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[RMoore]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-11145513


Families in poverty

California's jobless are adding to the state's homelessness, with unemployment remaining stubbornly above 12% along with one of the highest rates of foreclosure in the US.

Among them is Jonathan Long.


By the door of his room at the Union Rescue Mission a hand-drawn sign reads "The Long Family".

Above it, a photograph of his wedding day - he and his bride wore red, as it was Valentine's Day.

Inside I met his four children and his wife, Veronica, pregnant with their fifth.

The room looked to measure around 15ft (4.5m) by 10ft (3m).

"It's better then being out there," Mr Long says.

There was a bunk bed against one wall and a single bed in the corner.

Through a window was a view of downtown skyscrapers.

Each night they pull out two extra mattresses so they all can sleep.

In a bookcase, food and toys are stored and a small electronic keyboard, the last reminder of the recording studio Jonathan used to own.

He lost his business when his clients stopped being able to pay.

Selling off equipment kept them going for a while, then his grandmother helped out while she could.

The family moved in with friends, until the friends were evicted.

"Three summers ago, we were actually so well off we were looking into buying a house. And then when the economy crashed, it completely screwed me up," Mr Long says.

In fact, this was a dual income family. Mrs Long used to earn money as a massage therapist, until that too dried up through lack of clients.

Now she says the change has been hardest for the children.

"They don't have the space and the toys and the TV and the video games and the DVD player and the movies. We don't have these things anymore. That may be the reason he's been acting out some,' Mrs Long tells me, nodding towards their eldest son, Nathan.

They hadn't heard about the shelter starting to charge a fee.

"Some people here with their attitudes might think it was taking advantage," Jonathan says. "I think it might be weeding out the people who are serious about getting their life straight. It gives you back your pride as a man."

Places like the mission face unprecedented challenges.

They must now reach out to those they help.

And increasingly, even amongst the homeless, there are haves and have-nots.

[ScotcH]

Crappy story and situation for sure, but the main point that struck me was why do they have 4 kids plus one on the way?  

[PookyNMR]

ScotcH wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 10:54

Crappy story and situation for sure, but the main point that struck me was why do they have 4 kids plus one on the way?

I'm thinking it's because this husband and wife have been having sex.

Seriously, what's wrong with having a family?  It's unfortunate the economic climate got the best of them.  But recent circumstances (especially when they had been previously doing well) shouldn't be reason to ostracize someone for having 5 kids.

[Taproot]

ScotcH wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 10:54

Crappy story and situation for sure, but the main point that struck me was why do they have 4 kids plus one on the way?

What Pooky said...............What do you want him to do? Sell 'em?  

They didn't just pop out 4 kids during bad times. Those things take time to grow, you know.

[Berolzheimer]

ScotcH wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 09:54

Crappy story and situation for sure, but the main point that struck me was why do they have 4 kids plus one on the way?

Apparently they couldn't even afford condoms.

[YZ]

Taproot wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 14:26

They didn't just pop out 4 kids during bad times. Those things take time to grow, you know.

Hmm.

They didn't get poor overnight. The first 4 kids, ok, it was during good times, but the 5th is "on the way" so it happened a few months ago.

That's irresponsible.

But maybe just a reflection of the lifestyle they were used to, I don't know the details and I don't mean to say that this is their case but we see plenty of "well-to-do" people who spend all their income and have no cushion for bad times.

So a few months of meager earnings and it all goes downhill.

OTOH I don't see them as "taking advantage" of the Mission, after all if the Mission is for the homeless and the Long family is homeless, then what's the problem? To reserve the place to those who have always been homeless and refuse shelter to those who have recently become so would be absurd.

Are we to wait until they lived on the streets for years and lost all dignity (and their health) to grant them shelter?

An ounce of prevention...

[compasspnt]

I wish these folks the very best, but sometimes I wonder if there is more to some of these stories than we see at first.

[Berolzheimer]

compasspnt wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 14:56

I wish these folks the very best, but sometimes I wonder if there is more to some of these stories than we see at first.

Or less- what does "recording studio owner" really mean these days?  PTLE in a bedroom, or something more real?

[grantis]

Berolzheimer wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 18:58

compasspnt wrote on Wed, 01 September 2010 14:56 I wish these folks the very best, but sometimes I wonder if there is more to some of these stories than we see at first. Or less- what does "recording studio owner" really mean these days?  PTLE in a bedroom, or something more real?

If "selling off gear keep them going for a while", I would imagine he had more than an MBox.

[RSettee]

Though I feel badly for their position, having a fifth child when obviously they knew times were going to get rough or were already rough, I have to agree with YZ--that is  irresponsible.

[grantis]

RSettee wrote on Thu, 02 September 2010 18:17

Though I feel badly for their position, having a fifth child when obviously they knew times were going to get rough or were already rough, I have to agree with YZ--that is  irresponsible.

Or wishful thinking.

[Eric H.]

In any case, and whatever the long story is, it is truly sad to me that in 2010, in the wealthiest country of the world, a young family become homeless in a few months.
Wouldn't it be better if the system protected families and its people from having to live such sudden change and hard times? Wouldn't there be a way that modern societies find a way to assure a minimum of well being for its people and not have entire families with small kids get thrown out of the system suddenly?
It would sure save a lot of grief and moral and psychological pain, and prevent some deviating behaviour to flourish, which is in the end very expensive to deal with.

[grantis]

Eric H. wrote on Fri, 03 September 2010 17:43

In any case, and whatever the long story is, it is truly sad to me that in 2010, in the wealthiest country of the world, a young family become homeless in a few months. Wouldn't it be better if the system protected families and its people from having to live such sudden change and hard times? Wouldn't there be a way that modern societies find a way to assure a minimum of well being for its people and not have entire families with small kids get thrown out of the system suddenly? It would sure save a lot of grief and moral and psychological pain, and prevent some deviating behaviour to flourish, which is in the end very expensive to deal with.

What you're referring to is communism.

Or at the very least, socialism.

[YZ]

grantis wrote on Fri, 03 September 2010 19:49

What you're referring to is communism.

Which is not a very good idea and never worked 'as advertised' anywhere.

Quote:

Or at the very least, socialism.

Which actually works.

[bblackwood]

YZ wrote on Fri, 03 September 2010 20:50

grantis wrote on Fri, 03 September 2010 19:49 What you're referring to is communism. Which is not a very good idea and never worked 'as advertised' anywhere.

Yep.

Quote:

Quote: Or at the very least, socialism. Which actually works.

Though one's liberty is sacrificed for this 'safety'...