In the public imagination, homelessness looks like the man in soiled clothes sleeping on top of a subway grate or the woman peering out of a tent from under a highway overpass. But in cities and towns that have the highest concentrations of homelessness, many — and sometimes a majority — of those who do not live in shelters are in cars, not on the streets, according to the annual census known as the “point in time count.”
In Los Angeles County, for example, two-thirds are living in vehicles. In San Mateo County, which includes part of Silicon Valley, its even more — 71 percent.
“The American dream of owning a home is dead unless you make a gazillion dollars,”
“I knew a guy who made some bad choices and lost his home. Therefore all homeless people made bad choices and are lazy. I gave a beggar $20 once so that makes me an expert.”
Reminds me of this:
The only thing punks and old nazis in my German hometown had in common was their love of dogs, often German shepherds.
I witnessed the following scene:
Punks with dogs are begging. Old man with shepherd dog says “I’ll give you €20 if you spend it on dog food.” Punks answer: “Nah man, we’re gonna spend it on beer”
Impressive ethics. You see they could have just taken the money. How’s the old guy going to make sure?