UN investigator accuses US of shameful neglect of homeless

[AlphaCentauri]

Source: Guardian

UN special rapporteur says wealthy US ignoring deepening homeless crisis while pumping billions into bank rescues

A United Nations special investigator who was blocked from visiting the US by the Bush administration has accused the American government of pouring billions of dollars into rescuing banks and big business while treating as "invisible" a deepening homeless crisis.

Raquel Rolnik, the UN special rapporteur for the right to adequate housing, who has just completed a seven-city tour of America, said it was shameful that a country as wealthy as the US was not spending more money on lifting its citizens out of homelessness and substandard, overcrowded housing.

"The housing crisis is invisible for many in the US," she said. "I learned through this visit that real affordable housing and poverty is something that hasn't been dealt with as an issue. Even if we talk about the financial crisis and government stepping in in order to promote economic recovery, there is no such help for the homeless."

She added: "I think those who are suffering the most in this whole situation are the very poor, the low-income population. The burden is disproportionately on them and it's of course disproportionately on African-Americans, on Latinos and immigrant communities, and on Native Americans."


Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/12/un-investigator-us-neglect-homeless

[Demeter]

1. All Too True--No Change Since Bush, Either

[Beavker]

9. Results of this visit should be a given before it even began

This is the U.S., we don't do what is best for our citizens. It's run by the rich, and always will be. Maybe the U.N. and other civilized and industrialized nations should sanction the U.S. That would be hilarious if we get denounced and sanctioned by others for humanitarian reasons. They should already be doing that for climate and just out and out fraud and greed.

More of the outsiders are starting to realize that the GOP in this country are to blame for a lot of it, and they are basically a radical, if not terrorist organization in principle. Even conservative parties in these countries vote for universal healthcare and higher taxes to help the country they live in as a whole.

But then again, according to the GOPigs, we are right and the rest of the World is wrong.

[notadmblnd]

2. I'm afraid it's not going to get any better anytime soon either

as more people lose jobs and benefits, it's only going to get worse. The good news is that corporate America isn't eliminating 1/2 million jobs a month any longer. They've cut back to about 1/4 million.

[barbtries]

3. well, at least we let her in the country

maybe with that some change can begin to be addressed. i hope so.

[WriteDown]

4. I'm sure the UN will donate a hefty amount of funds to help

combat the problem.

[barbtries]

5. the wealth to eradicate the problem is here

just in the hands of the greedy few who could not care less about the suffering of others.

[WriteDown]

6. Really...

Like who and how much will it take. I think we should use the same argument whenever the UN asks for dues. "You're greedy few already have the money."

[barbtries]

8. did you read the article

or do you just have a knee jerk reaction to anything involving the UN?

[WriteDown]

11. I did...

They're against TARP and the stimulus. That money is gone and we need more for the people so I'm sure the UN will soon cut a check. Maybe supply some swine flu vaccine while their at it. An easy solution would be for the US to stop paying over 3B in regular dues to the UN per year.

[barbtries]

14. i'd find it a lot more palatable

if the US stopped making war all over the world and became a peacemaking member of the world.

[WriteDown]

15. We can do that too...

Withdraw from everywhere. Focus on our own resources. Let the world take care of itself for a while. Maybe we can even get enough swine flu vaccination for own own population that way.

[Butch350]

18. Know what side fence your on. May bad times never visit you.

[Sinti]

24. "That money is gone" - don't you find it odd

that the taxpayers gave money to the banks, so the banks "would be willing and/or able" to lend money at interest to businesses that are owned by the taxpayers? Does this actually make logical sense to you saying, "here have my money so you can loan it back to me at interest?"

Of course, now the banks have said NO - but, ha-ha, they still have your money. I swear, it looks like one of those drug deals gone bad, where the guy wants the dope and the dollars so he brings friends and shoots up the place.

I'm not trying to place blame on anyone in particular. We haven't had any investigation yet. I realize that many people get taken in by a con - far be it from me to blame the victims, but who's the confidence man in this game. I think we need to remove him from society, because he is a threat to our existence.

Fraud is a crime for a reason.

[defendandprotect]

31. Maybe returning what they've stolen would do it . . .

more than likely!!

[Judi Lynn]

27. Absolutely. Their paths never cross. They make sure of that. They are invisible to them.

It's also a shame homelessness has been the destination of so many United States war veterans.

There's no one louder and more beligerant claiming such vast support for military people but that never extends to caring for their broken, shattered lives when many of them return far, far worse off than when they left to serve their country.

[katkat]

10. UN funds

Maybe the UN would have some funds if the US paid up its very back bills to it.

[WriteDown]

12. If we need funds...

Why pay the UN in the first place. The days of us being the world police are over.

[Fumesucker]

16. ROFL... Tell that to the people in Iraq and Afganistan..

We are the world police because our politicians *want* us to be, wouldn't have it any other way.

[WriteDown]

17. Hopefully...

Those two conflicts are coming to an end eventually.

[Fumesucker]

23. I'm not a great believer in "hope"..

The military, industrial, Congressional complex (the phrasing in Eisenhower's penultimate draft) has no intention of letting us have peace..

[Demeter]

13. I Believe that Obama did release the money to the UN

at least, I heard him take credit for doing so...supposedly, we are current.

[JonQ]

19. Or we could just use this years UN dues

to pay for it.

[denverbill]

21. Yes, because when I have my home inspected, I expect the inspector to pay for any problems he finds.

So tell me? What is the Republican/Ayn Rand-ian solution to this problem?

Is it:
A) There is no problem. People who are homeless need to pull themselves up by their bootstraps and get a fucking job.
B) There might be a tiny number of needy homeless people. Let charities take care of the problem.
C) Tax the homeless, so they'll have an incentive to get homes.
D) Cut taxes for the wealthy so the wealthy can afford to give more to charity.
E) Most people who are homeless are homeless by choice. All they want to do is drink and beg for money. Screw them.

[WriteDown]

22. Then I suppose there is no use for the UN and its peacekeepers ever....

Although, I here the girls in Africa love them.

Since above 80% of the homeless suffer from a substance abuse problem or mental illness, laws that enabled them to be forcibly removed from the street and put in institutions or rehab facilities would be a first priority.

edited for spelling

[denverbill]

25. Who'd have thought Writedown would propose a big, govt liberal solution?

Because that's a fine solution. As a matter of fact, that's exactly what we did before the Reagan 'revolution'. But Saint Ronnie found out we were using his hard-earned tax dollars to help drug-addicts and mentally ill people and he put a stop to that shit pronto.

Where, pray-tell, will we be getting the money to pay for the free housing and mental health/substance abuse counseling for that 80%? Colorado had 14,000 homeless people in 2007. For arguments sake, let's say 80% of that would mean 10000 homeless substance abusers and mentally ill. Assuming a low-end number for the cost of keeping someone in a jail or mental institution, let's say it costs only $30,000 per person. That's $300,000,000. Where would you suggest we find that money? And remember, cutting taxes is not an answer. It's why this funding was eliminated in the first place.

[WriteDown]

34. There is always money....

We waste so much, taking care of our infirm should not be a problem. The real problem is a civil rights issue. Can you pull people from the streets and confine then to drug and mental rehab facilities when they object. I can foresee many legal battles.

[AlphaCentauri]

26. I'm sure Cuba could send 10 000 doctors to help the poor

Venezuela could give cheap oil for the poor

yes for the poor in first world most developed nation

:eyes:

[elleng]

7. I suspect this will get this admin's attention.

[Vidar]

20. K&R

[Blue_Tires]

28. ttt

[Jkid]

29. The real reason

The homeless don't vote, and even if they did vote it would make any difference. They don't have a lobbist group that stands up to them. That's why the US congressmen only care about the rich.

Get rid of legalize bribery however, and then we'll get some progress.

[defendandprotect]

30. When was the last time we heard Obama, Reid, Pelosi . . . Dems... mention HOMELESS????

[cutlassmama]

32. they are a little bit busy right now.

[defendandprotect]

35. Actually, one of the committees got to the miliary homeless the other day . . .

imagine that -- our military on food stamps and homeless!!!

GOP's "third world America" -- !!!


PS: People are more important that conducting wars and raising troops to fight them!
They're more important than capitalism and bailouts --
And we need a more "people" oriented government!!

[EFerrari]

33. The last time Pelosi mentioned the homeless

she was saying she wished she could have us arrested for being out on the street the way the homeless are arrested.