Posted on 05/21/2006 11:20:32 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
There is a shadow population among the estimated 14,000 homeless who live on Skid Row.
A growing number of immigrants are bedding down each night in parks, abandoned buildings and cardboard boxes, finding refuge in camouflaged encampments under freeway overpasses and bridges.
Mostly from Mexico and Central America, many entered the United States illegally in search of a steady job - and fell far short. They largely shun the free meals and beds offered on Skid Row, and according to service providers are less likely to be drug addicted or mentally disturbed than other homeless in the destitute area on the fringe of downtown.
"Our Spanish-speaking immigrant homeless feel uncomfortable going to existing shelters because of the language barrier or fear of violence," said Father Steve Niskanen of downtown's La Placita Church.
Though there is no official count, like the population of immigrants nationally, the homeless immigrant population is growing, according to people who interact with and serve them.
The homeless immigrant problem dates back to the mid-1980s when unaccompanied youths from Central America, some as young as 9, started entering the country, said Father Richard Estrada, executive director of Jovenes Inc., an outreach center and shelter for homeless immigrant youths.
"The vast majority are looking for work and they are decent people. They want to send money home," Estrada said. "If you listen to them and hear their stories, they are not coming here because they want to abuse the social welfare system, they are simply here because they want to work."
One of those immigrants is Jose Ramirez, who entered the country illegally less than a year ago from Jalisco, Mexico.
Ramirez, 23, came to Los Angeles with a sixth-grade education. As a day laborer, he can make about $80 a day working construction jobs, far more than the $13 a day he would earn in Mexico.
He sleeps under a bridge and at Dolores Mission Church east of downtown because he can't afford to rent an apartment and still sends half of what he earns to younger brothers in Mexico who he wants to stay in school and get ahead.
"I thought it would be better here," Ramirez said in Spanish. "But no matter what, life is better here than there."
That's okay, they'll wash the windshields that Americans refuse to.
And it'll be Bush's fault that homelessness increased under his Presidency. Never mind that it wasn't American citizens becoming homeless.
Our jails are nicer and you can sue the state if the guards assault you.
yeah, 3 hots and a cot beat half a bread crust and a dirt floor any day.
Lets put up a homeless shelter and day labor office right outside the Capital in D.C.
"Let's put up a homeless shelter and day labor office right outside the Capital in D.C."
Better yet, build the homeless shelters near the politicians houses!
A big shot in the arm for the 'RATS' "homeless" statistics. Should make a nice "campaign issue."
Why outside the Capital? With all the buildings Congress occupies, there should be plenty of room inside.
Get me the tissues....
Wait... a guy is making $80 a day and cannot afford rent on an apartment? Yeah, I'm sure there's no addiction issues there...
That's what we want. More "new Americans".
| We are now one of the largest Spanish-speaking nations in the world. We're a major source of Latin music, journalism and culture. Just go to Miami, or San Antonio, Los Angeles, Chicago or West New York, New Jersey ... and close your eyes and listen. You could just as easily be in Santo Domingo or Santiago, or San Miguel de Allende. For years our nation has debated this change -- some have praised it and others have resented it. By nominating me, my party has made a choice to welcome the new America. As I speak, we are celebrating the success of democracy in Mexico. George Bush from a campaign speech in Miami, August 2000. |
Here is an excerpt of a good critique of that speech:
In equating our intimate historic bonds to our mother country and to Canada with our ties to Mexico, W. shows a staggering ignorance of the civilizational facts of life. The reason we are so close to Britain and Canada is that we share with them a common historical culture, language, literature, and legal system, as well as similar standards of behavior, expectations of public officials, and so on. My Bush Epiphany By Lawrence Auster
Better yet, build the homeless shelters near the politicians houses!
Why not just use the Senate chamber, those old kooks up there aren't using it for anything.
Unfortunately, as a "compassionate" conservative, Bush probably views all those speaking in Spanish as a positive.
Unfortunately, as a "compassionate" conservative, Bush probably views all those speaking in Spanish as a positive.
Bush simply opened our southern border to fund Mexico's gangster state.
The only difference is that bush brought the Mexican population here, while Nixon only brought their products.
The millions of economically displaced Americans mean nothing.
This country has lost its mind, and soon will loose its civilization, at least as far as the middle class is concerned.
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