hint an mental illness. So there might be scope for speculating about whether this gent should have been living on the streets, lighting fires, and whether there wasn’t something more that could have been done for him.

A situation that is unlikely to continue in the immediate future, given that he has allegedly acted in a way that amply shows he is a danger to himself and others.

This poor old bloke is well known around the traps. Back in the day he would have been housed in Kenmore or it’s local equivalent and been looked after as well as being less of a danger to himself and the general public. Now he is seriously hurt, and when he gets out of hospital he will face the courts and likely end up in gaol with all the other mentally ill.
This is known as saving a penny at the cost of a pound.

Sounds like the dog may have shown some good sense and split.

But there are a few aspects to this story that hint an mental illness. So there might be scope for speculating about whether this gent should have been living on the streets, lighting fires, and whether there wasn’t something more that could have been done for him.

IP

No sympathy whatsoever. Has to be total moron to flick a lighter in these conditions, homeless or not.

I hope the dog is OK too!

Am I terrible for being concerned for the welfare of the little dog but not the man?