More Homeless Americans Living in Cars and Campers

yahooooo/Time ^ | 02/13/10 | KEVIN O'LEARY

[TornadoAlley3]

Tim Barker never thought he'd have to live in his truck. Four months ago, the plumber was in a one-bedroom apartment in California's San Fernando Valley, with a pool and a Jacuzzi. Then, on his birthday in October, he and 199 other plumbers were laid off by their union, Local 761 in Burbank. Now Barker's son sleeps on the sofa of his cousin's one-bedroom Hollywood apartment, and Barker sleeps on the roof of the apartment building - or in his 2003 Ford Ranger pickup. "I'm 47, and I've never lived in my car," says Barker, a husky 220-lb. single father with sandy hair and a rapid-fire voice. In January, as torrential rains pelted the streets of Southern California, father and son were sleeping in the truck in San Pedro, next to the Los Angeles Harbor. "We were able to spend four nights in the Vagabond Motel, but for two nights we slept in the car," says Barker. "It was raining, cold, and the cat was jumping on us. We both got sick."

[dr_who]

Better than cardboard boxes.

[Rennes Templar]

Hang in there guys, the stimulus package will be kicking in any day now.

[hinckley buzzard]

Laid off in October. No work for a plumber in four months? Anywhere?

[GoCards]

Hey, I thought Obama was going to pay for everything: mortgage, groceries, cars, nails, hair, etc.....

[decal]

Bad timing, Kev, old man.

Someone needs to tell the “journalist” that we put out articles about homeless Americans only during Republican administrations....

[Wisconsinlady]

Don’t worry. I’m sure you’ll be getting your Obama money some time soon.

[beckysueb]

I’d say living in a truck is pretty bad but living in a camper isn’t bad. Campers are pretty comfy.

[TheConservativeParty]

“Your Hope has been redistributed. Here’s your Change.”

[GeronL]

If you live in a camper, are you really homeless? /sarc

[BBell]

At least he didn’t dump his cat.

[GeronL]

No work for a plumber at those wages in those states. They should come south and work cheaper.

[genetic homophobe]

Not if you’re union.

[stainlessbanner]

any vans down by the river?

[az.b1bbomberfxr]

It’s Bush’s fault! /sarcasm>

[Secret Agent Man]

So the union brotherhood isn’t looking out for these guys. Hmmm....

[Jolla]

We are okay right now but last night I had a vision/dream from the scene in Seabiscut where you first meet the jockey, his family is at the dinning table in a very nice home having dinner, then next thing you see, they are in a camp. I pray this does not happen to too many Americans, I for one, think that it does and will continue to do so.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yeah, he could do plumbing for a non-union shop. Even if there isn’t much new stuff, there’s always people that need repairs and maintenance stuff done.

[Grunthor]

“More Homeless Americans Living in Cars and Campers”

Oxymoronic headline.

[who knows what evil?]

“Hope and change...”