Economic chaos creates surge in homelessness - homeless SKYROCKETING

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/10/06/economy.homeless.ap/index.html

Economic chaos creates surge in homelessnessStory The number of homeless families in Massachusetts motels has skyrocketed

The state is required to find shelter for every eligible family seeking it

Massachusetts is tracking foreclosures as a cause for homelessness


CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -- The number of homeless families in Massachusetts has surged -- a spike that has overwhelmed the state's shelter capacity and forced it to again place homeless families in motels.


The number of homeless families living in Massachusetts motels skyrocketed in September 2008.

Driving the increase is the sour economy, rising energy costs, escalating unemployment and shortage of affordable housing. For the first time, the state is tracking how many families are winding up homeless due to foreclosures.

"You're seeing a perfect storm," said Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.

The upswing is also putting pressure on a landmark initiative by Gov. Deval Patrick to virtually end homelessness in Massachusetts in the next five years.

In just the past 12 months, the number of homeless families living in Massachusetts motels has skyrocketed from 17 in September 2007 to 550 in September 2008. That's on top of another 1,800 or so families in shelters.

[Donnachaidh]

1. but we can give Wall Street a trillion dollars

And the media is only *just* starting to do soundbites of the people who are really distressed.

[KansDem]

2. Where are the faith-based charities?

Wasn't this present administration all about giving public funds to faith-based charities? Yet, I don't recall reading anything about these organizations stepping up to meet this challenge.

Nebraska recently passed a law allowing distressed parent(s) to drop off their children to the state. Why was this law necessary when faith-based charities were receiving such support and $$$ from Bush? Don't churches want to help these people? Or do they just want the added $$$ to advance their political agendas?

Somebody care to enlighten me?

[yellowdogintexas]

4. don't know about anywhere else, but the faith based charity that is run by

my church is stretched about as tight as it can get, even with the fed funds for certain projects, donations from the congregation and fund raisers.

increase in demand coupled with reduction of supply..or at absolute best a leveling of supply.

[OhioChick]

3. Motels, huh?

Here in Cleveland, the homeless sleep in Public Square, the stairs of the Justice Center (ironic) and on benches. The homeless here are far beyond motels.