1.56 million homeless people in America

[Jeffersons Ghost]

About a 1.56 million people in America spent at least one night in a homeless shelter last year, according to The National Alliance to End Homelessness. In these tough economic times, that number is likely going to increase.

While data is not available, many of the children of homeless families go on to become homeless themselves. That is the case in the next example.

Mom, as everyone calls her, is a spry 68 years old. She cleaned houses to raise her five children. Mom now collects Social Security and lives in federal housing. Her daughter, a recovering heroin addict, is homeless and on the Methadone Program. Even on the program, methadone is fairly expensive, so her daughter relies on prostitution to pay for the drugs.

As we sit in the park chatting, my friend - a homeless veteran - speaks to another homeless individual he met at the local mission. He's collecting cans and bottles. In MA we have recycling, so there's a .5 bounty on each container.

Mom is upset because a friend of hers took in another homeless person, which broke the rules of the building. Now her friend will also become homeless again.

These people asked me to thank you for caring. We're hoping the publicity will help alleviate some of the problems. For them, it's just nice to know that people care.