This is heartbreaking. Did you know?

Makes me wonder what is being done about this crisis. It makes me sad to see all the poor folks out there. I am not considered poor myself but we do struggle here so I have an idea of what these people are going through. I hope I never get to that point where I need welfare.

Because when you happen to catch reports on that on TV most Americans think it's some developing country report. It's true. And if it happens to be in your area, most people tend to look the other way. Those people are also a bit ashamed and hide the truth, which is not helpful. I have said for a long time, we throw so much aid at the developing countries but there are so many people right here on our doorstep, who need support. Although I'm not fond of Oprah for various reasons, it would be nice if a celebraty would take up this cause and those people would get help.

People get busy with their own lives and there is indeed a whole world going on out there. The third world country has nothing on our country in certain parts. I know you did not realize that I too was one with my family of 4 that did not have running water for a year and no furnce til almost December one year. Fire and the forgetting that folks did after the original help was not easy to live through. Now we are renting a home and finally selling the property as a trade for a really nice home and getting out lives back. We are only one family and I know there are more out there that cannot get access to resources for help. The rules and people administering them are often heartless and unhelping in what they do as their job. That is my experience and have heard of other sad stories too. It is said that most people are 1 paycheck away from losing their homes. That is a scary thought and with all the recent foreclosures it seems to be soo true. Am glad you saw Oprah however all you need to do is read your local newspaper and see what happens and offer a helping hand if you can since help is rare and often too little and you could possibly make a difference like my girlfriend did when she found out about our fire. Good luck in finding a way to make a difference.

You obviously saw Oprah's telecast yesterday...I saw this too and couldn't believe it how people do live way below poverty level and barely surviving life. It made me feel guilty cause sometimes I gripe and complain. I'm not exactly rolling in dough, and I guess I could be considered living at low income level since I get SSI and food stamp benefits, but watching that show made me feel really blessed..My apt may not be a luxury one, but I do have a roof over my head and I live in a hell of a lot more comfort than any of those people. I have no idea how people like us can help though.

well,its not that anything is wrong with you or something its just that sometimes we tend to be so involved with ourselves that we dont even know that there are people out there who are deprieved or less priviledged than we are.all these is to make us see that God has been merciful to us

We don't know because the media doesn't think this is important enough to share. (Thank heavens for Oprah.) And we don't know because these people are proud, often too proud to ask for help. Or they don't know how to get help - like in the form of government grants. Another part of our community that often needs help is the elderly/senior citizens. I have a cousin who moved into a brand new seniors apartment complex, that has some things that apartment complexes for younger folks don't have - like a nurse during the day and call buttons in the bathroom if they fall. It seems like a good place to be, and with it being HUD housing, they pay according to income. My cousin pays about $200 a months for a gorgeous one-bedroom apartment, plus about $30 a month for electricity. Sounds good, huh? Except that this new building has almost no water pressure. There are no bathtubs. The showers are made so that wheelchairs can wheel right into them. Cool. But with no water pressure, my cousin has not had a shower since he moved in in June. Trying to do laundry takes all day, because the water takes forever to fill up the washers. So, they have running water...but... Fixing this is not on anyone's agenda. The owners don't want to spend money, the city doesn't want to help. If these were younger people...or if this was a brand new rich folks condo building, you can bet it would have been fixed by now.

That is very sad to say the least. And this is everyday America. Unfortunately this is going on right under our nose. I feel sorry for the children of the families enduring all of this. I have seen documentaries up in Pennsylvania where I am from about families living in squalid conditions. They can not clean themselves properly due to bad water systems. The level of dignity is mortifying. My heart is always with these people. We can fund the deployment of men to Iraq and the war and right in our own backyard this kind of poverty is going on sometimes unnoticed. Terrible!