*crosspost to GD* "Homeless in the Suburbs" great/heartbreaking article from Parenting Magazine

[underpants]

I just wanted every to see this.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=457433

It is indeed a very fine line many people were/are walking on....not that they knew it at the time.

[CoffeeCat]

1. This is going to become more prevalent...

...if not epidemic--if the unemployment stats keep rising.

Dave Ramsey has talked about this for years--that America's dirty little secret is that
a hefty number of upper-middle class families are poor.

So many people purchased the large house, and large cars--and they racked up thousands in
credit card debt. Most of these households have two incomes--and they spend every penny
every month and live paycheck to paycheck. However, everything looks spectacular on the
outside. Their laws are manicured to perfection (from an expensive lawn service), their
children are dressed impeccably (with clothes that are charged on credit cards) and their
houses are gorgeous.

When these people lose jobs and don't find jobs--it's game over. Many have little savings
and most never planned on a recession or their housing values plummeting. Many need to move
to find work, but they're stuck in homes that won't sell.

We will see more of this, and hear about it more often--if unemployment gets worse--because
it will be epidemic. A lot of this is hidden--but as these people drain what little savings they
have and spend their 401k monies--these people will have no more options.

Very sad.

[myrna minx]

2. Thanks for the crosspost. I had missed this heartbreaking article. K&R n/t

[raccoon]

3. Kick. nt

[JNelson6563]

4. Recently I was one of these invisible souls

It's a horrible situation to be in. I was very lucky in that my kids are older, only one is a minor still and he lived with his dad for the school year. I stayed with a dear friend who I will be forever indebted to. Still, to be a long term house guest and no income is miserable. I cannot imagine if my kids were still young what I would've have done.

There are so many out here with no place to call home and they are fortunate if they have enough to eat. Imagine what this does to the kids in this situation. Here in America if you are poor you are looked upon as subhuman. Every day is simply an excersize in survival.

Imagine those less fortunate than I, no place to stay and take showers and eat a warm meal. No phone, no internet, no address. Try finding a job in that situation.

Frankly this experience helped to sour me on DU. While many are practically starving in the streets hundreds of so called liberals are here ranting endlessly about every perceived slight as though it's the end of the world. So much for caring about the greater good.

Julie

[Hannah Bell]

7. "about every perceived slight" - yes, the attention devoted to the sideshow - what letterman said

to palin etc...v. nuts & bolts issues & organizing...is disturbing.

[JNelson6563]

5. Not much response.

The lack of words and or recs sure speaks volumes. The silence is deafening.

Julie

[ceile]

6. Kick