Why did it take a devistating hurricane to help the poor?

[Pebbles]

In another thread that needed to be locked (for reasons not pertaining to this topic) there started to be discussion on how many people will have a second chance to start over again. Mostly pertaining to the oppertunities many of the poorest will receive because they are victimis of hurricane Katrina. I think this is an excellent topic of conversation that should make all of us as American's stop and think for a moment.

Do you think people will take advantage of the oppertunities to improve their lives? Are there services that are currently/soon will be offered to hurricane Katrina victims that normally not recieved by lower income family's that maybe should be offered at other times? Could this possibly be a silver lining to such a horrible situation?

[Mattie]

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=73845

Try this post. It is a very interesting situation that we will all need to face if we are involved in our communities.

I did hear today that quite a few people found jobs today in Houston through a job fair. GO HOUSTON!!!

[LSU2001]

Sadly NO, I do not think that many of the poverty stricken evacuees will take advantage of the opportunities that will be offered to them. Sadly one area of my research in grad school was the culture of poverty. In that culture many of the middle class virtues of working to get ahead, delayed gratification, saving, striving for a better life, etc are simply not present. This has been researched over and over again and has been documented in any population suffering from generational poverty. THis is not situational poverty it is for the most part generational. There is a great book by Dr. Ruby Payne called A Framework for Understanding Poverty that I believe is a must read for anyone concerned about the plight of the poor in our country. I am not trying to say all of the evacuees fit this profile but many do. I firmly believe that many will simply rely on the aid and when it dries up they will continue to live as they have for so long. They simply know no other way.
TIm

[Mattie]

I agree there too, Tim. But the generational tendencies may can change a bit by this tragic situation for some. Sure, I see some of them heading out and enjoying the life they had in New Orleans, joining our local economies in illegal activities. In fact, yesterday at the shelter, parents left their 11 year old and it was speculated that they might not be back. True or not, who knows - but people will return to the life they knew if they don't have the motivation to change.

I'm just hoping that since they are seeing a side of life that they haven't ever seen, that it will inspire some of them to stick in the community and be a productive member of society.

Shoot, I'm starving! Let's find a facility and let them cook their own meals! I miss that good old cooking and for a nominal fee, pay a little back to the community that way. Charge a bit for their service - with donated food and $2 for a meal - while they are on federal aid - FEMA. Just think! The place would be lined up to get in for blocks! (said semi-joking - but we do need to look at having these people begin to support themselves and their surroundings. We can't wait until it's too late!

[LSU2001]

Oh Yeah for anyone thinking that what I posted above refers to any particular race that thought is simply wrong. The issues of generational poverty are basically the same no matter what the area or what the race. The poor in Appalachia have the same basic issues as the African Americans in the South and Latinos in the west. Poverty is no respecter of race.
TIm

[azsnowman]

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=73845

Try this post. It is a very interesting situation that we will all need to face if we are involved in our communities.

I did hear today that quite a few people found jobs today in Houston through a job fair. GO HOUSTON!!!

80 out of the 500+ in Phoenix are now WORKING and there's a job fair this weekend I believe, I'll try to find some proof of my statement, BRB!

Dennis

[Persepone]

It looks as if none of the evacuees want to come to Massachusetts or New Hampshire or Rhode Island (too cold? too far away from home, relatives, friends, etc.? other reasons?) In some ways that is a shame because I do think that some of them might well have opportunities here that could be life-changing.

The interesting thing about all three areas where the shelters were set up is that there are jobs in the hospitality industry, lots of restaurant jobs, lots of other jobs that don't require degrees, etc. There would be an opportunity to work and get ahead a little--and the kids would be in school and might well get exposure to experiences that might break the poverty cycle for some.

I could see a group of evacuees in each city getting together and opening a New Orleans restaurant (and perhaps one or more in Boston area as well) and being VERY successful! We don't have any such restaurants... And they would probably get support/financing from local communities for such an enterprise...

Perhaps it would not "break the cycle" for adults, but it might well make a big difference to some of the children...

I do not believe, by the way, that you have to be an evacuee from the Superdome or anything in order to take advantage of the offers to come to our northern cities and it is not as though you "have to" stay once you get here. I believe the offers come with a "round trip ticket" if you want it.

While I'm sure that it would be a "different" experience for anyone from New Orleans or Mississippi or Alabama to come here for 6-months to a year, I'm not sure that it would be a "bad" experience.

[Mattie]

I don't think it's a bad idea either Persepone - but it's like taking a whale out of the ocean and put him in a swimming pool. This was all very traumatic for the majority of these people and the cultural differences may be too much of a shock.

But I do believe that given the opportunity - hey Barbara/Joe/Larry - our community is interested in starting a restaurant and if you're interested we can see what assistance is available and get you on your feet if you want to take a chance! Someone may just in fact come there for a purpose! We can dream big anyway - and maybe someone could offer just the right person an opportunity - anywhere! But the restaurant idea would definitely work I think. Something they know how to do and love to do for other people. We are an eating bunch I tell you. There are some great cooks with generation to generation recipes that could really take off. We never get together without LOTS of food.

On the other hand . . . I'd take 6 months up there during April - September <grin>. . .

[Stephanie]

I don't think it's a bad idea either Persepone - but it's like taking a whale out of the ocean and put him in a swimming pool. This was all very traumatic for the majority of these people and the cultural differences may be too much of a shock.

I agree Mattie. I know that we just had our first group of evacuees from I think NO arrive here in Philadephia today. They were supposed to arrive yesterday, but there was a delay and I think that some of it had to do with people being reluctant to come so far north. I started to think about how they wouldn't be prepared mentally for the cold winter. I can't imagine how I'd feel if I was to be moved to a totally different part of the country to live. I'd feel totally lost.

[wxcrazytwo]

Sadly NO, I do not think that many of the poverty stricken evacuees will take advantage of the opportunities that will be offered to them. Sadly one area of my research in grad school was the culture of poverty. In that culture many of the middle class virtues of working to get ahead, delayed gratification, saving, striving for a better life, etc are simply not present. This has been researched over and over again and has been documented in any population suffering from generational poverty. THis is not situational poverty it is for the most part generational. There is a great book by Dr. Ruby Payne called A Framework for Understanding Poverty that I believe is a must read for anyone concerned about the plight of the poor in our country. I am not trying to say all of the evacuees fit this profile but many do. I firmly believe that many will simply rely on the aid and when it dries up they will continue to live as they have for so long. They simply know no other way.
TIm

Hmm, interesting. I am in a class right now that is dealing with the issues of the poor and to understand and help them. I too am in grad school and this class has given me a better understanding of what the meaning of poor is. I think reading "Walking with the Poor" by Bryant L. Myers and "God of the Hand" by Jayakumar Christian are also good reads... Also, ISU when you say they know no other way, is not true. It is up to us Christians to teach them the way, and assist them in obtaining that path to fruitfulness.

[alicia-w]

http://www.storm2k.org/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=73845

Try this post. It is a very interesting situation that we will all need to face if we are involved in our communities.

I did hear today that quite a few people found jobs today in Houston through a job fair. GO HOUSTON!!!

80 out of the 500+ in Phoenix are now WORKING and there's a job fair this weekend I believe, I'll try to find some proof of my statement, BRB!

Dennis

Here's an article that verifies what you said.

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0908carpenter08.html

[shaggy]

sadly with the hurricane floyd flooding it also hit a poor part of the county because it was in a flood plain and building codes were restricted there just were not alot of jobs in that area.Many of the people there were dependant upon the government before the storm and many just stood around with their hands out after the flood also.I remember a local construction company that would hire flood victims to help cleanup so they had jobs but most declined because they had checks coming from FEMA.In the end the manpower came from mexican farm workers who had no crops to tend!This sort of "american" way of thinking was this :i have been taken care of by the Govt. i will continue to let them foot the bill: Thats how it was here after Floyd anyways!

[HurriCat]

What was that program that they had back during the Great Depression - where the Fed put folks to work fixing up parks, roads and such? I think that it'd be "old school", but appropriate to so something similar here. There could be tent/trailer cities, with those displaced by Katrina EMPLOYED by the Federal government instead of just getting handouts. Any able-bodied man or woman can use a shovel and fill trash-bags. There could easily be field kitchens wherin other residents - also EMPLOYED - could prepare food for the workers. There could also be day-care and even some schooling arrangements - again, with such workers EMPLOYED and earning their way through this event.

HAHAHAHAHA. Yeah... THIS will fly! They are pouring over the wall as I speak, seeking my blood! How MEANSPIRITED to suggest that people WORK - much less help rebuild what they are lamenting the loss of to such a high degree. "Much better" for them to sit around, spend those debit-cards, eat all that donated food, and generally b**** about the failure of everyone but themselves who failed to plan for protecting their very lives.

[GalvestonDuck]

Well, they're not "pouring over the walls" yet because there's still water there and there will be for days. Not to mention, testing the gunk, searching for more bodies, and determining a plan to rebuild.

But believe me, I'm fairly confident they won't be sitting there, eating all the donated food (that I'm sure MOST OF US gave with open hearts), instead of rebuilding. It may very well be just like Galveston. They're gonna step up with resolve and determination and rebuild what was lost.

"Much better" than rebuilding and going home? I doubt they see it that way and are probably offended that you would.

[stormie_skies]

People are working already.

The Astrodome is clearing out at a ridiculous pace as people find jobs and other places to live. Job fairs are having success placing the evacuees in jobs in every state and from every shelter.

And its only been a little over a week!

Can't we at least give these people time to locate family members and get their act together before we start complaining about their work habits?

It's WAY too early for that now, IMHO.

[shaggy]

quite a double edged sword for me sitting here thinking about this.If people are finding jobs and now leaving shelters then why haven't they picked up and moved there before now instead of staying poor and jobless in NOLA.Then it hit me that i am never leaving my area unless a huge tidal wave hit and swamped all of eastern NC so i see why they stayed and never left looking for jobs elsewhere but should the US govt. have to pay for people to not go find work and for them to sit around waiting for a job to land in their laps?

[Mattie]

ncdowneast - read LSU2001 post on poverty. They had not motivation to get out - but basically it was because they had no money. What on earth makes you think they could pick up their belongings, jump on public transportation and land in Dallas/Houston . . etc. They wouldn't have made it 1 day, possibly not even a couple of hours. They had free aid, etc. and without a reason to have to land in another metropolitan area, that was the best they could expect.

I sincerely believe that those that have motivation to get out and work will have ample opportunity and there will be success stories all over of those who did turn this tragedy in to a success story.

There, on the other hand, will be those that don't, but they will retreat into the areas that they can afford to be in, doing whatever it is that they did in New Orleans.

[GalvestonDuck]

NCdowneast -- I seriously hope you aren't assuming that the entire city of New Orleans wasn't working before this disaster hit?

[shaggy]

no i don't assume that at all galvestonduck but the jobless rate was one of the highest in the country (per MSNBC) i am speaking of before the storm hit why were so many people not trying to get a job even if it meant leaving NOLA.If these people are finding jobs now they could have moved and found them earlier.

What matters now is that they have food and shelter to find there feet and get back into some type of ordinairy life!

[Mattie]

no i don't assume that at all galvestonduck but the jobless rate was one of the highest in the country (per MSNBC) i am speaking of before the storm hit why were so many people not trying to get a job even if it meant leaving NOLA.If these people are finding jobs now they could have moved and found them earlier.

What matters now is that they have food and shelter to find there feet and get back into some type of ordinairy life!

They had no motivation to get out - but basically it was because they had no money. What on earth makes you think they could pick up their belongings, jump on public transportation and land in Dallas/Houston . . etc. They wouldn't have made it 1 day, possibly not even a couple of hours. They had free aid, etc. and without a reason to have to land in another metropolitan area, that was the best they could expect.