Did you see Oprah today??? 2/25/09

[gja1000]

We have many many homeless people here in Austin Texas - because the winters are so mild. Many of the homeless are the mentally ill who can no longer live in state facilities, but cannot maintain a job/home/etc on their own. We also have a huge population of homeless young people, some who have run away from home and others who have been turned out by their families. They have a tent city also.

My husband just watched the Grapes of Wrath last night and he was talking about how people from (mostly) Oklahoma moved to California for work in the depression and dust bowl and how they were treated when they got there. I don't know how my grandpa made enough to pay the taxes on our farm (in Oklahoma) during those times, but he did so my family didn't end up in California. If you read the book or watch the movie, the things those folks went through is amazing, but not unlike what is happening now, I think.

It is very sad and likely to get worse before it gets better. I do think it will get better, but will take some time.