Great Depression Revival: Tent Cities

. Sunday, March 22

It quickly flew past the question of "if" and became "when" right now. This particular tent city of "squatters" is not far from where homelessness was documented 70 years ago during the Great Depression. Located along the banks of the American River near Sacramento, California, this tent city consists of around 120 residents all living with no running water, sanitation or electricity.

Most of the residents are the expected drug addicts, alcoholics or mentally ill - the chronically homeless - but there is a rapid increase in numbers of those that fell victim to foreclosure, unemployment and the high cost of housing among the tent city occupants. Band-aid programs that provide food, propane and clothing do little to improve the living conditions there.

Sacramento Assistant City Manager Cassandra Jennings said that "it's not safe out there, it's an unhealthy environment" and the city plans to do something about it. Their solution is to erect another tent city somewhere else, provide running water and move the American River tent city residents there.

1 comments:

Anonymous said...

The President was asked about this tonite in his news conference. he says there has to be a solution. I for one hope he comes up with it, because these others didn't - and there sure needs to be a solution.

especially to the families and veterans who are homeless.