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EXCLUSIVE: Homeless at the gates of Disney: Thousands are living in motels, encampments and even their cars - in the shadow of the ‘Most Magical Place on Earth’ amid soaring rent prices and post-pandemic unemployment
FOR DAILYMAIL.COM ^ | 30 May 2022 | GREG WOODFIELD

Posted on 05/30/2022 10:50:52 AM PDT by dennisw

EXCLUSIVE: Homeless at the gates of Disney: Thousands are living in motels, encampments and even their cars - in the shadow of the 'Most Magical Place on Earth' amid soaring rent prices and post-pandemic unemployment Thousands of homeless people are estimated to be living in the shadow of Disney World near Kissimmee, Florida after falling on hard times during the pandemic

Among them are locals as well as newcomers that moved to the Sunshine State believing their lives would improve in an area dominated by Disney's wealth, only to find rocketing rent prices beyond their reach

Many have moved into one of the run-down motels lining the busy US Route 192 that runs past the direction of the theme park, while others are living in encampments in the woods or even in their cars Forklift truck operator Demarco Jones, 40, moved into a room at the Paradise Inn with his five young children and girlfriend after being forced into debt and losing his Winter Park apartment when his work hours were cut

Steve Rumph, 50, told DailyMail.com he had also lived in the motel before deciding to move into his beat-up 2006 Lincoln Towncar - which he finds more comfortable - stationed at the parking lot of a Wawa Rumph lives off disability benefits but said he has also resorted to a drastic way to make ends meet: 'I'm starting to sell my plasma. I get $800 a month for four donations. I hope I can keep going with that' Barbie Austria, who runs the Kissimmee Poinciana Homeless Outreach, estimates 'thousands' live in temporary motel accommodation, on the streets and in encampments within a few miles of Disney's gates

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Food; Gardening
KEYWORDS: disney; espn; florida; homeless; worldoflaughter; worldoftears
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1 posted on 05/30/2022 10:50:52 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

It’s the ‘Most Magical Place on Earth’, where millions of families flock every year to have their dreams spun from fantasy to reality.

But for thousands living in the shadow of Disney World near Kissimmee, Florida, life is far from a fairytale, and more like a nightmare of homelessness and uncertainty.

Along the busy US Route 192 that runs past the direction of the theme park, dozens of brightly-painted motels line the highway and desperate families and single residents who are falling through the cracks.

Tented encampments are springing up nearby, while in historic downtown Kissimmee people are living in their cars or in bus shelters.

Among them are the newly homeless locals, hit by the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic that saw them lose their modest apartments when their finances couldn’t recover from job losses.

Others are newcomers that moved to the Sunshine State believing their lives would improve in an area dominated by Disney’s wealthy economy, only to find rocketing rent prices beyond their reach.

They are young, old, white, black, Latino. Some have worked hard all their long lives and are stunned to find themselves facing life on the street. There is little discrimination in this dilemma.


2 posted on 05/30/2022 10:51:05 AM PDT by dennisw
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To: dennisw

i read this also, but some of the stories don’t make sense to me!!!


3 posted on 05/30/2022 10:53:41 AM PDT by ronniesgal (is it safe?)
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To: dennisw

The most poofter friendly place on earth, you mean.


4 posted on 05/30/2022 10:53:42 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: dennisw

Good. My shadenfreud is satiated


5 posted on 05/30/2022 10:53:54 AM PDT by Vaquero (Don't pick a fight with an old guy. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you. )
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To: dennisw

Bidenville.


6 posted on 05/30/2022 10:54:36 AM PDT by mware (RETIRED)
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To: dennisw

I really enjoyed waiting 1 1/2 hour in line for a 5 minute ride. Also really enjoyed the fatties on scooters blocking everybody’s path. Lots of fun.


7 posted on 05/30/2022 10:55:04 AM PDT by imabadboy99
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To: dennisw

“I get $800 a month for four donations. I hope I can keep going with that’ “

Man, they’re bleeding you dry...


8 posted on 05/30/2022 10:55:53 AM PDT by irishjuggler
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To: dennisw

Poor people make poor choices. Then when you add ignorance into the mix…


9 posted on 05/30/2022 10:56:17 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: dennisw
57-F23880-C2-AC-4-F64-A471-183-A22-E1-FC69
10 posted on 05/30/2022 10:56:47 AM PDT by Born in 1950 (Anti left, nothing else.)
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To: dennisw

“I’m starting to sell my plasma. I get $800 a month for four donations.”

What? Since when does giving blood pay?


11 posted on 05/30/2022 10:57:20 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
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To: dennisw

But...but...but Brandon says everything is looking up. His economy is on a roll. Ask anyone in the far left “media”. They’ll tell you. Americans haven’t had it this good since Jimmah Carter.


12 posted on 05/30/2022 10:57:53 AM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (Don't blame me, I voted for President Trump.)
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To: irishjuggler

$800 a month? Why with that kind of money he could have a real fun day in Disney World. Yes sir. One (1) fun day.


13 posted on 05/30/2022 10:57:54 AM PDT by Responsibility2nd (I love my country. It's my government that I hate.)
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To: dennisw

I75 heads directly north. I suggest these leeches get in their cars and hoopties, beg some money for gas and take it - NORTH....


14 posted on 05/30/2022 10:57:56 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: Responsibility2nd

And drugs and alcohol


15 posted on 05/30/2022 10:58:17 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave)
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To: Gaffer

I doubt many of ‘em have cars


16 posted on 05/30/2022 10:58:48 AM PDT by V_TWIN (America...so great even the people that hate it refuse to leave)
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To: ronniesgal

It’s a foreign hit-piece on DeSantis and Florida as a run up to the November elections. No less strife or squalor there than you’ll see anywhere else in any big DEMOCRAT city in the country.


17 posted on 05/30/2022 10:59:23 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: imabadboy99

I went there with my family back in 1974 and the lines were hell. I can’t even imagine what it’s like now, and I assume Disney doesn’t give a damn about capacity limits.


18 posted on 05/30/2022 11:00:38 AM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free, the USA will never have equal justice under the law)
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To: dennisw

It would be nice if every once in a while Daily Mail would do a big in-depth heartfelt story with heart wrenching photos about destitute people living out of trash bins and sleeping on the streets in London or Manchester for a change.


19 posted on 05/30/2022 11:00:53 AM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: V_TWIN

Trailways and Greyhound.... They go there, too...


20 posted on 05/30/2022 11:01:17 AM PDT by Gaffer
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