UN Investigator Accuses US of Shameful Neglect of Homeless

[Better Believe It]

UN Investigator Accuses US of Shameful Neglect of Homeless
UN special rapporteur says wealthy US ignoring deepening homeless crisis while pumping billions into bank rescues
by Chris McGreal in Los Angeles
Novembere 13, 2009

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."

Rolnik says that one of the greatest matters of shame is that the US has the resources to provide decent housing for everyone.

Rolnik has given a verbal report to the US state department, which has a month to respond to her observations. She will submit a final written report to the UN human rights council early next year.

Read the full article at:

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/11/13-0

[Homer Wells]

1. K and Freakin R!!!! nt

[Luminous Animal]

2. Another kick.

We are one mean-spirited uncompassionate country.

[inna]

3. kr

unbelievable.

[Luciferous]

4. K&R

[clear eye]

5. K&R - Tip of the iceberg, but at least it's a start

to understanding what a crime against humanity it was to handle the criminally-created bank crisis with bailouts instead of careful break-ups of the most culpable institutions, reregulation, investigations, prosecutions, and restitution by those who profited the most. What she is reminding our gov't and country is that human rights doesn't apply to capital only. If we had gone the other way, at least any rescue money would be benefitting the economy, instead of going down a bottomless pit.

What we are getting instead is the creation of more and more homeless. And people who are sitting in their rentals w/o utilities and unfilled medical prescriptions.

[undergroundpanther]

6. KnR ForEVER

Yes Finally someone OUTSIDE the US SEES this.Sees how the homeless are treated here,see that not everyone in this country has shelter,and SEES the rich have created bad conditions here.When will the rich pigs in my state(Maryland) UNFREEZE the section 8 list? I know a lot of people waiting for housing. What are the state politicians waiting for? Why are they HOGGING the funds?
Why is poverty in America tolerated and why are the poor BLAMED for their own misfortunes?

It is the GREEDY who create the NEEDY.

The problem is with the rich,as it has ALWAYS been ,They are the real problem.