Being homeless with children is a special hell. As if it's not bad enough that you have no safe place to lay your head, the feeling that you have failed your children and they deserve better permeates your entire life.

No adequate words.

It's so unfair to the adults and the children. On top of that stress, it seems like many state govs look for ways to take the children, place them in fostercare.

I'll check periodically to see if something weird has happened with the links.

and me both weeping yesterday:

http://www.thenation.com/article/172397/old-female-and-homeless#

I saw that yesterday as well. And wept.



I'll add to the OP, along with any others you all suggest.

is a national disgrace.

People who become homeless need a nationally known place to go right away. Letting humans decline on the streets is the worse treatment for anyone, even an animal.

We have to get a handle on this homeless issue as more people can't afford their homes anymore.
Even if they own their homes the yearly property taxes, neighborhood association fees will chip away at any savings. Once people don't pay those yearly fees their home goes sold at the county tax sales.

I know that property taxes are less for persons over 65 but not for homeowners with no income below those age levels.

If churches, political charities pay no property taxes, pay no neighborhood association fees, no sales tax..there should be a way to give a break to persons with no income or not enough income. perhaps states should remove property tax and neighborhood associations shouldn't be allowed to charge fees or fine people and take their homes away.

I think it's a very good thing that thousands of tiny groups feed/shelter as many homeless as they can.

People often wonder why some homeless people choose to stay on the street even when institutional shelter is available.

But watch an infant. Not yet one year old and struggling to stand and walk -- to be autonomous. To be able to reach mother or a toy or the door to the outside without help.

Being autonomous, independent, self-sufficient is one of the strongest human drives. It is the basis of our dignity and self-respect.

I worked with a homeless project for years. The problem with shelters is that they necessarily impose rules that encroach on the autonomy and independence of those who live in them. I say necessarily because the rules are required to prevent violence, filth, contests of wills, conflicts among values and lifestyles.

The answer is individual, fully independent housing for the indigent.

This is especially true now because unemployment is very high.

I have a friend who was homeless for years. Everyone thought she was mentally ill. Her name finally came up for subsidized housing. Hallelujah! Her life has completely changed. She has completely changed. Those who knew her before she found housing still treat her as though she was "odd," but I know her well, and she is more sane than many of those who still keep their distance. She is quite intelligent, a bit lonely, but other than that takes care of herself well. She has found a way to dress downright elegantly and eat well on very little money -- and that is something that many of my proud friends who have never dealt with her challenges cannot do (myself included as far as dressing elegantly).

Housing -- that is the issue here. Housing that provides autonomy and permits a person to live in dignity and self-respect.

Given the empty commercial and residential buildings all across the country, I wonder if this may be one approach to the housing nightmare, done in conjunction with pushing for legislative changes?
A community trust approach.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022294954