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“Growing numbers of Americans who have lost houses to foreclosure are landing in homeless shelters, according to social service groups and a recent report by a coalition of housing advocates.

Only three years ago, foreclosure was rarely a factor in how people became homeless. But among the homeless people that social service agencies have helped over the last year, an average of 10 percent lost homes to foreclosure, according to “Foreclosure to Homelessness 2009,” a survey produced by the National Coalition for the Homeless and six other advocacy groups.

In the Midwest, foreclosure played a role for 15 percent of newly homeless people, according to the survey, reflecting soaring rates of unemployment — Ohio’s reached 10.8 percent in August — and aggressive lending to people with damaged credit.

Most people who become homeless because of foreclosure had been low-income renters whose landlords stopped making their mortgage payments, leaving them scrambling for new housing with little notice and scant savings, according to the survey and interviews with shelters.” (NYT, Published: October 18, 2009)

In Part 3, the Castellio’s live through the challenges of navigating the social services system to get subsidized housing, while seeking work and tending to the basic needs of their children. The Catch-22’s are apparent. They can’t qualify for housing unless they have employment, but can’t get  jobs if they don’t have an address. But, far more challenging is the scarcity of affordable housing in general.

Christopher Castellio says he, “doesn’t want a hand out, but a leg up.”

***

LINKS:

Foreclosures Force Ex-Homeowners to Turn to Shelters http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/19/business/economy/19foreclosed.html?_r=2

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