Recession Creating Legions Of Newly Homeless

Washington Post:

The ravages of the recession, including a surge in foreclosures and unemployment approaching 10 percent, have driven thousands of families onto the streets.

Although the number of homeless individuals remained relatively stable between 2007 and 2008, the number of homeless families rose 9 percent, and in rural and suburban areas the number jumped a staggering 56 percent, according to a report released last week by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

Read the whole story: Washington Post

Comments

[Biyobi]

Thanks, Bush.

"You're welcome, America!"

[Adartist777]

In my area of the country, we're starting to see the homeless camping in the mountains. These families and their children are not going to be ready for Winter. These are not hobos, but families that were once able to maintain a decent standard of living. I believe some states are gearing up to create tent cities.

The depression is just beginning. (I won't call it a recession anymore.) In our town, well dressed people are hitting the food banks because they can't afford food if they have a mortgage to pay and they've been furloughed or laid off from their job.

In a local major city, donations to charities are down so much, they're eliminating programs for women and children and concentrating remaining funds on expected shelter costs for needy families.

So those of you that put down the homeless, go ahead, be elitist. You can afford to. Just be careful not to step on them on the way to the bank.

[hey0there]

Shouldn't the AmeriCorps people be there giving these homeless jobs? I'm confused about the intent of AmeriCorps. It seems like this would be the perfect pool of people to draw from.

[SwingingFromCenter]

Cry me a river. Oh boo-hoo. Man, I'm so tired of seeing this "plight of so and so" nonsense. If they're homeless, they should have planned better. Get better job skills and be more competent and you won't face this sort of thing, in all probability. Even the "but we had medical bills!" crowd is tired and played out.

I'm supposed to feel sorry for a bunch of people who weren't smart enough to make themselves marketable? Yeah, I don't think so. All of these newfound "homeless" could have just registered at a local community college, lived off student loans for a couple of years, and taught themselves a marketable skill. Instead they sat around wallowing in a cesspool of their own self pity crying "oh woe is me!"

People who don't do for themselves aren't worth having around.

[miriamfl]

Maybe you are independently wealthy, great for you, but if you are not you better hope and pray that your employer doesn't leave the country for cheaper labor or that there are no cuts where you are employed. Many are just a few paychecks away from bankruptcy or becoming homeless and in times like these its very difficult to find a new job because most companies are on the same boat.

[mjtaylor22]

WHAT THE HECK DO YOU KNOW ABOUT FAMILY AND THE COST TO MAINTAIN, Mr. uninformed, moms and dads were being laid off within days of each other, marketable, who is marketable in this economy ever job I look at is straight commission no salary at all and I am licensed in 3 fields.....

I know a former avp of a large bank with 25 yrs of accounting experience, been laid off a good year now she cannot get a job either because she is over qualified, they won't hire her because they think they cannot keep her or they do not want to match her previous salary, she is on the verge of loosing her home of 15 years and her car which is 3 payments away from being paid off, the lender calls her 3 times a day relentlessly, they want to repo a car that is really is paid for except the last few payments she has been out of work for over a year and no jobs are here the 2nd largest financial city in the nation, so you know jack, so shut your pie hole
Over a decade of steadiness nearly wiped out in a year and the banks got the bail out argh
Oh and yes the firm that laid her off got a bail out as well

[wonketteRAWKS]

What is wrong with you homeless, Obama told you to be patient!!!!

[Christopher in NYC]

Here's a novel concept... go contribute to Sarah's PAC fund.

[mjtaylor22]

WHT IS WRONG WITHT HE REPUGNANTS, TEY PROPOSED NO STIMULUS OR HELP FOR THOSE FALLING OUT THE BOTTOMOF THEIR ECONOMIC DECEPTION

[zizyphus]

How quaint that editors are persisting in referring to this as a recession. As long as you are still employed, I guess, you can fool yourself into thinking that this isn't a depression, or a permanent new state of the American economy.

The many and growing number of homeless are also mentally ill. I see them on the streets of our island community in ever growing numbers.

To the conservative commenter who rose out of the ghettos, good for you. But many do not have the energy, drive or ability to do that, and they need our help. Don't look away when you pass the needy homeless, give them a donation.

The greedy elite have taken the fabric of our safety nets and used it to fashion a noose to hang the poor with.

[barkrudedog69]

A person that has a medical condition is not the same as a person that has the capacity to do for themselves. I never stated anywhere in my comments to deny treatment to those of our community that have a medical need and cannot help themselves.

Giving a mentally ill person some money will not help this person. This person needs a place to call home and have long term treatment. If this person cannot work due to mental illness then a social responsible conservative does not walk away from the sick. It is our own social securtiy system that has failed people like this. It takes almost 3 years for a person to get on disablity even when it is clear that they are disabled. This is another reason why I am not in favor of having the government run our healht care.

Trying to make the conservatives into monsters is not working. We are deeply compassionate people.

[Sean 6399]

When your neighbor loses his job it's a recession.

When you lose your job it's a depression.

When Obama loses his job it's a recovery.

It's just a joke folks! Don't get mad...

[bilmardre]

I'm not mad. I don't have amnesia.

[NotARhetoricalQuestion]

Space exploration is the apex of human endeavor. If we ever lose our curiosity about the universe around us, we are truly doomed. Besides, our space program is pretty lean, all things considered.

[NotARhetoricalQuestion]

Sorry -- this comment was supposed to be in response to an earlier comment -- no idea how it ended up here. Anyway, I'm arguing that the space program is NOT a "huge waste of money."

[timberdoodle]

When you read different blogs from different sites you always read Conservatives blogging who refer to the homeless people as lazy bums and/or derelicts who just want free handouts. They just can't understand the fact there are numerous different conditions that affect people and prevent them from enjoying what used to be a normal middle class standard of living.

There are many different aspects to humanity that prevent a person from enjoying a normal existence like age, mental physical impairments along with those who just plain lost their jobs and have little prospect of finding a suitable replacement.

A conservative mind just can't reconcile or figure out that these are real people with real needs and it is man's responsibility to try and help his fellow man when they are afflicted with some of these problems.

[barkrudedog69]

As a conservative that was thrown into the slums of Detroit and worked my way out starting at minumum wage and massive amounts of overtime and a college class when I could I dismiss your statement. Many conservatives form their understanding from the fact we lived in the slums, went hungry, our hands bled, our backs were broken, but we focused on a brighter future no matter what. Failure was ours more than once. We tasted the bitter cold and the burn of the sun but did not waiver. We also stand true that social safety nets are not a bad thing and to offer help to our neighbor is not against what we stand for. Self responsiblitiy sometimes is a painful reminder that the poor house is just around the corner.

[hark]

Conservatives and liberals alike face harrowing times and circumstances through no fault of their own. Some rise above it, some don't, through both Herculean effort and luck. But effort is never enough.

What is wrong with conservatives in general is that they refuse to acknowledge any factors other than individual responsibility as the causative agent for success or failure, and the fact that no matter how hard one works, no matter how much talent one has, there is simply not enough wealth, not enough opportunity in this country for all such persons to succeed. Failure and mediocrity are both inevitable consequences of a society with limited resources and wealth. We haven't enough to go around. We just don't. Conservatives won't acknowledge this, and foster this dog-eat-dog attitude that only makes things worse. Conservatives largely refuse to admit how much luck and fortunate circumstances play in determining society's winners and losers.

We have to balance sharing limited wealth equitably and allowing individuals to maximize their potential, and recognize that luck plays a very important role in the outcome. We also need to recognize that those at the top make up the rules, and those at the bottom are powerless. They can do nothing as the top 1% arrogate more and more wealth and power unto themselves.

Conservatives fail to recognize this, or just don't care.

[LorettaSingbiel]

"Conservatives refer to the homeless people as lazy bums and/or derelicts who just want free handouts".

It ENRAGES me whenever REPUBLICAN acquaintances of ours spew that "lazy losers" BS. Our son's friend has a four year old son whose mother died several months ago. As a cook at a restaurant, our REPUBLICAN acquaintances INSIST he's NOT "entitled" to a LIVING wage WITH healthcare benefits. And thus he CAN'T afford CHILDCARE ... let alone HEALTHCARE. Two of our sons have left the nest, giving us ample room to open our home to him and his son, and help with childcare while he's at work. I call that a HELPING HAND, not a "handout"!

[barkrudedog69]

He is lucky. I had a wife and two small children and I had no place to go but the inner city of Detroit. I was surrounded by drug dealers, prostitutes hack shops, gambling rings, gangs, no healthcare, and no helping hand.

[miriamfl]

I completely agree with you. Our Regug friends and some family members are the same way. If someone doesn't have a job or insurance is their fault. I know young people who work very hard and still can't make ends meet or afford medical ins. The cost of living and insurance has skyrocketed but salaries have been stagnant for a very long time. That is wonderful that you are able to help him.

[getoffmedz]

And this Depression is just getting started.

Our country must always remember "The Great Bush/Cheney Republican Depression" took eight or more years in the making and will change our country completely, forever.

It will take much longer to fix this catastrophe than it did to create it.

[wpiv926]

Obsolutely. I will never forgive the republicans for what they've done to our country. I have broken off several lifelong friendships with republicans because I just simply can't stand to be around anybody who defends the utterly bankrupt policies of Reagan and Bush which put us in this G D hole we're in.

[miriamfl]

I am with you. We just went to a 4th of July party at some friends home (all were repugs) and I said the same thing when we left I told my husband that was the last time I would be attending these parties.

[miriamfl]

This country will never be what it was. Those jobs with great industrial companies don't exist anymore. We can't work for a company for 20,30 or even 40 years and then retire and go on Medicare. Thanks to the rape and pillege by these clowns and Wall Street , Main Street is starting to look like an alley.

[DosGatos2]

You can still get good benefits if you are European. Severance pay is mandatory in many countries as is paid parental leave, limits on working hours per day and week, and other benefits Americans do not realize exist. (Our corporate masters do not want us to know! about these benefits!)

When Nokia moved its factory in Bavaria to Hungary, it paid--in addition to a year's severance to all workers--20 million Euros to the town to advertise for new companies to bring their businesses there. Nokia was not legally allowed to just pick up and go, blighting the town and leaving people who worked there with nothing.

How different it is for people when American company decides to pick up and go because the US does not have laws like these.

[Winston Smith]

Just because a stimulus package was passed doesn't mean that the money has been spent.

What is troubling is whether the money will be spent on developing industry that will return money back into the system. There are so many vested interests in the current economic structure that it is hard to allow any change to happen that would be beneficial to the US. Like the transmission likes to T Boone's wind farm - they wouldn't be built.

So far it has been spent on things like maintaining police departments...

[vippy]

And so far I have not seen holes being plugged. Jobs are still going overseas, companies are still leaving for cheaper labor, corporations are still looking for new tax havens, etc. Why may I ask
aren't these things being done so we can start to move ahead. It seems to me that our government does not want to help us but they are fine with what we experience and finally got us where they want us, no 40 hour workweek, working until 70, social security going broke, a lousy mandatory healthcare system and our politicians still get the best of everything compared to other countries. And a huge military that eventually will be used against us.

[MIKEBC]

8 years of GOP prosperity have given us what we see in that picture, the same thing happened in the early 1930's after Hoover, and now the rightwing conservatives think Barack should just wave a majic wand and fix this depression without spending any money! -what we need is a Obama new deal and a new WPA program to get people back on their feet again, and we need healthcare reform with a public option, without a public option it wont be reform.

[TimnySlagle]

Actually, the President promised that his stimulus package would create between three and four million jobs and the unemployment rate would peak at just under 8 percent in 2009.

Hint: he doesn't know what he's doing.

He's the most incompetent President since Jimmy Carter

[vippy]

Sorry, you sound insincere and condoned Bush who looted this country!

[barkrudedog69]

It is also known that FDR's policies prolonged the Depression by years.

[gallon]

Oh Timmy, you expected that to happen instantaneously? Nice try pal.

[mjtaylor22]

I was waiting for the jimmy carter stuff to come up, I knew in Sept 08 the rnc was trying o pull a jimmy carter on Big O, I knew it then....carter changed his own course to appease the right wings and lost the next election for it.
Completely crashed the economy then rob the state blind so their is resistance to spending to get the economy going again.....
If big O allows the rank to stop everything he is trying tot do for the American people it will happen again, the Repugnants made it so bad that it will take years to get out no matter who is in charge.
FYI the stimulus is a 2 years plan, only 25% is allocated, and the rnc reps did a great job watering it down to limit its effectiveness....
But believe me, Mccain Palin Woodhaven quit the job by now, so what are you say we needed the old grumpy guy and the Quit Bull in charge
Oh Now I see....complete destruction of our society was your goal

[miriamfl]

I second that. Please contact all the representative even the repug and lets give them a peace of our mind and let them know where we stand.

[TimnySlagle]

CHANGE!

[mergina]

Stardate 071209.9962.876 Soon it will be August. HOW MANY MILLIONS of Americans did Obama say would be put back to work? HOW MANY MILLIONS have lost their jobs since the Bank Robbery Bailout?
jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs HOW MANY DEMS are going to be UNEMPLOYED IN 2010? jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs WHO WILL BE (OR NOIT BE) THE PRESIDENT IN 2012? jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs jobs

[Winston Smith]

I think they are on record saying it would get worse before it would get better and that we wouldn't see a turn around until 2010 at the earliest. Didn't you pay attention during the election? McCain thought the economy was strong though - maybe that's what you're remembering.

[TimnySlagle]

Must have already stuck that one down the memory hole, Winston.

He claimed that unemployment would top out at 8% in 2009 and start retreating.

He was wrong on both counts.

[wanked]

Wait till the first round of unemployment recipiants stop receiving their checks in Sept. These will look like boom times come winter. I think its time to do something Mr. prez....for someone besides your wealthy enablers.

[Adartist777]

I've got news for you. That started over 2 weeks ago. Time to climb back on the freight train.

[pfc1369]

The folks who run this country DO NOT CARE ABOUT THE HOMELESS OR THE POOR.

Period.

Do you really believe they spend even one minute discussing it, when they meet to see how next to push the wealth upward, where it belongs?

[LorettaSingbiel]

And therein lies the problem ... those who received our "socialist" CORPORATE WELFARE aren't "trickling it down" to those who received NOTHING!!!

And the RICH get RICHER ... the POOR get POORER ...

[imvegan]

As Republican Missouri state Representative Cynthia Davis put it, "hunger can be a positive motivator" for children from low-income families.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/07/02/colbert-tells-viewers-to_n_224628.html

I think you're mostly right. If most of those in power really cared about doing something, why would we continue to have the problem of homelessness and poverty? Some do care, so it's not fair to make that statement about everyone in government. But the overwhelming message from many others is, "You're on your own." "Get a job." "Go back to school." (with what?) "Live within your means." (minimum wage - $290/wk 1250/mo) Get a third job, but still spend time with your kids and make sure to help with their homework. Some of these people are against having any minimum wage at all.