Poverty And Homelessness

You'd think these reports are coming from a third world country, not the U.S.A. Update: The CNN videos for some reason got pulled form their site, so I've found a few others.

The Spike of Homeless Children in Las Vegas

This is also true in Arizona as well.

Squatting

Have you ever heard of squatting? It's a term used from the last two centuries being reapplied today. It's living for free in a home you don't own. It's illegal, but that isn't stopping people from doing it, with the increasing numbers of homeless in this country.

If you've read my blog for a while, you'll remember a post I made earlier this year regarding how to use the bailout money to help the homeless, by using the money to legally lease from banks foreclosed homes and turn them into shelters. Here's the link to the post: Homeless Assistance

To me, my idea makes more sense because it brings the money back into the situation. Management agencies would need to be created to manage the leases and maintain the foreclosed homes, creating jobs. Homes not habitable will need to be fixed up before they could be used, that creates jobs.

Yes, it's a short term solution to a long term problem, but it would infuse money where it's needed, and at a local level.

The Truth About Homelessness

If you didn't see the report on CNN, be sure to check out this blog about the difficulties of homeless people trying to get jobs.

STREATS

Pimp This Bum

There is a web site and set of YouTube videos out there called Pimp This Bum, which is working to genuinely rehabilitate the homeless.

Here is one story:



And here is the web site:

Pimp This Bum