The Homeless Problem in Tallahassee

[BHCav]

A few statistics on the homless:

According to HUD statistics (http://www.huduser.org), 33% of homeless men are veterans. 83% of those received honorable discharges.

According to the US Conference of Mayors (old data from 1996), 18% of the homless held full time jobs.

According to a Ford Foundation study (also old - from 1990) 50% of homeless women and children were fleeing physical abuse.

According to the Federal Center for Mental Health Services (http://www.nrchmi.samhsa.gov), 80% of the homeless, at any given time, are short-term homless, on the street because of a unforseen circumstances (fires, earthquakes, storms).

People who are disabled have a very difficult time finding work. SSI provides $545 a month (2002 statistics from SSI). Could you live on this amount?

I grew up in a poor broken home and was in the Army. Disabled Iraq vet. Battle of Fullujah, Abu Ghariab uprising, Sadr City. I've seen it all in war terms.

Where's my cookie? Can someone give me handouts?

[ghostOFtheSuwanee]

I grew up in a poor broken home and was in the Army. Disabled Iraq vet. Battle of Fullujah, Abu Ghariab uprising, Sadr City. I've seen it all in war terms.

Where's my cookie? Can someone give you handouts?

Sorry. Unless your are an oil company, no cookies for you.

[Go Gators]

I grew up in a poor broken home and was in the Army. Disabled Iraq vet. Battle of Fullujah, Abu Ghariab uprising, Sadr City. I've seen it all in war terms.

Where's my cookie? Can someone give me handouts?

I appreciate you buddy.

[Florida]

Hopefully Tally will never even entertain the idea of "begging zones." I find the idea shameful.

I agree! However, I do like the idea of SUV zones. I say they require all Large SUV drivers to stay out of the fast lane and designate an express lane for us Prius* owners.

(*I don't actually own a prius, just sounds nice)