At Shelter In D.C., Mix Of Holiday Cheer, Hope (Washington Post)

[diamond14]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37607-2004Dec30.html

At Shelter In D.C., Mix Of Holiday Cheer, Hope

By Theola S. Labbe
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 31, 2004; Page B01

For a brief moment yesterday, or maybe even for the whole afternoon, everyone in the room could forget they were at a homeless shelter and the circumstances that had brought them there. The D.C. Department of Human Services sponsored the first-time holiday luncheon yesterday for more than 60 homeless families at D.C. Village in Southwest Washington. It was the agency's latest effort to put on activities that are more personal and reflective of its motto, "Uplifting Lives."

Family homelessness has been a growing problem across the country and in the District. In recent years, the city has experienced an increase in the number of applications for family shelter, from 989 requests in 1999 to 3,100 last year.

At the same time, the city has reduced the amount spent on homeless services, from $36 million in the 1990 budget to $13 million this fiscal year.

"It's been devastating," said Sczerina Perot, an attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. "We do far less today in the face of an increasing problem than we did 15 years ago, and housing was far more affordable."

[Stinky The Clown]

1. The contrast is amazing in the 1600 block of Pennsylvania Avenue

On the south side of the street we have this big white mansion with armed guards on the roof. Their guns appear eerily trained on the park on north side of the street ........ where many homeless gather.

How on earth can Great and Fearless Leader allow His Holy Eyes to gaze out the window of his oval room and see such a sight?

Maybe momma Babs can shoo their dirty asses away from the field of vision of her satanic spawn ........

[AngryOldDem]

2. Because he truly does not care?

I don't think I've ever seen any human being who lacks so much basic compassion and empathy. Ever. I don't understand it, and furthermore, I don't WANT to understand it.

I'm sure they provide great amusement to him as he watches them trying to survive from day to day...trying, in his words, to "embetter" themselves.

The man makes me ill.

[TahitiNut]

4. It's Gawd's will, of course.

Smirky McNarcissist sees the difference as proof that he's "closer to Gawd" due to the blessings bestowed upon his innately deserving ass. He's entitled to his wealth by the Divine Right of the Rich - a reflection of Gods Own Divine Investment Plan. So, the greater the disparity then the greater the deservedness. After all, as it is on Earth, so it is in Heaven, right?


Excuse me for a minute ...
:puke: :puke: :puke: :puke:

[AngryOldDem]

5. He's going to be in for a mighty shock

"Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto Me."

[AngryOldDem]

3. Affordable housing IS indeed the problem, especially for families

<<"It's been devastating," said Sczerina Perot, an attorney for the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. "We do far less today in the face of an increasing problem than we did 15 years ago, and housing was far more affordable."<<

http://www.motherjones.com/news/dailymojo/2004/05/05_520.html

This article about cuts in the Section 8 housing program is from May, but the problem still stands. I know people barely making the minimum wage who are paying upwards of $500 a month (or more, in some cases, close to $900) in rent for places that are just not worth it, because there is nothing cheaper available and the wait list for subsidized housing in the county is one year.

The people who are paying such unreasonable rents hope and pray that they don't have a catastrophic or otherwise unplanned financial event because chances are they WILL be homeless -- or caught up in a cycle of unpaid debt and bill-chasing that will eventually make them homeless. How they juggle their finances would probably drive me insane if I had to do it. People who don't have such concerns have no idea what it is like.

But the almighty dollar trumps all...we need Section 8 now more than ever, and it's being sliced-and-diced out of existence.