Homelessness is Not a Choice
Homelessness Is Not a Choice.
Homelessness Is the Fruit of Injustice
The Coalition of the Homeless at Church of the Reconciler has determined that it requires a $2000 a month take-home income and upfront cash amount of $3500 to move out of homelessness. The $2000 a month income was determined by identifying the amount of money than it takes in Birmingham to be able to sustain a marginal existence in a livable home. To work at a job in Birmingham where you can earn $2000 a month requires a reliable automobile.
The following budget amounts were arrived at that determined the $2000 a month take-home pay requirement:
1. Rent $500.
2. Utilities $500.
3. Car payment and insurance $500
4. Groceries and miscellaneous $500
Total $2000.
The upfront cash amount of $3500 was determined by the following budget items:
1. First month rent, last months rent, damage deposit $1500.
2. Back utilities and utility deposit $1000.
3. Down payment for automobile $500.
4. Miscellaneous items to set up housekeeping $500.
Total $3500
The large upfront deposit for an apartment is required because the homeless person lost all of their credit when they became homeless. The power company, the gas company, and the waterworks have an infinite memory. They remember all of the back utilities that have not been paid as long as you have received utilities with your Social Security number and personal identification. The option was also made that an agency would be contacted to donate the major furniture required, but there would still be considerable items that couldn't be donated to set up housekeeping.
There are uninformed people in our culture that say that there are many people who choose to be homeless. We hope that this analysis shows that a person couldn't choose to be homeless, unless they have a $2000 a month income and $3500 bank account that they walk away from to live on the street. The analysis also shows that a homeless person can not choose to move off the street, unless they have these resources available to them.
There are 30,000 homeless or marginally homeless people in the city of Birmingham that live in conditions that cannot be considered to be in a livable home. They are using their great human creativity to double up, or find some kind of unacceptable unlivable situation to try to sustain life off the street. This may be an abandoned building or living without utilities or in a house that has a floor caving in, or the roof falling in. They are to be complimented for this effort, but we must recognize that this effort does not mean that they're not homeless. Homelessness is not a choice, but a symptom of deep economic injustice.
R. Lawton Higgs, Sr.
January 27, 2007
Homelessness Is the Fruit of Injustice
The Coalition of the Homeless at Church of the Reconciler has determined that it requires a $2000 a month take-home income and upfront cash amount of $3500 to move out of homelessness. The $2000 a month income was determined by identifying the amount of money than it takes in Birmingham to be able to sustain a marginal existence in a livable home. To work at a job in Birmingham where you can earn $2000 a month requires a reliable automobile.
The following budget amounts were arrived at that determined the $2000 a month take-home pay requirement:
1. Rent $500.
2. Utilities $500.
3. Car payment and insurance $500
4. Groceries and miscellaneous $500
Total $2000.
The upfront cash amount of $3500 was determined by the following budget items:
1. First month rent, last months rent, damage deposit $1500.
2. Back utilities and utility deposit $1000.
3. Down payment for automobile $500.
4. Miscellaneous items to set up housekeeping $500.
Total $3500
The large upfront deposit for an apartment is required because the homeless person lost all of their credit when they became homeless. The power company, the gas company, and the waterworks have an infinite memory. They remember all of the back utilities that have not been paid as long as you have received utilities with your Social Security number and personal identification. The option was also made that an agency would be contacted to donate the major furniture required, but there would still be considerable items that couldn't be donated to set up housekeeping.
There are uninformed people in our culture that say that there are many people who choose to be homeless. We hope that this analysis shows that a person couldn't choose to be homeless, unless they have a $2000 a month income and $3500 bank account that they walk away from to live on the street. The analysis also shows that a homeless person can not choose to move off the street, unless they have these resources available to them.
There are 30,000 homeless or marginally homeless people in the city of Birmingham that live in conditions that cannot be considered to be in a livable home. They are using their great human creativity to double up, or find some kind of unacceptable unlivable situation to try to sustain life off the street. This may be an abandoned building or living without utilities or in a house that has a floor caving in, or the roof falling in. They are to be complimented for this effort, but we must recognize that this effort does not mean that they're not homeless. Homelessness is not a choice, but a symptom of deep economic injustice.
R. Lawton Higgs, Sr.
January 27, 2007
posted by Lawton, Sr. at
8:25 AM
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