How about the comments left beneath the CNN story ridiculing and blaming the woman. Although there were some CNN commenter's that have true compassion for Barbara Harvey and the difficult time that she's going through, many of the comments showed no empathy, no kindness, no sense of understanding.
You can read the CNN story "Mom Forced To Live In Car With Dogs" here.
It's always interesting to hear someone in their early twenties give the advice that a 67-year-old woman should get a full time job. Have they no concept of aging or retirement?
I think CNN should do a follow up story based on the heartless comments, I'd love to hear what an expert has to say on the psychology of those who couldn't care less about an elderly woman living in a car.
You can read more on the middle-class homeless in the article, Parking Lots Turn Into Safe Havens For Middle-Class Homeless. You'll also find link there where you can donate.
After reading Bobby's (the author of Revellian.com) article " Interview With a Blind Homeless Man" I was motivated to make a donation to the New Beginnings Counselling Center, and I hope you will too! Bobby stands up for what he believes, and his good deeds are very inspiring. Keep up the great work Bobby!
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In 1984 I moved to California (Mountain View), working for a government contractor, making about$29k. An apartment was too expensive, so I looked for a roommate. I talked to one lady living in a garage with two teen daughters, using an ice chest for a refrigerator, hanging clothes on the garage door rails.
Moving is scary. Unless you have a compelling reason drawing you to a new place (job, family), you risk being stranded without resources. Finding work, finding help is usually difficult to figure out, especially if you are unfamiliar. Plus, no locality wants to attract homeless or people likely to need support services.
But I have a suggestion to cure those denigrating this lady. Force any unmarried man to take in a homeless person or person on welfare, until all are cared for. If a community must support those in need, shouldn't the community be able to make use of available resources?
Thank you so much Christy! The people leaving those comments are people living in air-conditioned homes, have health insurance and a belly full of food. Nowadays, you can go to college, get your dream job and end up homeless very quickly. If your dream is to be a teacher, that is not a job with a big paycheck. It's like we should all strive to be movie stars and stock brokers to live well.
I donated $60.00 to unicef to help with the people in Myanmar - that's all I can afford to give to anyone right now.
I live so close to being homeless myself, I am fully prepared to live in the forest...haha! That sounds crazy, but I will make it no matter what happens to me. Thanks for the inspiring post:)
Dear Christy,
Thank you for posting this story and bringing attention to the plight of homeless people. I live in Ca and there is an epidemic of homelessness here as rents are astronomical.
I think that in the U.S. there are about one million school children registered as homeless. This is a crime against humanity and just the tip of the iceberg. There are younger children who aren't counted and disabled people being discharged from the hospitals to the streets. Senior housing wait lists are closing and at some the wait is from 3-9 years long. A trillion dollars has been diverted from HUD into so called "affordable housing" communities which exclude about 80% of all poor people. The new government housing is targeted for the working and middle class. In New Orleans for example public housing that is in decent condition is being torn down to make way for these new condo communities. In other words, it's a government sanctioned land grab. As the middle class falls, underclass people have been written off entirely. And I won't get started on the issue of health care.
We are in midst of a primary election and none of the candidates are proposing universal health care or are even willing to discuss the issue of homelessness. American jobs continue to be outsourced and our public education system is so inferior that public officials say we need to give resident visas to yet more educated foreigners. Where will this end?
I think it's time for the affluent to stop sending donations to third world countries and look at the appalling poverty in their own communities. In Oakland, Ca there are classrooms without chairs let alone school books or music programs. When American Idol sent most of the millions they raised in the US to Africa I felt that was a wrong choice. At least, half of that money should have stayed at home. American elite are so out of touch with what is happening that it spells social destruction.
This is an excellent post and I am going to try and do more, personally. Thanks for the motivation.
People love to point fingers and blame people when they are down! I wonder what they will say when they themselves become homeless...
Life and karma go hand in hand...
Judy
It's not about denigrating the woman, but you DO have to look at past behavior. She lived in a rented $2,500/month condo - alone! That's HUGE money. A quick look at craigslist shows 384 1Br places available for under $1500.
How much was she saving a month? Where are her children?
Identifying the problem is not the same as placing blame.
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