Homeless people are living on the street because they re lazy drunks or have drug problems. Why do you bother helping them?
It s true many homeless people have been touched by drug or alcohol addiction, which often contributes to their current state of homelessness. It s also true that a small portion of the homeless population makes a conscious choice to live on the streets and panhandle. That stereotype, however, is not representative of the thousands of people who strive to change their lives at the Villages. Each day, more and more families with children are seeking the assistance of Father Joe s Villages, representing the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population. More often than not, economic hardships, such as lay-offs, undereducation or temporary disability, force these families to the streets. In San Diego, for instance, the average rent on a two-bedroom apartment unit is more than $1,200 per month; moreover, the rental market is operating at less than 2 percent availability, which means less than two out of every 100 apartment units are vacant at any given time. Only a minute percentage o
