Poor, Homeless Students Living Out Of Cars As Childhood Poverty Climbs (VIDEO)

More than 16 million children now live in poverty in the United States, the highest number since 1962. In all, 19.8 percent of school children were living in poverty in 2010, and childhood poverty rates increased significantly in one of every five U.S. counties between 2007 and 2010, according to a Census Bureau report released today.

And in places like Seminole County, Fla., where the construction industry crumbled during the recession, more than 1,100 homeless students traverse the public schools.

In a heart-wrenching follow-up to a report from eight months ago on the newly homeless in Florida, CBS's 60 Minutes aired a report Sunday that profiles the families who have reached the point where they can't even make ends meet in motels -- and have resorted to living out of their cars.

Arielle Metzger, 15, and her brother Austin, 13, are two of Seminole County's homeless students. They've been living in a truck with their father for five months, but call it "an adventure."

CBS's Scott Pelley asks the two how they respond to their peers when asked about where they live.

"When they see the truck, they ask me if I live in it, and when I hesitate, they kind of realize," Austin tells Pelley. "And they say they won't tell anybody."

"Yeah, it's not really that much an embarrassment," Arielle says. "I mean, it's only life. You do what you need to do, right?"

The Metzgers wash up and get ready for school in gas stations, and when they get to class, they're just like the other students.

For the report, Pelley also spoke to 15 other students in the district who were living out of cars and profiled families that were earning their motel stays by painting guest rooms or who had witnessed family members being robbed of the few dollars they had in the car.

These students also face an uphill battle. A recent Pew Economic Mobility Project report reveals that poor American children of poorly educated parents do a lot worse -- academically and socioeconomically -- than their counterparts in other countries.

Income mobility just within the U.S. has significantly declined since the mid-90s, according to a report this month by the Boston Federal Reserve. In recent years, families were more likely to stay within their income class than before -- the rich are staying rich, and the poor and middle-class are struggling to move up the economic ladder.

The National Center for Education Statistics also reported in October that the high school dropout rate for poor students is disproportionately high: low-income students dropped out at a rate five times greater than their high-income counterparts -- 7.4 percent compared with 1.4 percent.

Still, the rock-bottom lifestyle has instilled in some of Florida's children a rekindled determination and renewal of the American dream. When Pelley asks what education means to her and her brother, Austin responds, "It's everything."

"It's everything to us. I plan to be a child defense lawyer," Arielle adds. "If I focus on my studies, I have that opportunity."

Seminole County Public Schools' organization, Families in Transition, is a social services agency that helps homeless students in the area.

To hear the Metzgers' story and the strife of other families in Seminole County, watch the full 60 minutes segment above, or visit CBS for the full transcript.

Comments

[Hlynn]

10:41 PM on 11/30/2011

At our church food bank we see people coming in with backpacks--adults and children--to carry the food away. Often they will refuse anything that needs to be kept frozen or refrigerated because they don't have the means to keep the food cold. Sometimes they take the food to their truck or car where we know they're living. They can park overnight in the church parking lot, but it's a rough neighborhood so not very safe; the church gets vandalized and broken into regularly.

There should be a safe place people can go and get a good night's rest, if nothing else. That should be the minimum anyone can count on.

[Hlynn]

10:40 PM on 11/30/2011

I saw this episode of "60 Minutes" and was awed by the maturity and matter of factness of these children, Arielle and Austin. Even though they are calling this an adventure, this should never happen to anyone. Their father wants to work but can't find a job that will let him save enough money for a stable place for his family. I can't imagine what it was like for him to take the last of their money and buy that truck knowing they would be living in it. His children are so smart and brave and they clearly love their dad and each other. I hope Arielle realizes her dream to help others; she certainly seems to have the passion and ability to do it.

In the interviews with the other children who are also homeless, it was sad to hear that children are afraid to sleep in the car at night because they are afraid someone will harm them. One little girl told of a time her aunt was robbed of all the money she had while they were in the car together. How can children go to school and learn when they can't sleep at night and don't know where or when they will have to move their car to be safe and not "moved along" by the police?

[tan2123]

10:57 AM on 11/30/2011

this reality is heart wrenching, and, it's utterly disgusting that in a country with such, supposed, wealth, the quality of life for these kids here is worse than those in poorer nations.

Excuses are being made for why trillions got doled out to banks- millions in bonuses to sociopathic chumps that sit at a desk fudging numbers- while the dollar's worth tumbled resulting in people's life savings being cut down (the people who needed it most).

They want to divide the population by phoney ideologies of D vs R, or try to label it as a "class war"...when it should be Americans vs super powers who don't GAF about the country or it's people. These institutions that are raping the people need to be controlled- who cares who does it, it needs to be done. Instead of waiting for the next candidate to switch over and over (it's just a ruse to keep you distracted)- work with the government that's in place- work for a change NOW

[maxbianco]

02:10 AM on 11/30/2011

my wife and i spent a weekend afternoon actually searching for people in these types of situations: we had small care packages with basic supplies provided by our church. ... just a few items. and as we found these people we would pass out the packages we had. you dont know how bad it is until you see it for yourself. there are so many people just living in their cars, vans or whatever. they were not drunks or addicts, or crazy... just regular folks. i talked with alot of them and left with this impression... our lives can change in as little as 72 hours. as winter approaches we will pass out items to help with the cold. i know its not much, we do what we can, when we can. one thing is for sure.... this is only the beginning.

[tan2123]

11:03 AM on 11/30/2011

I know a retired couple who used to own two homes, have raised 2 children. He worked at a job that paid him well, they both worked hard all their lives. The value of their homes and their investments shrunk so much so that they've now lost their homes.

[dadw5boys]

11:07 PM on 11/29/2011

Just ask a lot of us own property that is not being used fully and we can give you at least a bed room to sleep in. You would have to spit wood and keep the wood stove going on cold nights. There are 4 bedrooms here unused I would be willing to let someone with a descent history used. No criminals records, sorry too many good people held thier moral and ethics never resorted to that and need help.

[dakotanprudle]

08:52 PM on 11/29/2011

So sad, and we spend how much for defense? How many billions of dollars of waste, I read. How much money goes out to foreign aid, and in this country we have this!

[DixieMelody]

05:01 PM on 11/29/2011

America spent nearly $700 billion in 2010 on military might.

This accounts for about 43% of the entire global military spending and is nearly 6 times more than the amount spent by the next largest, China.

In fact, the United States spends more on its military than the total spent by the second largest (China), third largest (United Kingdom), fourth largest (France), fifth largest (Russia)... and fifteenth largest (Turkey) combined.

All while our country is crumbling internally. . . our citizens are hungry, homeless and hurting and have lost hope.

GALLING !

[tan2123]

11:15 AM on 11/30/2011

OIL! /SUPER POWERS!
They haven't any intention of sharing their wealth with the rest of you! Isn't it obvious YET! It is those with power fighting other's who challenge their power- it's not about sharing.

[GandenT]

04:55 PM on 11/29/2011

Where are the idiot trolls? I was hoping to hear some lectures on how these 16 million children deserve their fate and should have made better choices; maybe started a company or invested their diapers or something.

[Pavane]

12:27 AM on 12/01/2011

When poverty has no face, it is easy to be smug. Regressives don't seem to comment much when there are faces involved.

[GandenT]

01:15 PM on 12/01/2011

You make a good point; thank you.

[penndl]

04:27 PM on 11/29/2011

I saw this story on 60 minutes and I think those two teenagers have good character and are better grounded than many who have much more to ne thankful for. I hope they never loose the will to survive and faith in themselves.

[tan2123]

11:22 AM on 11/30/2011

likely b/c a lot of parents have experienced trauma and do resort to other means, children get abused...how does one expect them to cope? When kids get introduced to pushers who tell them all their problems can be solved in another way...
I think enough research has shown that the proverb "what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger" is a complete fallacy.
"environment" is proving to have a substantial impact on how a person develops and changes. Epigenetics.

[kma4ek]

04:15 PM on 11/29/2011

This story is important but it should also be mentioned that children under 18 have the highest poverty rates among any age group. They don't receive benefits such as social security that the 65+ ages get and they also have the least chance to secure a good job. Also, location makes a big difference. In the Northeast poverty rates are much lower when compared to the South. So while the above poster mentions "this is a big problem in DC", consider how prevalent it must be in the South.
Poverty is intrinsically a political issue. Our government defines poverty and they are the ones who can create policies to remedy the problem.

[tan2123]

11:28 AM on 11/30/2011

The story isn't about random statistics. They are not referring to the individual teens' rate of income or wealth! They LIVE IN POVERTY!! what could be more straightforward?

[estimatorone]

02:56 PM on 11/29/2011

In my wildest dreams I could never imagine that this could be allowed to
happen in our country, at least not on this scale. And this just counts
the kids that are homeless - if you count the adults you are talking
over a 1/3 of the country are in abject poverty and homeless (or close
to being homeless). Until the economy gets going again, maybe we
should stop sending billions of dollars of wasted money overseas
and use it here to help our own. Kids should not be living in cars (or
even worse, the streets). I know that many of these charities are
doing a tremendous job. But, it also appears that this problem is so
much larger then we were led to beleive. I can see why the government
is almost clueless in tackling this problem - it is just so overwhelming!

[PazTres]

03:10 PM on 11/29/2011

In your wildest dreams? See this is the problems with too many Americans...your heads are up your asses. If you would of stopped dreaming and came down to reality...you would know that this has been a GROWING problem in this country since before the 80's....WAAAKE UP AMERICA!!....shame on us....seriously.

[DixieMelody]

04:52 PM on 11/29/2011

Why do you feel the need to be so hateful?

Your point is lost amidst the vitriol.

[amerifun]

03:39 PM on 11/29/2011

We spend millions overseas but leave our own homeless and hungry. In God We Trust ?

[tan2123]

11:39 AM on 11/30/2011

OIL barons spend millions overseas- using our money

[Dori Bibb Cook]

01:41 PM on 11/29/2011

This is a serious issue in the Greater DC Metro Area. It is often overlooked, though!