THE HOMELESS AREN'T LAZY

» LisbonSweetPea - Homeless aren't lazy

This article could well have been titled "Women suffer when marital status changes." A friend of mine was the executive director of a battered persons shelter in the mid-1980s. I had no idea what some women go through until I went to the shelter to help Barb write grants for the center and saw first hand. And I thanked God that I was not one of them.

Not having enough money to pay your bills is one thing, but not having enough money to pay rent for a place to live must be devastating. I know a young woman who wants a place of her own. She applied for federal housing. They set her rent at $390 per month, plus electric, phone, cable. She has a car payment, car insurance, some medical bills and a child. They have to have clothes, shoes and food. She doesn't make $7 an hour. She is trying to be responsible. But every time she tries to take another step, there is something that forces her and her child to remain in her parents' home. She had to turn the apartment down because the rent was so high. To determine the rent amount they added the child support amount set by the court, but which the father is far, far behind and the system is not making him comply. And going to school? The rent would be higher because higher education is potential income.

Bea, I don't think your story reflects so much that the homeless aren't lazy as that women suffer financially when they leave an abusive relationship. But when they get on their feet, they have the reassurance that they can indeed take care of themselves. I'm sure it's a long, despairing road in this man's world, and I don't care what anyone says, it is STILL a man's world.

-- posted by LisbonSweetPea

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» dorened - Thanks so much for this article.

Thanks so much for this article. I've never really stopped to think about how people become homeless. It is heartbreaking for these mothers and their children. I'm thinking of checking with our local shelter. Maybe I can take one of the slots in my daycare and help a mom in this situation with low cost care. Thanks for waking me up.

-- posted by dorened

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» carp119 - Divorce, Abuse and Homeless Women

The reality of this problem is so scary. How secure are we who are married and with children if suddenly we were forced to leave it all behind? Could we survive on our own or would we too be on the streets? I shudder when I realize how true this is. As a New Yorker, I know how expensive it is to live whether in an apartment or house. I don't know what I would do when faced with this situation but you sure have given us an eye opener! I'll be back for your next article, eager to see what else you can bring to our attention.

-- posted by carp119

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» elmoze - The economics of divorce

You have brought up an often overlooked fact of homelessness. Women and children are forced to leave their homes while the perpetrators are allowed to remain.

Combine this with the lack of domestic violence shelters and you have thousands of women and children with no where to go. (There are more animal shelters in this country than there are domestic violence shelters.)

According to the EAP Digest violence is the reason stated for divorce in 22% of middle-class marriages.

Most women's economic status plunges after a divorce while the man's actually increases. This is probably due to women often earning less than men, women having custody of the children, the high cost of daycare, the lack of child back-up when the children are ill, child support awards not adjusted for inflation.

Thank you for opening the dialogue on such an overlooked aspect of homelessness.

-- posted by elmoze

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» bumsarelosers - The truth

Most homeless are "men" and most are LAZY!If you can walk,use your hands
and fill out a app you will be hired.

-- posted by bumsarelosers

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