One of the hardest things I have to deal with on a daily basis is telling the newly homeless that there are few resources available to assist them. Most folks look at me with mouths agape as they realize that the longstanding fallacy of the poor suckling until fat and sassy at the benevolent teat of government largesse is a lot of hogwash.
Their shock turns to anger after a few minutes and then comes the questions: how could they have been such suckers, and how do we change it in time for them to get some help?
Well, as I've been saying since I started this blog a couple of years ago, it's a matter of priorities and awareness. Ya gotta put someone in the driver's seat of the nation's coin purse that gives two poops about the less fortunate in our own country before any of that is gonna change, and ya gotta be able to put a big fat pile of honest, shocking and frank irrefutable statistics right into the mouths of talking heads who perpetuate the inane drivel that the poor live better than the king of pop.
Obama may be working on the front end; 1.5 Billion in prevention and rapid rehousing ain't no chump change. This, finally, is some real money towards combating homelessness. I'm hoping we'll see some real differences as 09 runs its course......
(Not sure what's wrong with the listen link below; I had to download the file and play it with Winamp, but it was worth the effort.....)
Some Stimulus Money Preventing Homelessness
Weekend Edition Sunday,
July 5, 2009 · Homeless programs are about to get a big push in a new direction. They used to focus on providing food and shelter. Now, the economic stimulus package is providing $1.5 billion to prevent people from becoming homeless and to quickly re-house those who do.
