60 Minutes on Seminole County, Florida Foreclosed Homeless Families

Sunday night, I literally was in tears. 60 Minutes program concentrated on areas around Seminole County, and along Hwy 192 in Orlando, Florida.  The segment was all about Families who lost their homes to foreclosure and now homeless and how they cope (or not) and the  school-age children,. The shelters want to separate the families, boys in one location and girls in another. Families want to stay together, especially with going through something this traumatic, they really need one another.  The children said they wash up before going to school, at the local Wal-Mart and sleep in a van in the parking lot. Several of the children interviewed, got off the school bus, only to find their door locked and discover the bank now owns their house. Most of them go to bed hungry. Neighbors and relatives help when and where they can. Some of them have no relatives nearby, or who are willing to help. In many cases both dad and mom have lost their jobs simultaneously. It would appear from the filming that these people were not living "high" to begin with - just normal everyday folks getting by.

  

How can this be? We have the same situation here and all across the US. There is such a huge difference between the very wealthy like Oprah, Pat Robertson, and the ordinary working man.  People willing to work and can't find jobs, yet the news media tells us daily that the economy is improving (What a Joke!)

 Middle-America still contributes to help, as it always has done, but middle-(North) America seems to be shrinking, as they too now fall below the poverty line.  Costs have risen higher than wages have kept pace. Surely someone has to step up to the plate?   What is answer?  We need to create a new plan for America NOW!!... Job creation, Housing Market etc…

 
This is simply not acceptable in America!  We’re beginning to make areas like the Orlando, Seminole County area,  and other areas in the US hit hard by economic conditions, look like people who live in a third world country. How does this present to the rest of the world?   I think we really need to take care of our country first, then if there is $ left over, and then assist others!!

 

If you’re interested in assisting the families and children, contact the Seminole County School System.