[sunrico90]

The National Coalition for the Homeless issued its report on Tuesday that violence against the homeless is spiking across the country. It was the second year Florida ranked first in the statistics complied by this advocacy group, partly because of the 2006 beatings of three Fort Lauderdale men by assailants using baseball bats and a golf club. One victim died, and three teens have been charged with his murder.

Is this a problem in your area?

http://www.topix.net/content/cbs/0099460284176266021712799406653824219594 (broken link)

[Jammie]

How awful!! First of all, there are homeless people who end up that way through no fault of their own. Some of them have mental disabilities and some are hard core alcoholic and some are just people who are down on their luck. Then to be dehumanized in the DVDs or to be beaten just for fun shows a total lack of compassion. Just a really sad story.

[dreamofmonterey]

Originally Posted by sunrico90

The National Coalition for the Homeless issued its report on Tuesday that violence against the homeless is spiking across the country. It was the second year Florida ranked first in the statistics complied by this advocacy group, partly because of the 2006 beatings of three Fort Lauderdale men by assailants using baseball bats and a golf club. One victim died, and three teens have been charged with his murder.

Is this a problem in your area?

http://www.topix.net/content/cbs/0099460284176266021712799406653824219594 (broken link)

That is truly disturbing. Thanks for the info sunrico.

sunny

[DOGG]

This Will Keep Em Out!

[BlueWillowPlate]

Maybe Florida became a destination for the homeless? I dunno. I remember lots and lots of street people in San Francisco as well as Denver/Boulder; the mild winters make survival easier.
Beating deaths of homeless have been going on in Denver metro area for years, with many of these cruel homicides committed by young people.
Some of these killings were actually turf battles between older transients and runaway kids, but a few of them were "thrill kills" perpetrated by wealthy kids.
Really sick stuff.
Our community here in northwest Florida is so small, and social services so limited, that any homeless are absorbed or go elsewhere.

[sunrico90]

In our town we don't see homeless to often. The areas that provide assistance are in Pcola and Fort Walto Beach. The state provide the following report in 2005: Our county (Santa Rosa) homeless population increased due to hurricanes..

The total number of homeless persons on any given day in 2005 is estimated at 83,391. This number reflects the impact of the 2004 hurricanes that devastated the state. Areas hardest hit by the storms, which destroyed over 20,000 homes, and caused major damage to over 45,000 units, reported increased numbers of homeless. For example, Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties reported increases of nearly 15,000 homeless persons. Charlotte County also reported an increase of over 2,800 homeless.

Causes of Homelessness
The primary causes of homelessness are poverty and the shortage of housing
stock affordable to those with limited incomes. Added to these factors was the
serious impact to Florida’s housing stock from the 2004 hurricanes. Other factors
that contribute to a person’s or family’s episode of homelessness include:
• Unemployment
• Family break-ups
• Domestic violence
• Physical and mental disabilities
• Health problems and related costs

At Risk Populations
In addition to our residents who have become homeless, there are many persons
and families who remain at risk of becoming homeless in the future. High risk
populations are identified by researchers as including:
• Single women with children
• Families with poverty level incomes
• Youth aging out of foster care
• Persons being released from correctional facilities
• Women and Children escaping domestic abuse
• Persons with severe and persistent mental illness.