Great Recession

[annewandering]

Displaced Americans move into tent cities - CBS News Video

We used to live there but we got lucky. Others not so much.

[sister_in_faith]

That is difficult to watch. I know that without the generosity of my honey I would have been homeless for almost two years. It is scary when you look at your things and realize you aren't going to be able to take them with you on the street. It is just you and a blanket and your prayers to God for mercy. Most people are just a few paychecks away from being homeless, or in serious trouble.

I am one of the lucky ones. I sleep in a warm soft bed at night, even tho there is snow on the ground outside. I eat when I need to. I have money in my bank account. I am very blessed, and this is just a reminder that I am.

[annewandering]

God got us out after desperate prayers but we lived there and around there for 12 years. It is the last refuge of people who have escaped the city living on the streets. A bus comes out there for kids to go to school and it has its own 'mall'. We sold thousands of used books there on what is called 'swap row'.

There are lots of good people there and some really bad people. Hardly anyone who really wants to be there though.

[sister_in_faith]

I'm sorry anne. I am glad you got out.

[annewandering]

I am not sorry. We needed to be there when we were there. It was an experience that gave us a lot of understanding we never would have had a chance to learn otherwise. Things are not quite like we would like to believe for a lot of the world. We also have experience living in very unmodern ways which is going to be useful for our kids.

In the end we had to get out of there and God is the one who did it for us. It was a very strong testimony for us. We are very grateful for what we have now. Its not much by many standards but it is heavenly to us. :)

[Blocky]

Before the video played there was an advertisement for Chase. In the ad, a family is sitting outside of a tent (camping) looking at the stars and cuddling with each other. I found it rather ironic.

[annewandering]

Before the video played there was an advertisement for Chase. In the ad, a family is sitting outside of a tent (camping) looking at the stars and cuddling with each other. I found it rather ironic.

oh gosh that is just ..

[bcguy]

We can all be thankful we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in.

Now, I wonder if any of these families prepared for the worst?

Couple times in my life I had 10 grand sitting in the checking account just for emergency reasons.

[annewandering]

We can all be thankful we have a roof over our heads, food on the table and a warm bed to sleep in.

Now, I wonder if any of these families prepared for the worst?

Couple times in my life I had 10 grand sitting in the checking account just for emergency reasons.

I dont know if they did or not. The people I knew had been mostly living in pretty hard circumstances for awhile. Anything they had would have been long gone. Now most all had some way of making money. Just not enough. Some were foolish/desperate enough to go out on the bombing range next door and gather exploded/unexploded bombs and debris to sell for metal. Most years at least one person died from that.

There are more place like this one but this one has become fairly well known. It, and residents, was featured in the movie Independance Day although not by name.

In the winter there are thousands of snowbirds there and they live in a symbiotic relationship with the year long residents, the year long residents doing odd jobs, mechanical jobs etc for them.

On the whole, these people are not leeches. They are down and out. Many come there in a broken down car, get a breather and find a new way to make money. Few leave in worse shape than they came. If I were to give it another name it would be Second Chance City.

[talisyn]

Well, it can be considered the most pure form of capitalism, without all the gov't red tape involved with running your own business.

But wow, I never, ever, want to see it again.

[annewandering]

Talisyn, neither do I. On the other hand I am grateful it was there for us when we needed it desperately.