We Had No Idea He Was Homeless – Blackboard Wars

Published on Feb 16, 2013
When a student shows up to school out of dress code, the guidance counselor discovers that his disheveled demeanor is because he is currently homeless and does not have a place to wash his clothes.

Germany: Homeless Students

Published on Nov 29, 2012 by deutschewelleenglish
Affordable housing is becoming increasingly hard to find in Germany’s big cities. The main reason is the euro crisis; those who can afford it are buying – because property is seen as a safe investment. Big cities like Hamburg have a shortage of affordable housing. Students and trainees are hardest hit, as are low-income families. Many of those affected have no choice but to stay with their relatives, and/or are forced to commute long distances. The authorities have pledged to invest in new building projects – but finding vacant plots of land in cities isn’t always easy

Spent – The Game of Poverty

I find this unreasonably fun to play in class (especially my 150-200 student auditoriums). It takes 20-30 minutes as long as I keep it fast-paced. I start off as if I’m excited (celebrate when I pass the typing test), and after a few choices the class starts to act like a game show studio audience. After it’s over, I sometimes ask them to write their reaction to the game and then summarize the game in one sentence. They have fun, then the written exercise cements the big-picture point.

From Sociological Images, PlaySpent helps us understand the economics of poverty:

…designed to help people understand the challenges and trade-offs faced by low-income people with insecure employment. The “game” begins when you’ve been unemployed, have only $1,000 left in your bank account, and need to get a low wage job.

Kids testify about homelessness

CNN’s Brooke Baldwin talks with a formerly homeless 6th grader about his story.

Growing Number of Americans Only One Paycheck Away from Homelessness

The latest census figures show another 2.6 million Americans joined the ranks of the poor in 2010. All told, more than 46 million Americans are now living at, or below, the poverty line. That’s the highest number in more than 50 years. Unless the U.S. economy starts improving, some experts say a growing number of families could find themselves just one paycheck away from being homeless. Mil Arcega looks at one organization that’s trying to help.

LeAnn Rimes – Give (2011)

“‘Give’ is a song with a message about how if we want love, kindness and happiness in our lives, then we need to give some of that back,” LeAnn says. “I believe that message needs to be shared with the world.”

LeAnn wanted to create a video for the song that that tied into its message, and raised awareness of an issue that is very important to her — homeless teens across America.

Sadly, 13 homeless kids die on the street every day. In Chicago alone, where the video was filmed on location with youth there, there are approximately 25,000 homeless youth. For the video, LeAnn partnered with StandUp For Kids who’s mission is to help homeless and street kids. Every day, in cities across the country, their volunteers go to the streets in order to find, stabilize and otherwise help homeless and street kids improve their lives. The video includes several teens participating from Chicago’s own StandUp For Kids program.

“My life is forever changed from this experience,” shares LeAnn. “One thing they all said to me is no one looks them in the eye when they see them on the streets, so there’s a deep loneliness there and a feeling of almost not existing. I will now always look anyone who’s homeless in the eye and smile. That smile could make their whole day.”

LYRICS – LeAnn Rimes – Give

US streets full of formerly middle class

The world is now seeing the economic uncertainty of the U.S. but for many Americans, it has been apparent for quite some time. Economic despair has been spreading across our nation and it can be seen by the rising number of middle class Americans losing their homes. In some cases, joblessness and inability to pay rent has forced people to live in their cars, shelters, or on the sidewalk.

Residents fight to stay in Manila slums

Millions of Filipinos flock to Manila to seek their fortune, but often end up in the city’s many slums. Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas reports on those who feel less than welcome in the Philippines capital.

Homeless Woman Doesn’t Want To Abandon Cat

The Onion: Growing Ranks Of Nouveau Poor Facing Discrimination From Old Poor

As Americans rush to join the Nouveau Poor, panelists debate the claim that the newly poor are incapable of integrating with long established poor…

Homeless Middle Class

Simple luxuries like taking a family vacation or just taking the kids out to eat is nothing but a distant memory to many American families who once considered themselves middle class and are now just fighting to stay off the streets. After one of the worst economic downturns in our history, families who were breathing easy, just a couple of years ago, are now buried in a mountain of debt and being forced from their homes.

Homelessness in New York highest ever

Homelessness in the Big Apple is becoming a plague with the number of those having no home having gone up by an entire 50 percent last year. RT’s Anastasia Churkina reports from the streets of New York.

Tent City for the homeless in New Jersey forest

September 16, 2010

RT’s Anastasia Churkina re-visits Tent City – a homeless camp tucked away in the woods of New Jersey, where over 40 people have been forced to live, with nowhere else to go.

February 23, 2010

Just an hour outside of New York City, a thriving tent city gives a home to refugees from the economic downturn.

Heroin addiction on the rise in Pakistan

Islamabad struggles to cope with the spike in heroin addiction across the country.

Ethnic cleansing claims as UK gypsies face eviction

In the UK, animosity between the country’s largest Gypsy community and a nearby town has come to a head. The travellers, who’re being told to leave their home of decades, say they won’t go down without a fight. And as RT’s Laura Emmett reports, human dignity is being sacrificed simply to increase house prices.