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Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Investigation of homeless crime will emphasize whether motivated by discriminatory attitudes toward disabilities

A few miscellaneous homeless videos and articles in the news, first.

Students at FGCU spent the night on campus in boxes as part of raising awareness for homelessness. One student couldn't use the box - she had experienced homelessness already.


The students now plan to take action on the issue.

In Baltimore, where homelessness has increased by 12 per cnnt over two years, the city council approved a proposal for a 275 bed shelter. Services for the homeless are needed in rural areas.
In other places, tent cities are sprouting up. Homelessness is increasingly becoming a problem for schools and their students.A promotional campaign will "encourage more compassion for people living on the street" in L.A. to cut down on crime against the homeless.

In the hate crime training it provides to law enforcement agencies, the commission will also place an emphasis on investigating whether a crime against a homeless person is motivated by discriminatory attitudes toward mental and physical disabilities.

4 comments:

FridaWrites said...

Well, if there's any good that can be had out of the U.S. economic situation it's that more people are realizing this can happen to anyone, that financial resources aren't infinite for most people when there's job loss. And more compassion toward people who are homeless because of it. But I'd rather people not be on the streets, especially kids, and hope this situation reverses.

My sister-in-law was talking about the tent cities recently. Some parents wouldn't even tell their kids they were homeless and would just call them with a calling card every few weeks (I guess acting as if they are RV'ing around the US or something) because they were embarrassed. This makes me grateful we have family support (and help with physical tasks during this time).

Ruth said...

Frida- So many people are now affected that it's bound to change how this is viewed, to some degree. I'm so glad you have family support to help. It makes things easier, although it doesn't solve it all I'm sure.

FridaWrites said...

Yeah, not with everything, even if we live with them and have unemployment and food stamps. Unemployment will possibly cover medical insurance premiums, the car payment, and car insurance. That doesn't include money for gasoline for jobs, pet food, any kind of clothing or shoes, even used (necessary for job hunting/growing kids), haircut for job interview, any medical-necessity only copays, any activities for the kids. There's also the cost of storing some furniture and items so we don't have to repurchase later. That's with my mom offering some storage. Gads.

I just never bought the argument that people are living off the government for the long term because I don't think it can be done.

Ruth said...

I think that argument is made by people who've never had to try to do it. You're in my thoughts and prayers.