Land of plenty: Families in homeless shelters increased 7% in '09

[Bluebear]

The recession continued to take its toll as more families with children became homeless for the second straight year, a U.S. government report shows.

The number of families in homeless shelters increased 7% to 170,129 from fiscal year 2008 through fiscal year 2009, a report released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development found. At the same time, the overall number of homeless people in shelters fell 2% to 1.56 million.

"As the nation's housing and job markets show encouraging signs of recovery, there are still far too many families who are on the brink of becoming homeless or have fallen into our shelter system," Secretary Shaun Donovan said in a statement...

A 2008 study by the Alliance found 800,000 families were living with extended family, friends or other people because of the economy.

"Probably those are the families that were becoming homeless in 2009," Roman said.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-06-15-homeless_N.htm

[damntexdem]

1. Land of plenty of homeless, anyway.

But not of plenty of shelters.

[bobbolink]

7. I see. So, what we need to do is build a lot more shelters to keep families in.

Do I have that right?

Do you want YOUR family living their lives in a shelter (only at night, remember.. shelters close during the day.)

Do you want YOUR relatives living like that for years?

Is that REALLY what you are proposing?

[Crazy Dave]

2. Tent cities are on the rise too but...

You have to really go searching the blogs and listen to NPR 'cause you sure won't see or hear about it on network or cable news.

[Andy823]

3. Once again

Thank you George W. Bush! :mad:

8 years of Bush got us here, and now we have to make sure that the people of this country remember! Yes, it's up to president Obama to get us out of this mess, and even though some think he can't do it, the fact is it took 8 years of failed policies, deregulation, and just plain dumb ass leadership to get us here, and it will take time to get us out of the mess. Just thank God that McCain and Palin aren't in the WH. The whole country would be in shambles by now, and there would be a lot more homeless, a whole lot more!

[bobbolink]

8. As long as you are content with blaming *, nothing will change.

Homeless people will suffer for your willful ignorance.

[leftstreet]

4. K&R but it's really annoying that 'families' are more important than 'citizens'

ANY homelessness sucks, but apparently we're expected to believe 'families' are worth more than individuals.

[Bluebear]

5. I hope that's not the message intended. This is specifically speaking about homeless children

The situation of ALL homeless people is a total disgrace in a country taht has so much.

[Dr Morbius]

12. Unfortunately, we are taught some things which can lead to inequity.

A reading of some famous philosophers shows us much. Locke wrote that we are all responsible for answering our own wants, and by "wants" he meant shortages. This is true; anyone who is able to provide for himself or herself and chooses not to do so gets little sympathy. But the meaning of "want" has changed; we use the word "need" now, where Locke used "want." This little nuance in language has caused many Americans to believe the least of their own desires is greater than the most pressing need of their neighbors; I'd like to help you out with putting food on the table, Mrs Ramirez, but we need four hundred channels of television; 40 or 50 won't do. And they refuse to acknowledge that many are willing but not able, owing to circumstances beyond their control.

My credit rating is around 650. If I got fired tomorrow, would I be able to get a job with this credit rating? I know many employers aren't hiring anyone who's unemployed! A bit of bad luck and I could be well and truly screwed. My family could be homeless in just a few months. There but for the grace of the Lord, and all that.

It's pathetic that our nation tolerates one homeless child, let alone millions. It's morally unacceptable.

[bobbolink]

14. Have you noticed not hearing the phrase "There but for the grace of God go I" much anymore?

The way I see it, with so many more people becoming affluent, the Oprah attitude has come about that "If I can do it, so can you", and "I can take care of myself so well that I don't need anybody."

It becomes a very prideful thing of "I got mine, screw you."

We are a sick society.

[bobbolink]

9. thank you! Dividing poor people against each other is just plain EVIL!

[Bluebear]

6. one kick for homeless awareness

[muffin1]

10. Make that two.

:kick:

[bobbolink]

11. three

[amborin]

13. K&R