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More Homeless Americans Living in Cars and Campers
yahooooo/Time ^ | 02/13/10 | KEVIN O'LEARY

Posted on 02/16/2010 7:51:43 PM PST by TornadoAlley3

Tim Barker never thought he'd have to live in his truck. Four months ago, the plumber was in a one-bedroom apartment in California's San Fernando Valley, with a pool and a Jacuzzi. Then, on his birthday in October, he and 199 other plumbers were laid off by their union, Local 761 in Burbank. Now Barker's son sleeps on the sofa of his cousin's one-bedroom Hollywood apartment, and Barker sleeps on the roof of the apartment building - or in his 2003 Ford Ranger pickup. "I'm 47, and I've never lived in my car," says Barker, a husky 220-lb. single father with sandy hair and a rapid-fire voice. In January, as torrential rains pelted the streets of Southern California, father and son were sleeping in the truck in San Pedro, next to the Los Angeles Harbor. "We were able to spend four nights in the Vagabond Motel, but for two nights we slept in the car," says Barker. "It was raining, cold, and the cat was jumping on us. We both got sick."

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; campers; cars; homeless; layoffs; obamaville; unions
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1 posted on 02/16/2010 7:51:44 PM PST by TornadoAlley3
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To: TornadoAlley3

Better than cardboard boxes.


2 posted on 02/16/2010 7:53:24 PM PST by dr_who
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To: TornadoAlley3

Hang in there guys, the stimulus package will be kicking in any day now.


3 posted on 02/16/2010 7:54:00 PM PST by Rennes Templar
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To: TornadoAlley3
Laid off in October. No work for a plumber in four months? Anywhere?
4 posted on 02/16/2010 7:54:41 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: Rennes Templar

Hey, I thought Obama was going to pay for everything: mortgage, groceries, cars, nails, hair, etc.....


5 posted on 02/16/2010 7:56:03 PM PST by GoCards ("We eat therefore we hunt...")
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To: TornadoAlley3
Bad timing, Kev, old man.

Someone needs to tell the “journalist” that we put out articles about homeless Americans only during Republican administrations....

6 posted on 02/16/2010 7:56:29 PM PST by decal (The Key To Flexibility is Indecision)
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To: TornadoAlley3

Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be getting your Obama money some time soon.


7 posted on 02/16/2010 7:58:06 PM PST by Wisconsinlady
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To: TornadoAlley3

I’d say living in a truck is pretty bad but living in a camper isn’t bad. Campers are pretty comfy.


8 posted on 02/16/2010 7:58:08 PM PST by beckysueb (Scott Brown is a start. Lets keep it going.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

“Your Hope has been redistributed. Here’s your Change.”


9 posted on 02/16/2010 7:59:24 PM PST by TheConservativeParty ("Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God." Thomas Jefferson)
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To: TornadoAlley3

If you live in a camper, are you really homeless? /sarc


10 posted on 02/16/2010 7:59:40 PM PST by GeronL (Dignity is earned from yourself. Respect is earned from others.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

At least he didn’t dump his cat.


11 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:11 PM PST by BBell
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To: hinckley buzzard

No work for a plumber at those wages in those states. They should come south and work cheaper.


12 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:19 PM PST by GeronL (Dignity is earned from yourself. Respect is earned from others.)
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To: hinckley buzzard

Not if you’re union.


13 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:37 PM PST by genetic homophobe
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To: TornadoAlley3

any vans down by the river?


14 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:39 PM PST by stainlessbanner
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To: TornadoAlley3

It’s Bush’s fault! /sarcasm>


15 posted on 02/16/2010 8:00:45 PM PST by az.b1bbomberfxr
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To: TornadoAlley3

So the union brotherhood isn’t looking out for these guys. Hmmm....


16 posted on 02/16/2010 8:02:16 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: TornadoAlley3
We are okay right now but last night I had a vision/dream from the scene in Seabiscut where you first meet the jockey, his family is at the dinning table in a very nice home having dinner, then next thing you see, they are in a camp. I pray this does not happen to too many Americans, I for one, think that it does and will continue to do so.
17 posted on 02/16/2010 8:03:06 PM PST by Jolla
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To: hinckley buzzard

Yeah, he could do plumbing for a non-union shop. Even if there isn’t much new stuff, there’s always people that need repairs and maintenance stuff done.


18 posted on 02/16/2010 8:03:22 PM PST by Secret Agent Man (I'd like to tell you, but then I'd have to kill you.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

“More Homeless Americans Living in Cars and Campers”

Oxymoronic headline.


19 posted on 02/16/2010 8:03:25 PM PST by Grunthor (America needs Obamacare like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask.)
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To: TornadoAlley3

“Hope and change...”


20 posted on 02/16/2010 8:03:54 PM PST by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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