A Low & Old National Homeless Count

This past Friday the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH)released some homeless counts that were from 2005. This is the first national count in more than a decade and yet it still lacks in an accurate count of those of us who live on the street.

I had noticed that the count for here in Utah was at 2,104, which is far below the states average of over 3,800 homeless people.

NAEH also stated that the Bush administration is to develop 150,000 units of housing for people who have been homeless for a long period. This is actually an embarrassment to a country who's wealth is at the top of all throughout the world, and when Veterans of the Iraq war are coming back to find that they to among the homeless. What a shame.

When these counts were done, I'm sure that many of us who were living on the streets were totally ignored. I for one have yet to see or hear anyone ask about a homeless count. The fact is here in Salt Lake City where a few of us camp out, even the local programs fail to acknowledge or come to aid the few camped among the hills.

Yea, the US House of Representatives recently passed a bill to spend $115 million for HUD's homeless assistance grants program. This is paltry compared to the war chest that is being spent and at a time when the oil industry seen there hugest profits.

NAEH stated that the shortage of affordable housing is the main culprit of many people being homeless. Well, I can attest to that, along with once you actually find a source to help get you in a home, the doors are slammed in your face.

I'm still praying that many will get to move in off the streets during this year,and yea I hope to be one soon. I'll also pledge to do my best at working as a advocate by letter writing and speaking to many of the political people who can make a difference.

The homeless numbers reported by NAEH are extremely low and the dollars spent to end the homelessness are a drop in the bucket for this very wealthy country.