Numbers Dropping?
HOBOMATT (HOBOMATT@aol.com)
Sun, 24 May 1998 14:55:59 EDT
<<
ATLANTIC CITY CLEARS HONELESS FROM BOARDWALK
Authorities roused 35 people from their beds and cardboard hovels in
the sandy shadows of the Boardwalk's wooden planks, Police
Detective Joe Latorre said.
<<snip>>
The number of people found living under the 4 1/2 mile-long
Boardwalk, which runs along the busy beachfront casinos, shops and
restaurants, was down from 56 a year ago.>>>
I live in Colorado Springs and have worked, in a variety of settings, with
homeless people for over 20 years. I have recently noticed a slight but
perceptable drop in the numbers of homeless people living on the streets here:
numbers asking for food and clothing down at one charity outlet, fewer folks
at the soup kitchen and drop-in, and fewer men at our little Rescue Mission.
Our one shelter (run by the American Red Cross) has really tightened up on
who can stay and for how long; for all residents but especially single males.
At this time last year, the census was around 200. Now there are about 100
residents, mostly families. My impression is that our locally hot economy/low
unemployment figures, plus the more restrictive Shelter policies had led to my
perception of this decline in street homeless numbers. Now this from Atlantic
City... Can anyone else add to this...? Thanks, Matt Parkhouse, RN