A recent BBC News report highlights the alarming trend in people sleeping in their cars as a result of being made homeless after the collapse of the housing market and credit crunch.
BBC Reporter Rajesh Mirchandani describes the depressing scene of a typical car park in Santa Barbara in which a car park across the street from luxury mansions sees the arrival of few cars that take up spaces in different corners. In each car, a woman, perhaps a few pets, bags of possessions and bedding.
In one 4 x 4 car is Bonnee, she wears a smart blue dress and has a business-like demeanour. A year ago, she was making a healthy living as, ironically, a real estate agent. But when people stopped buying houses, her commission-based income dried up, and, like many clients, she too was unable to pay her mortgage.
She can’t quite believe her situation.
“My God, America’s heart is bleeding,” she tells me.
Tears fill her eyes.
“I know it’ll get better. But it feels sad. I really fought hard.”
California house prices fell by 30% in the year to May. Few parts of America have been hit as hard.
But national housing groups say they have seen a rise in homelessness across the US since the foreclosure crisis began last year.
Meanwhile the bail out proposals by the US government cause controversy read blog here:
Useful Resources
