Watch PBS, Feb 2, NOW: A Radical Proposal to Help the Homeless

[annm4peace]

A Radical Proposal to Help the Homeless
NOW

Airdate: Friday, February 2, 2007, at 8:30 p.m. on PBS.
(Check local listings at http://www.pbs.org/now/sched.html.)

A radical approach to homelessness in hundreds of cities. Does it work? This time on NOW.
What do homeless people most need to re-enter the fabric of society? Some say the answer is right there in the question: homes. On February 2 at 8:30 p.m., NOW investigates a program that secures apartments for the long-term homeless, even if they haven't kicked their bad habits. If you think that sounds crazy, think again. Advocates say this approach reduces costs, encourages self-help and counseling participation, and restores self-esteem. The evidence seems to be with them, and the program is spreading to hundreds of cities across the country. NOW follows a man nicknamed "Footie" who invited us to see this idea in action.



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Note: The NOW website at www.pbs.org/now will provide additional coverage starting Friday morning, February 2. It will include a web-exclusive report about how some homeless earn a living on the street, and assumption-busting truths about America's homeless population.

[grilled onions]

1. Before the Huge Surge In Condos and Luxury city apartments...

Many cities had many SRO's to house many of the cities under employed and unemployed. Most seemed to be male and often had a alcohol or drug problem,maybe a military or family problems. But we did not push these men under a viaduct because we wanted a fancier hotel or new condo.
But the rules changed. Landlords sold out. Cities forced others to sell or condemned buildings in order to get their way. As younger,wealthier new city dwellers demanded fancier space the SRO's started a decline. For each one gone meant more SRO residents out on the streets for they couldn't afford regular apt rents. The parks and viaducts started filling up and no one seemed to care or were helpless to change it. Now we have this huge problem in so many cities. Rent are obscene. The small rooms,like YMCAs are nowhere to be found. But those who find distaste with the homless simply cannot make a connection between the ones who live on the streets because they have no other choice. We as a society should never have allowed to this homelss situation to get to the point it is. Now we have an awful lot of work to do.

[BuelahWitch]

2. Giving you a kick

Programming like this makes me wish I hadn't shut off my cable...

[quiet.american]

3. FWIW -- one can download free NOW podcasts and listen thru your PC.

I downloaded iTunes and then subscribed to the NOW podcast. That's how I actually keep up with it these days. :)

[faithnotgreed]

8. fantastic recommendation. thank you for sharing that

as you know its a wonderful program and tackling such an ignored issue as homelessness needs all the support and love it can get

thank you

[quiet.american]

14. My pleasure! n/t

[bobbolink]

4. Thanks soooo much for your headsup about this!!

I'm looking forward to it!

:thumbsup:

[nam78_two]

5. Nice..Thanks for posting. K&R.nt

[bobbolink]

6. another alerting kick.... before broadcast time.

:kick:

:hi:

[bobbolink]

7. Spread the word about this program, please, DUers!

Thanks!

:hi:

[EFerrari]

13. Hey, bobbolink! Thanks for the heads up! I hope I can catch this or

get it at their site.

This is the only way to go, imho.

:hi:

:kick:

[bobbolink]

15. Hope you were able to see it. I did get it recorded, if you didn't catch it.

At first I was disappointed, because it targetted such a narrow segment of the homeless population (as noted at the end of the program.)

However, it makes a HUGE!!!!!11 point, if the audience is paying attention -- Do The Right And Obvious Thing, And Get All People Housed NOW!

Are you up for a discussion of this program?

[Little Star]

Thanks for the web site link also. K&R

[Little Star]

9. Thanks for the web site link also. K&R

[nam78_two]

10. kick

:kick:

[nam78_two]

11. kick

:kick:

[EFerrari]

12. This is a GREAT idea. lol!

Thanks for the heads up!

K&R

[Cleita]

16. Yes, what a sensible solution to homelessness.

I hope more communities start adopting this approach.