how does it feel

how does it feel

to be without a home

like a complete unknown

with no direction home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR5GBRUUX7M

Whoever you are, I have always depended on the kindness of strangers.....Blanche DuBois

The Nation presented one of the most heart felt articles I have read this year:  Ten Things To Know If You Live On The Street by WALTER MOSLEY (with research by Rae Gomes) http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090803/ten_things

After brief research I received information like this about the homeless in this country:

On any given night in America, anywhere from 700,000 to 2 million people are homeless, according to estimates of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty.

According to a December, 2000 report of the US Conference of Mayors:

• single men comprise 44 percent of the homeless, single women 13 percent, families with children 36 percent, and unaccompanied minors seven percent.
• the homeless population is about 50 percent African-American, 35 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent Asian. http://www.policyalmanac.org/social_welfare/homeless.shtml

EVEN IN THE FACE OF 1990s ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, homeless statistics show the number of homeless has remained stubbornly high. Between five and six hundred thousand people are considered "homeless" at any given time  http://www.solutionsforamerica.org/thrivingneigh/homelessness.html

·  According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.35 million U.S. children are homeless on any given night. (2000) ·  Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, accounting for almost 41% of the nation's homeless. (2005)  ·  In 2003, children under the age of 18 accounted for 39% of the homeless population.  ·  42% of homeless children are under the age of five.  ·  Nearly 20% of homeless children lack a regular source of medical care.  ·  Homeless children are hungry more than twice as often as other children.  ·  Almost 1/3 of low-income families do not have enough money to prepare three meals a day.  http://www.misd.net/Homeless/statistics.htm

So after my brief look into the issue of homelessness, there is little agreement on the numbers. But I was really struck by the number of children that are homeless!!!!!!!!!!

Back to the article in The Nation; this is just an abridged list. Take time and read the entire article; there are some links there asking us to add our own comments and concerns. http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090803/ten_things

1  Be prepared to be blamed for your circumstances,

2  There is no private space to which you may retreat.

3  Learn the best bathroom options,

4  Learn soup kitchen schedules and menus.

5  Always have a blanket.

6  Know your rights!

7  Learn police patterns and practices.

8  The First Amendment protects your right to solicit aid.

9  Housing is a human right!

10  Don't go it alone!

The list just got to me. I have been there briefly a few times.   I was thinking about places like NYC that had to 'clean things up'. We do not like homelessness to be out in the open.  I live in a wonderful state. With wonderful programs. I am not homeless anymore. I no longer have to depend upon the kindness of strangers. (Although I sure as hell depend upon the kindness of my friends here. Ha!!)

After reading the article I could see where it would be best read by those who would help the homeless. Because a good portion of the homeless population suffer from so many mental and neurological problems they would not understand what was being written.