Hard Times Generation: Families living in cars

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http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57330802/hard-times-generation-families-living-in-cars/

(CBS News) More than 16 million children are now living in poverty and, for many of them, a proper home is elusive. Some cash-strapped families stay with relatives; others move into motels or homeless shelters. But, as Scott Pelley reports, sometimes those options run out, leaving an even more desperate choice: living in their cars. 60 Minutes returns to Florida, home to one third of America's homeless families, to find out what life is like for the epidemic's youngest survivors.


You can read the transcript of the 60 Minutes show or watch the segment at the link....
 
Quotes from the article:

More than 16 million children are now living in poverty and, for many of them, a proper home is elusive. Some cash-strapped families stay with relatives; others move into motels or homeless shelters. But, as Scott Pelley reports, sometimes those options run out, leaving an even more desperate choice: living in their cars. 60 Minutes returns to Florida, home to one third of America's homeless families, to find out what life is like for the epidemic's youngest survivors.
-------

Last year, the Coates left Washington, D.C., for a new life in Florida but the jobs dried up. When the savings went, Victoria and D'Angelo learned how to be homeless. They found out there's a checklist for living in a car. You want security, lighting, a place where you might be welcome or at least a place busy enough to hide in. Walmart lots can be good - it depends on the manager, YMCAs mostly look the other way. D'Angelo settled outside a hospital emergency room.

D'Angelo Coates: And we knew that through bein' there we could at least brush our teeth in the morning, go to the bathroom if we need to in the middle of the night. And I'm sitting on the cooler in between our vehicle and another vehicle just to make sure they're okay.

Pelley: Standing guard all night.

D'Angelo Coates: Yup.

Pelley: D'Angelo, what does a man think about, sitting on a cooler all night with his family in the car next to him?

D'Angelo Coates: At that moment, I guess I feel less than a dad. I guess, I guess I can say or as a husband. Because I'm not able to provide for my family.

Victoria Coates: Going into that car really did something to me. I felt helpless. I felt like I couldn't help my children.
 
:( So sad. I lived in my car, though my son did not. He stayed at my moms house and I parked down the street from her house in a motel parking lot so I could be there in the mornings to get him off on the school bus. My mothers landlord would not let 2 people move into the house without going up dramatically on the rent.. I wasn't allowed to spend my days there and when I "visited" I couldn't stay past 8pm (he said that's calling living there if you spend all that time there). I hated not being able to sleep under the same roof as my child but it was the only way.

We do what we gotta do. I hope these families find a way out..
 
You're right OLG, we do what we gotta do. But this is so extreme. While states are slashing programs that could help these families, people are suffering. Humans, children. It's just so unacceptable and horrifying.

I am sorry you had to do it, but bless your soul.
 
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001

$1,285,854,999,883

http://costofwar.com/en/

Priorities have been skewed in this country since 2001. Bullets and bombs have taken precedence over people. I am grateful that President Obama had the courage to end this absurd waste of money. We have lost too many lives on foreign soil for nothing.

It is well past time to take care of our own people. No one in this country should be hungry and no child should be homeless. This country, we, are better than that.
 
Jacie Estes said:
Total Cost of Wars Since 2001

$1,285,854,999,883



Priorities have been skewed in this country since 2001. Bullets and bombs have taken precedence over people. I am grateful that President Obama had the courage to end this absurd waste of money. We have lost too many lives on foreign soil for nothing.

It is well past time to take care of our own people. No one in this country should be hungry and no child should be homeless. This country, we, are better than that.
Click to expand...

Kinda puts it in perspective doesn' t it. I know we're 1 check away from homelessness, and no one should have to live that way. It totally stresses me out. I'm applying for medical for my diabetes and I can't tell you what I've already had to go through to try to get some type of medical coverage. Sometimes I think they would rather see me dead (well, no I DO feel that way). This idjeet had the nerve to call me today and ask:

"so what are you doing now to take care of your medical needs"?

UH - NOTHING. That's why I'm asking for help!!!!

What is so wrong in this world that more and more people are praying that they don't end up living on the street.

I never thought 10 years ago that I'd be looking at that prospect. I will continue to fight to keep that nightmare at bay.

MOO

Mel
 
Melanie said:
Kinda puts it in perspective doesn' t it. I know we're 1 check away from homelessness, and no one should have to live that way. It totally stresses me out. I'm applying for medical for my diabetes and I can't tell you what I've already had to go through to try to get some type of medical coverage. Sometimes I think they would rather see me dead (well, no I DO feel that way). This idjeet had the nerve to call me today and ask:

"so what are you doing now to take care of your medical needs"?

UH - NOTHING. That's why I'm asking for help!!!!

What is so wrong in this world that more and more people are praying that they don't end up living on the street.

I never thought 10 years ago that I'd be looking at that prospect. I will continue to fight to keep that nightmare at bay.

MOO

Mel
Click to expand...

When there are medical issues involved it is much worse. A friend became terminally ill and in a fell swoop he lost his insurance and his employer 'suggested' he not work anymore. If it weren't for family, he would have died on the streets. :(

Good luck to you.
 
I've lived in my car. Really not that bad. I've done it as a child and as an adult. I've also been homeless without the car, and that sucked. So, I guess by comparison, I don't find sleeping in my car that bad, especially in FL, I had to do it in MI, during a winter where the wind chill was hitting 20 below. It's rough, but it's life. This is what we need to get used to, since it's going to be happening more and more in the years to come.
 
American Indians believe that what is done in this present generation should benefit, not harm, the seventh generation from present. Not only should our progeny be left a world that has a livable environment but we should work to ensure that this 7th generation isn't living in their cars and in economic collapse.

"The right of citizens of the United States to use and enjoy air, water, wildlife, and other renewable resources determined by the Congress to be common property shall not be impaired, nor shall such use impair their availability for the use of future generations".

http://www.protecttheearth.org/Seventh Generation.htm
 
I really appreciate all of you who have commented and shared your experiences with being homeless, living in your car or experiencing other economic/medical hardships...here is another excerpt from the article:


"Beth Davalos: I hear about it every week, every couple of days. If they're not living in their car right now, they are avoiding it. Some of them don't even have cars to live in. Or they recently got out of it.

Pelley: Why is it happening right now?

Beth Davalos: The longevity of homelessness continues to rise, so people are running out of resources. The unemployment runs out. Their savings run out. The family that lent them money does not have it anymore 'cause they're looking at economic hardship. And before you know it they find themselves living in their car because they ran out of all options.

Earlier this year, when folks heard about the homeless students in central Florida, four million dollars in donations poured in. Beth Davalos set up food banks in 41 Seminole County schools; they gathered up clothing for the kids and shelled out cash for motel rooms."........

"Pelley: I wonder if some of these families are hiding from the system, hiding from you because as one woman put it to us today, she said, 'I was afraid that if they found out we were living in the car, the state would take my children away from me.'

Beth Davalos: Yeah, they're scared. They're very scared. And the reality is if the state found them in a car, they could-- their children could be taken away and put someplace safe for now. But when we find them we can put them someplace safe.

The Coates tried to go someplace safe - they called every shelter in the area - but they were all full. After ten days in the car, the only thing in the bottom of the cooler was an orange. So, Victoria started calling again.

Victoria Coates: And we called each and every one of them. And then I got to the last one, which was Orlando Rescue Mission. And I called and the lady said, 'We have a program for your entire family.'

Pelley: You must have thought you weren't hearing right.

Victoria Coates: Yeah.

Pelley: How close did you come to running outta gas on the way to the rescue mission?

Victoria Coates: We had, like maybe a quarter tank before the "E."

Pelley: So really all you had to your names at that point was a quarter of a tank and an orange?

Victoria Coates: That's right.

It wasn't long after, the family made it into the shelter that D'Angelo found a job.

He's manhandling garbage cans and proud to have the work.

D'Angelo Coates: Hard work, but hard work's good for you. I'm thankful to have a job.

With help from his employer, they hope to get Jamie, Jamia and J'la in a home of their own by Christmas.

Pelley: What do you know now that you didn't know before you lived in the car?

J'la Coates: I know to be grateful that you have your family and that my mom is really, really, really protective.

Protective because there's a ferocity that comes with being a parent on the street. Hiding the kids from cops and criminals, watching options grow shorter, the days longer and the nights...the nights are just stubborn, sitting on a cooler, waiting for the sun.


These families were working and lost their jobs due to the poor economy through no fault of their own. It can happen to anyone and is especially concerning when it affects children. It's very admirable that so many families find a way to cope and stay together in the face of being homeless.
 
Jacie Estes said:
American Indians believe that what is done in this present generation should benefit, not harm, the seventh generation from present. Not only should our progeny be left a world that has a livable environment but we should work to ensure that this 7th generation isn't living in their cars and in economic collapse.

"The right of citizens of the United States to use and enjoy air, water, wildlife, and other renewable resources determined by the Congress to be common property shall not be impaired, nor shall such use impair their availability for the use of future generations".

http://www.protecttheearth.org/Seventh Generation.htm
Click to expand...

The Native American people have problems of their own. With the casino business bringing in profits of almost 13 billion, most of the money goes to the wrong causes just like the the US lottery system.

Is Hollow Horn prospering from the $12.7 billion Indian gaming industry? Like most Native Americans, not at all. Last year the Oglala's Prairie Wind Casino, housed in a temporary, white, circus-tent-like structure smaller than a basketball court, turned a profit of $2.4 million on total revenue of $9.5 million. Most of the money went to fund general programs, such as services for the elderly and young people, as well as education and economic development. But even if there had been profit sharing instead, the payout would have worked out to a daily stipend of just 16¢ for each of the 41,000 tribe members.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1003869,00.html
 
legalmania said:
The Native American people have problems of their own. With the casino business bringing in profits of almost 13 billion, most of the money goes to the wrong causes just like the the US lottery system.

Is Hollow Horn prospering from the $12.7 billion Indian gaming industry? Like most Native Americans, not at all. Last year the Oglala's Prairie Wind Casino, housed in a temporary, white, circus-tent-like structure smaller than a basketball court, turned a profit of $2.4 million on total revenue of $9.5 million. Most of the money went to fund general programs, such as services for the elderly and young people, as well as education and economic development. But even if there had been profit sharing instead, the payout would have worked out to a daily stipend of just 16¢ for each of the 41,000 tribe members.*****************************************************************
This article was dated Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 .

We were at Prairie Wind a few weeks ago and it is no longer as described in this article. http://www.prairiewindcasino.com/index.php

OUR BEGINNINGS

From three doublewides in October 1994 to a tent-like structure in 1998 to a permanent building in 2007, Prairie Wind Casino has come a long way.

In March of 2007, Prairie Wind Casino proudly opened its first permanent structure to the community.

http://www.lakotamall.com/prairiewind/about.htm

As someone who double majored in AIS and Anthro with a minor in Soc, I could spend hours writing about what caused the problems on this rez, as well as others. The problem at Pine Ridge/Oglala/Prairie Wind was because of management issues/nepotism. There are also regulations in South Dakota that limit the number of slot machines in casinos. http://www.thestreet.com/story/10511861/1/lobbyist-says-sd-slots-limits-hurt-tribal-casinos.html

Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 (IGRA).

The IGRA of 1988 and Tribal-State Compacts

In section 3A of this act includes specific instructions for the process of developing a tribal-state compact. Indian tribes are expected to request a compact with states if they should desire to have Class III gaming (States have no jurisdiction over Class I and II gambling). Following such a request, states are required to enter negotiations and deal with the tribes in "good faith". The original text of the act implied that if states tried to "stone-wall" tribal gambling, the tribes could look to the federal courts for support [3] But while the IGRA is giving states unprecedented influence on tribal economic concerns, it also seeks to maintain the federal government as the "guardian" of the tribes. Accordingly, section 3B maintains the power of the federal government in this aspect. No compact will be valid until the United States Secretary of the Interior has entered the compact into the Federal registry. Also, tribes who feel that a state is not negotiating in "good faith" have the right to sue the states in federal court.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribal-State_compacts#The_IGRA_of_1988_and_Tribal-State_Compacts


The Shakopees have done well.

http://www.indianaffairs.state.mn.us/tribes_shakopee.html
Click to expand...
 
Reader said:
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57330802/hard-times-generation-families-living-in-cars/

(CBS News) More than 16 million children are now living in poverty and, for many of them, a proper home is elusive. Some cash-strapped families stay with relatives; others move into motels or homeless shelters. But, as Scott Pelley reports, sometimes those options run out, leaving an even more desperate choice: living in their cars. 60 Minutes returns to Florida, home to one third of America's homeless families, to find out what life is like for the epidemic's youngest survivors.


You can read the transcript of the 60 Minutes show or watch the segment at the link....
Click to expand...

The children living in cars aren't "too big to fail." The people provide adequate shelter for the children aren't "heros" like the people killing other human beings and bankrupting our country in Iraq and Afghanistan.
 
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