The Expendables

Last year poverty rate in America reached 13.5%. According to the Census Bureau that rate is expected to climb through this year and the next. From that poverty rate is the homeless rate which certainly is growing in proportion.

The rate of uninsured is also still rising in this jobless recovery. The RI jobless rate is expected to climb to 13.5% according to economists on September 9^th and that does not include the possible 1000 layoff of state workers. Add the rate of the rising uninsured the environment is ripe for an increase of homeless and we have a state that does not seem to be prepared for or preparing for these people.

In the City of Providence and East Providence, the homeless are still being evicted and jockeyed about from site to site, from shelter out again to more sites. The Wampanoag Nation has accommodated some onto their land while the people of Hope City but it turns out that the land the Wampanoag had allowed them to use is part of a Superfund site and the town of Cumberland also disputes the Wampanoag's right of ownership.

Hope City homeless were allowed to move to Cumberland for only 6 days to find temporary or regular housing. Six days. These leaves the Hope City group out in left field...again. The Camp Runamuck homeless who are in East Providence were ordered to move by September 8^th.

I have been following this since July and no one seems to be helping these homeless people except the non-profits who are under a lot of stress themselves and are not able to help them as much as they would like. That cue word I had written about "but." But we will obey the law", "but we will enforce the rules", and the "buts" go on-that clause so many use and those poor people keep getting shuffled about by over-paid officials hiding behind rules and laws and citizens worried about the overvalued property values.

Put the same energy into securing a roof over their heads before the winter sets in at least.

These municipalities prove that they are expendable; the State of Rhode Island and City of Providence, East Providence, and Cumberland. There is always going to be homeless but, those who are homeless and are working and homeless with families should be accommodated and not shuffled about from one location to the next with officials constantly telling them where they can't stay as opposed to where they can live.

Reported in Tuesday's Providence Journal dated September 15, 2009, "Homeless Camp Illegal". The zoning board testified in Superior Court that this group, Camp Runamuck, cannot stay in the city's open spaces. We're not talking about 100 people. This group, Camp Runamuck is a total of 10. This group has split. The other sections Camp Runamuck called the "Providents" are living on a private lot with a portable toilet and a gas stove...wow! Ten people and all these officials and courts cannot find them a place to stay.

People in these groups are losing possessions. They go to shelters and possessions are stolen and the shelters are over-crowded and now they are all full. They report rampant drug use and alcoholism and fighting in these shelters.

In today's paper, September 16, 2009, they are in court again because of "violations" pitching tents, cooking, and sleeping in the park at night. Where else do they have to go? The "officials" were kind enough to give them guides were to go eat and shower. Wow!

What is there address?

Court order after court order they are ordered them about, eviction notices, demands from the police and others, "NOT IN MY BACKYARD." All these supposedly intelligent people can't or won't find a place for them to live. If they were single mothers there would not be a problem. They need a place to live as anyone else in this supposedly powerful country.

Has anyone ever heard of illegal's being left out in the streets?