Saturday July 11, 2009, 8:55 am
First of all, $200 (and up) a week is not a "budget motel", it only works if a charity is paying the rent and that's not going to last forever. So this is not really "swapping homes for motels" like this is an option. It's more like a last ditch effort until they become literally homeless, that would be more accurate. It was in the late 70's that budget motels were still around. Once the motels chose to stay empty rather than rent at a low rent, that was when the Homeless no longer had a last ditch place to hang their heads. Did you know that every city in the U.S. has a Hotel/Motel association that sets the rates high for every hotel/motel owner. They dare not go lower or they will soon be out of business. The Association will use their connections to get them closed down by the "authorities".

Saturday July 11, 2009, 9:51 pm
Why is it that governments can afford decent housing, free medical, job programs, etc. for immigrants and illegals when our own people are living in cardboard boxes, going without food and waiting in line for health care? Billions are sent to help other countries in need, but too many of our own go without. I don't get it. I know it is not politically correct to do for your fellow citizens, but then I've never been politically correct.
We need to start fixing what ails Canada and the U.S., get ourselves on the right track, make sure our people are well taken care of before doting on everyone else. Sound selfish? Go get tell the guy sleeping on the street.

Saturday July 11, 2009, 11:40 pm
Sherri O, is correct. Enough of hand outs to people who should not be here. I know of a gal with a kid who could not get food stamps and she really needed the help but an illegal can who does not pay taxes???

Sunday July 12, 2009, 1:18 pm
We can relate, to an extent. My wife lost her job (w/benefits) Sept. 2008, I lost mine (due to the economy, business closed) last October. Our only income being unemployment check, and wife's part time job, we ended up loosing the (modest) house we had been paying for (14 yrs). (strike one) Had to move, temporarily staying with our daughter. Can't find jobs here either, we need to move back to our home state of WI, but what's concerning is, to what, and with what. Can't seem to find anyone who would give us "a hand up", as we are not looking for, "a hand out". Should also mention, we are in our mid 50's, (strike two) Now what? Any ideas, or suggestions, would be greatly appreciated. ...........Michael

Sunday July 12, 2009, 2:49 pm
I wish warm positive thoughts your way, I know that does not get you or your wife a job or get your home back.... :o( I hope that things get better for you and everyone else in this predicament

Warm regards, keep up the hope> Namaste

Sunday July 12, 2009, 5:16 pm
The USA is the richest nation state on our planet, and thus the absolute figures used to refer to the things it does sound large, but in percentage terms they are sometimes small.

For example although the USA is the largest donor country of aid, in percentage terms is one of the lowest. Therefore the USA does not necessarily give much money to foreigners, and relocating that aid to the domestic economy would not necessarily do much good.

Before the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) occurred about 12.5% of people in the USA lived below the poverty line, its Gini Index (a measure of income inequality) was high, and its health and welfare systems were under stress. The GFC exaggerated those trends, because the problem was not addressed from the bottom up, but from the top down; the result is that the GFC problems are getting bigger before they get smaller.

I agree with The Real Donna F $200 a week seems expensive for somebody without much income.

In some parts of Australia we are experiencing the same phenomenom of poorer people moving into motels because refuges etc. are filling up too quickly to cope with demand. My heart goes out to these people, but far more to those in tent cities.