Sunday, March 15, 2009

Articles from Jodi

These two articles found by Jodi reveal both the disappointing state of homelessness in our country today, and steps, no matter how small, being taken to reverse it.

A 2005-06 report found that 1 in 50, or 1.5 million, children in the US were homeless. No doubt this number is substantially higher today. 1 in 7 of those children were found to have severe health problems, and far less than half project to graduate from high school.

President Obama has rightly said that a high school dropouts are not only failing themselves, but their country. In this case, as in most, we should take that one step further and see how our country is failing them first.

A second article details how one man, curiously enough the producer of the "Revenge of the Nerds" movies, is trying to take the first step towards restoring the security, dignity and sense of ownership that one loses with the onset of homelessness.

An EDAR (Everyone Deserves A Roof) is a $500, four-wheeled home. It provides space for a bed, pillows, a place to put one's possessions, and a tent-like roof to keep out the elements. One EDAR owner sums it up perfectly: "Its a step up to you. It's like our making progress... Now, I have me a little place to stay. I'm moving up."

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