http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html

Don't take this the wrong way, because I sincerely HATE that this is happening. I know that some people can't help their situation, and from the sounds of it, Santa Barbara needs to do something. However, this woman featured in the article has two dogs. She can't even afford to take care of herself but she hangs on to her dogs? I understand that these dogs may be very important to her, but if she can't afford an apartment or house, it's time to let the dogs go. And, maybe it's time for some of these people to move where there are jobs and housing for them.

Obviously I am generalizing here. I know that there are situations out there where people have honestly tried every avenue and failed. I'm just one that believe that people need to help themselves as well as us/the government helping them.

my first thought about the story was "she should move someplace with a lower cost of living." I can actually see keeping the dogs -- especially if you've lost everything else, you can't give up your best friends -- but why not drive to another town where housing isn't so costly?

I think it's a shame she won't let her children help her out. It makes me wonder where her relationship with her children is if she won't even tell them what is going on. I think she has a little bit of a pride issue going on when she won't allow her kids to help her get back on her feet. She can always pay them back once she is able to support herself.

I agree. While I am glad there are people and programs available to help out, some people think that there is only a certain way of doing things. If a person really thinks about all of the options that that person has, that person can get creative and find other options and other ways of doing things.