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This article by Samantha M. Shapiro is a classic kind of journalism, writing about an issue, homelessness, through the touching story of a struggling mother and her bright young child, as they are bounced around, unable to put down roots.
The Children in the Shadows
As their third day at PATH wore on, Prince could not stomach the food he’d had in the past at PATH — a still-frozen bologna sandwich and a small cup of warm juice with a foil lid, which “tasted like medicine.” He focused all his boredom and frustration on this matter. “Mommy, can you get me something to eat?” he pleaded and whined over and over as the day passed. “Mommy, please, can you get me something to eat?” https://archive.is/7H0Z6
I read this when it came out - it was heartbreaking.
There is no way that poor people can afford to live in NYC. So why did this woman and her boyfriend choose to stay there, moving from shelter to shelter, especially since she clearly had no family support, and was trying to stay away from an abusive ex? There are any number of low-rent towns in the Northeast, within a couple of hours of NYC, where they could have gotten full time jobs, each earning about 1600/month, where they could have rented a two bedroom apartment (without rats or roaches or bedbugs or drug dealers) for about a thousand a month, a one bedroom for $800. $3200/mo income, plus food stamps, plus utility assistance, they could have even afforded a car. And her son would have had stable housing, stable schooling. WHY DID SHE STAY THERE?
If the kid was hungry, he would have eaten the baloney sandwich. If it is frozen, you wait a few minutes for it to thaw out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for kids who are whiners. Nor do I have a lot of sympathy for people who try to live where they can't afford it and hold out their children to use a s begging tools.
Not to mention, I am not feeling the sympathy for anyone who names their "bright young child" Prince.
Incidentally, food banks and soup kitchens give out better food than frozen baloney sandwiches. I'm not buying into the heartbreaking drama.
If the kid was hungry, he would have eaten the baloney sandwich. If it is frozen, you wait a few minutes for it to thaw out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for kids who are whiners. Nor do I have a lot of sympathy for people who try to live where they can't afford it and hold out their children to use a s begging tools.
Not to mention, I am not feeling the sympathy for anyone who names their "bright young child" Prince.
Incidentally, food banks and soup kitchens give out better food than frozen baloney sandwiches. I'm not buying into the heartbreaking drama.
Prince is a nickname, per the article.
I am very familiar with the meals provided to the homeless, I work for a charity. Frankly, they mostly suck, especially the bagged lunches. We operate a food pantry, but also distribute the bagged meals left over from the school system.
A*decent meal, a decent school, and a decent bed should be something we strive to make sure every American has access to.
If the kid was hungry, he would have eaten the baloney sandwich. If it is frozen, you wait a few minutes for it to thaw out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for kids who are whiners. Nor do I have a lot of sympathy for people who try to live where they can't afford it and hold out their children to use a s begging tools.
Not to mention, I am not feeling the sympathy for anyone who names their "bright young child" Prince.
Incidentally, food banks and soup kitchens give out better food than frozen baloney sandwiches. I'm not buying into the heartbreaking drama.
The names were fictional as the author made clear had you read the story.
I get it that your sensitivity or empathy is as warm as the kids bologna sandwich.
I agree that the author may have embellished a few points.
I came from poverty to a parent with a college degree and worked double shifts.
She tried her darndest . The system then paid females 25% less....
In today's family it's now poverty if you have only one color 55inch tv and have to share the video controllers.
The tolerance of poverty has raised the bar.
Our hotel is required by our state (for tax credit!), To house temporarily those who are homeless. It's an upscale place. Kitchen, dining, full service laundry housekeeping.
I've zero joy in my taxes going to this particular guests family. After 11 months they wore out there welcome on day 5.
I read this when it came out - it was heartbreaking.
There is no way that poor people can afford to live in NYC. So why did this woman and her boyfriend choose to stay there, moving from shelter to shelter, especially since she clearly had no family support, and was trying to stay away from an abusive ex? There are any number of low-rent towns in the Northeast, within a couple of hours of NYC, where they could have gotten full time jobs, each earning about 1600/month, where they could have rented a two bedroom apartment (without rats or roaches or bedbugs or drug dealers) for about a thousand a month, a one bedroom for $800. $3200/mo income, plus food stamps, plus utility assistance, they could have even afforded a car. And her son would have had stable housing, stable schooling. WHY DID SHE STAY THERE?
It takes a lot of guts and initiative to move - and supportive people pushing you in the right direction. Not everyone is that lucky.
If the kid was hungry, he would have eaten the baloney sandwich. If it is frozen, you wait a few minutes for it to thaw out. I don't have a lot of sympathy for kids who are whiners. Nor do I have a lot of sympathy for people who try to live where they can't afford it and hold out their children to use a s begging tools.
Not to mention, I am not feeling the sympathy for anyone who names their "bright young child" Prince.
Incidentally, food banks and soup kitchens give out better food than frozen baloney sandwiches. I'm not buying into the heartbreaking drama.
If you limit the amount of activity you're doing, I don't think a human would be hungry enough they'd eat Anything within the span of even 36 hours. Furthermore, if you're already use to continued relative starvation, it is that much easier to go prolonged periods without food. In this respect, I could see someone turning down something that's frozen solid, hard to chew, and presumably taste awful.
Bear in mind that entire segment of humanity goes 24 hours every year without any food already by choice...
Stories like these always seem to use phases like "the city provides" or "the state provides" when it's actually the taxpayers who provide. This is a big country and no one is forcing people to live in cities like NYC and continue to vote for policies that don't seem to be working too well.
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