Some 3,800 young people homeless in New York: study

[Lone_Star_Dem]

Source: Reuters

NEW YORK (Reuters) - An estimated 3,800 people under age 24 go homeless each night in New York City, but they blend in so well they are hard for social workers to find, according to the city's first-ever census of homeless youth.

Three-fourths come from minority groups, with black youths accounting for nearly half the total and Latino youths representing a quarter, said the survey, released on Friday.

Gay, lesbian and bisexual youths were especially vulnerable, accounting for nearly a third of homeless cases.

"Young people who are homeless take great care to look like everyone else. They're unbelievably creative in their ability to find ways to make it look like they're not homeless at all," said Margo Hirsch, executive director of the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services, which conducted the survey for the city.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSN1431875620071214?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews

[aquart]

1. They're prey.

[Solar Power]

2. What a shame..there invisible.

Oh some 40 years ago, I read a book called "The Other America" by Micheal Harrington. He discusses the invisible poor........
and here it is ...the new century. and the poor are still there, still invisible and what kind of progress have we made?

[IntravenousDemilo]

6. "The poor are always with us" was such a cop-out, IMO. We ARE our brother's keeper.

Here's Mrs Betty Bowers's satirical take on the poor.

From the Louis Quinze desk of
MRS BETTY BOWERS
America's Best Christian

Dear Well Intended Lost Soul:

Jesus told us that the poor will always be with us. But this simple statement of a thoroughly annoying fact should not be construed as a direction to actually acknowledge them when they wander into your field of vision. I am reminded of the last time this passage from Matthew was quoted to me. It was by dear Juanita after she informed me that she was resigning from Golden Door Spa. As she carefully scraped the deep-cleansing Italian mud off my troublesome t-zone area, she said: "For you have the pores always with you; but me you will have not always." Her words moved me to tears.

Yes, it was lovely of Jesus to make a fuss over the riff-raff. It is for precisely such quaint notions that I adore Him so! Jesus, going way overboard in trying to be an affable Savior (in contradistinction to the vain and spiteful God depicted in the Old Testament, whom the Jews so inexplicably still cling to), did say a few passing words about trying to do something nice for the impoverished. Certainly, a lovely box of chocolates on occasion is always appreciated and never remiss. Oversize balloons that say things, however, are simply annoying surrogates for people too selfish to spend time thinking of a truly thoughtful gifts and only provide people with helium with which to make annoying sounds. They are to be avoided - even when presented to street people without the social acumen to know how truly annoying such a gift is.

Anyway, I would be more than happy to instruct you on how to deal in a somewhat Christ-like manner with people you would never invite to your home. While I can't actually think of a specific time I helped a poor person (other than the Jenkins down the street, who all drive domestic vehicles), I'm quite certain that I would do something for those dreadful people should the appropriate occasion arise. Given the right set of circumstances, I certainly would try to exemplify the loving generosity to the shiftless, filthy poor that our Blessed Savior suggested we might wish to try on occasion. Nevertheless, I have never met a destitute person with the morality and purity of soul worthy of my time, much less pecuniary dispensation. I am sure that, one day, I shall meet someone who pesters me on the street who can do an absolutely rip-roaring rendition of some foreign hobo from Les Miserables, and I will be so thoroughly enchanted and entertained that I will be selflessly moved to have one of my people give him some loose change.

But let's not go too far! As I have stated, Jesus was quick to remind us "For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always." In other words, don't slight Jesus while he is around for some poorly dressed stranger with a preposterous story about why he needs $5 for gasoline. For any saved Christian, Jesus is indeed always with us, so Jesus' direction to pay attention to Him and ignore the poor is still in effect for the saved -- a convenience for which I am rather grateful. As always, Jesus is so good to us!

So Close To Jesus, I'm # 3 On His Speed-Dial

BETTY BOWERS

http://www.bettybowers.com/espistle11a.html

[ninkasi]

3. Taking care of the homeless

is obviously not important to the Republics. It's not nearly as important as having a bloated budget for invading countries which were no threat to us. The anguish these kids go through is not immediate enough to roll back tax cuts for billionaires. Republics are cruel, heartless, and without a soul.

And the "pro-life" party will not lift a diamond encrusted little finger to help them. If you read this, Swampy, I hope you do one of your fine works of art to show these scum of the earth for what they are.

[harmonicon]

5. you can't blame the boogey man for everything

Do you think there are no homeless people in Illinois, because it's a Democratic controlled city in a Democratic state?

[Solar Power]

7. There are plenty in Illinois..

Believe me..too many to know. Poverty is here too.
And I believe that the New York number is an undercount. How do you count those that do not want to be counted?...Who knows?

[harmonicon]

8. yeah, that was my point

It's not just the fault of the Republicans.... there's more than enough blame to go around. I used to live in Chicago and homelessness was a very big problem, even in my fairly well-off neighborhood. Many of them had mental problems, but lots of them were just dealt a rotten hand in life. Also, there weren't enough shelter beds even for those who wanted to get off the street.

[otherlander]

4. I don't blame them from hiding from social workers.

But damn, that's sad. Nearly a third were gay/bi? Are there that many shithead parents who kick their kids out for not being straight?

[nealmhughes]

9. Yes there are. eom

[Vinca]

10. It's very sad. Last year I went to a church Christmas bazaar and

noticed a sleeping bag tucked back in the bushes with a pair of platform shoes arranged beside it. Someone was sleeping - head buried in the covers - right there OUTSIDE a church. Later in the day, I saw an attractive woman crossing the street. I would have guessed, from her clothing and demeanor, that she was from one of the wealthier parts of town. But she was wearing the platform shoes. They blend in because they could be you and they could be me.

[Ilsa]

13. She found a relatively safe place. She believed that no one

would hurt her outside a church. At least it is serving some good purpose, but it isn't enough.

[leaninglib]

11. Sounds like a good reason to get the hell out of New York City!

[Ilsa]

12. Bah! humbug. let's decrease the surplus population!

"If they would rather die," said Scrooge, "they had better do it, and decrease the surplus population. Besides -- excuse me -- I don't know that." ----- A Christmas Carol