Women lives in her car with 2 dogs - at a parking lot setup for homeless people

[LynneSin]

Back during the Hoover Administration they lived in cardboard boxes called in areas called "Hooverville". At least our generation of middle class homeless - some have a bit more luxury with a car that they can live in. This is what the Bush administration is creation. It's a sad story but kudos for the non-profit group New Beginnings that has setup these parking lots for homeless people.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html
Mom forced to live in car with dogsStory Highlights
Mother of three grown children says, "This is my life in this car right now"


SANTA BARBARA, California (CNN) -- Barbara Harvey climbs into the back of her small Honda sport utility vehicle and snuggles with her two golden retrievers, her head nestled on a pillow propped against the driver's seat.


Californian Barbara Harvey says she is forced to sleep in her car with her dogs after losing her job earlier this year.

1 of 3 A former loan processor, the 67-year-old mother of three grown children said she never thought she'd spend her golden years sleeping in her car in a parking lot.

"This is my bed, my dogs," she said. "This is my life in this car right now."

Harvey was forced into homelessness earlier this year after being laid off. She said that three-quarters of her income went to paying rent in Santa Barbara, where the median house in the scenic, oceanfront city costs more than $1 million. She lost her condo two months ago and had little savings as backup.

"It went to hell in a handbasket," she said. "I didn't think this would happen to me. It's just something that I don't think that people think is going to happen to them is what it amounts to. It happens very quickly, too."

Harvey now works part time for $8 an hour, and she draws Social Security to help make ends meet. But she still cannot afford an apartment, and so every night she pulls into a gated parking lot to sleep in her car, along with other women who find themselves in a similar predicament. Watch women who live in their cars »

There are 12 parking lots across Santa Barbara that have been set up to accommodate the growing middle-class homelessness. These lots are believed to be part of the first program of its kind in the United States, according to organizers.

The lots open at 7 p.m. and close at 7 a.m. and are run by New Beginnings Counseling Center, a homeless outreach organization.

[meow2u3]

1. Bushtowns

Parking lots for homeless middle-class Americans pushed out of their homes.

[skygazer]

2. People living beyond their means

Not taking responsibility for their actions. My tax dollars should not be going to bail out people who can't take care of themselves. I will insert the :sarcasm: for those who missed the GD thread.

Is that idiot still at it?

[Midlodemocrat]

3. What a jerk. Talk about not living within their means.

I mean, :wtf: is wrong with people?


How'd I do? As good as the asshat in GD?

:bounce:

[malta blue]

4. BIG JERK DUMMY

:P

j/k Midlo.

You know I luvs ya :pals:

That asshat just loves to spew steaming piles, doesn't he?

[Midlodemocrat]

5. I'll never understand that way of thinking.

It costs one absolutely nothing to feel compassion. I just don't get it. Frankly, I hope I never do.

:pals:

:hi:

[malta blue]

6. I don't get it either.

I wanted to attend this buddhist seminar on compassion once, and my mom arranged it for me as a gift, but said "I don't know why you are doing this because of all people, you certainly do not need to learn how to be compassionate."

[Forkboy]

7. I tried to reach that one with no luck.

He may think he's "progressive" but he's just kidding himself.

[LynneSin]

8. Yeah well blame Jesus - he made it hip to not live within his means

:eyes: