This post at Reason’s Hit & Run struck a chord with me. I work at a homeless day shelter (one of 9 in the nation, I believe) where they can go to get off the street during the day.

In Augusta, the local Salvation Army shelter charges $5/night after 10 days (unless it’s raining or is extremely hot/cold). Most of the guys sleep in the woods nearby. And short of day labor, there is no way for them to legitimately earn money without a residence. Day labor makes them reliant upon the system, a watered-down slavery. It’s terrible.

There is no clear cut solution to the problem, but the current shelter system is broken. The reforms it needs are ugly ones that most people would disagree with. And I’m no expert, but from my day-to-day experience with these people tells me that the current system does not work.

Related posts:

1. Bums are like zombies, but lack the awesomeness of wanting to eat brains
2. Penny soup
3. Struggling just makes it worse – the nature of rape
4. It’s… wait, yep, it’s the economy stupid