We all have more in common with the homeless of our community than we do with the millionaires.
Eighty-five percent of the nation is exactly three to six months away from homelessness due to unforeseen illness, accidents, or job loss. Yet most people do not have a back up plan nor do they believe it can happen to them. The safety nets you think unemployment, workman’s comp, or social programs provide will not cover a mortgage, rent, or any extra bills. Welfare, general relief and emergency food programs are a joke.
I know from first-hand experience. Go investigate for yourself.
GR emergency relief is $221 a month. Emergency food stamps is $200. If you bring in more than $900 a month from any workman’s comp, disability or unemployment, you don’t qualify for social programs. Now if you have children that might be different.
If you are single with less than $900 a month income in any form, you can get $400 a month from the state as social aid. So let’s say you do qualify, and you get $800 a month from whatever source, and the state gives you $221 general relief. Wow, that’s a whopping $1,021 a month and $200 food aid that cannot be spent as cash — it’s strictly for food items.
Try renting an apartment on $1,000 a month, plus utilities… Even if you look for a room for rent, most people won’t rent to a person who is not working. So if you don’t have a family member willing to take you in if you lose your job, get hurt and can’t work, have an accident and become disabled, you’re screwed!
If you’re already homeless and you have no income, the social programs will give you $221 a month cash aid and $200 food aid. Try pulling yourself up out of homelessness and poverty on that…
Most people in the Antelope Valley are not homeless due to drug addiction. Veterans, mental health, disability and job loss are the main reasons.
Do the research yourself before you judge.
About the author: Gail Van Etten is a Lancaster resident.
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AVHS student says
The self-proclaimed Greatest.Country.Ever!!! How does that work again?
Slope says
It is a drug crisis.
Sad says
A mentally ill elderly women was evicted from her senior apartment, homeless in the streets with her walker. I asked her can I take her to a shelter, she stated that the shelter kicked her out for wetting the bed. Very said way for America to take care of the elderly, this is a 70 something year old woman, how can there be no help for the mentally ill! Very sad
Alexis says
For anyone out there feeling hopeless and alone that is reading this: You are not alone; there are people that show kindness towards others in the most amazing ways. Don’t give up!
Alexis says
Thank you, Gail Van Etten. I was homeless for ten years and now I am thankful for the opportunity to give back to my community. I have a heart for the homeless and know many of them, so when they see me, and how far I have come, they know “if she can do it, I can). I thank God!
M. says
My only issue with the homeless is the shocking amount of trash they leave everywhere. The city or county should work with people in homeless camps by providing waste bins.
Laughing says
Waste bins will not work… that is a homeless persons loot box. They have to dig through them.
Alexis says
I used to dig through waste bins to gather recyclables; also found usable items that others didn’t need. I don’t do that anymore as I have a pension and Social Security, and some very kind humans lifted me up out of a hopeless situation. It’s easy to generalize isn’t it, Laughing. Maybe you should read the article again, or maybe you are content just to place (them, they) into one mass.
Laughing says
It is called humor… so humor me.
Life is too screwed up to be serious all the time.
Alexis says
Isn’t it wonderful that there are people of good will that are mature enough not to make sweeping generalizations.
Alexis says
M….Great idea but the city doesn’t want what might appear as permanent. The same for portable toilets.