Foreclosures are Compelling Evictees to Seek Shelter
Those who once proudly lived in their own homes with self-respect are now turning to seek refuge in cars, with friends, relations and in public shelters.
One of the victims is Sheri West. The first night she spent inside her sedan. It was parked in the driveway of her previous house piled with her goods. On the second night she camped with a friend. In this way it continued for over a year – no mean achievement for a great-grandmother. Somehow she survived on couches and front seat of her car clutching on to meagre possessions but not giving up her few potted plants.
This autumn all her options had been exhausted. Once upon a time she had been the owner of home that looked after the homeless. Now she has become one of them enlisting herself in one such shelter. She bemoaned, “I had a house for homeless people. Now, I’m homeless.”
The number of homeless Americans is increasing. More are ending up in shelters according to the findings of social service agencies and a report released by a group of housing advocates.
Three years ago foreclosures had not been an important factor in affecting homeless numbers. But the social services agencies note that of those they have helped in the last year, 10% have been foreclosure evictees. The report has been released by Foreclosure to Homelessness 2009. It is a survey conducted by National Coalition for the Homeless and half a dozen advocacy groups.
15% of new homeless folks came from the foreclosure category in the Midwest. It was indicative of high unemployment. Ohio unemployment rate touched 10.8% in last August. The prime cause has been wrong lending to those who did not have the ability to repay.
West now lives in a shelter meant for only women and children. It is being run by West Side Catholic Center in Cleveland. In 2007 foreclosures were not responsible for the arrival of any new seeker. This year already 4 foreclosure evictees have had to be accommodated. The same trend has been observed in shelters located at California, Michigan and Florida where a poisonous chemistry of foreclosure combining with unemployment has caused untold damage.
Most of the foreclosure evictees in shelters are renters in the low income bracket. Their landlords have been foreclosed upon leaving them suddenly stranded without notice and savings. Recently there has been a marked increase in previous landlords turning up at shelters.
Related Posts
