Y Homeless?

The homeless are a tragic fixture of America's big cities and small town squares. Who are they and how did they wind up in this condition? To answer this, filmmaker Glen Dunzweiler embarks on a cross-country odyssey, often sleeping in his car, to meet with the homeless, for whom life is often a 24/7 struggle in which transients must cope with the always present threats of assaults and thefts. In many cases, homelessness is triggered by a financial crisis, job loss, injury, or illness. According to many interviewees, drug and alcohol abuse aren't so much a cause as a result of being homeless, although every case is unique, from the voluntarily homeless, to those living in "drunk camps," to veterans seeking refuge in "stand down" communities. The small things that we take for granted, such as laundry and bathing facilities, require planning and the setting of priorities in the homeless camps. One in four of the homeless are vets—often plagued by post-traumatic stress disorder—while many others are ex-offenders (sexual and otherwise) who are unable and sometimes unwilling to get jobs or find affordable housing. Many panhandle in the streets, leading to the widespread misconception that the homeless simply lack the willpower to change their conditions. Overall, the experts agree that homelessness is a national problem that requires local solutions. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)