Can We Tolerate Millions of Elderly People Living in Cars?

[Northeast Agent]

Making It Through College: Students Building Tiny Homes in Vans

As student homelessness climbs, California lawmakers are looking at ways to provide community college students with housing, or at least safe overnight parking.

Veterans who've served on active duty since 9/11 are eligible for four years of college tuition, plus a monthly housing allowance that varies based on where they attend school. That allowance is based roughly on the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment near campus. In San Francisco, the monthly housing allowance is a little over $4,000 — the highest in the country, according to a VA spokesperson.

Murphy said he feels that banking the monthly stipend, instead of renting an apartment, "will allow me to save as much money as possible, to set myself up for success when school ends, and the paycheck that comes with it ends."

 

[somarco]

Elderly Veteran college students?

 

[PA Bill]

There is a ballplayer who has set up a trailer in the parking lot during spring training as it saves him a lot of money. He said he just has to share it with the circus and tolerate the early morning trash trucks slamming the dumpsters. But it's fun when his teammates hang around for some beers and bbq.

 

[Markthebroker]

As more and more people refuse to save/plan/invest for their future and retirement, we'll have more people voting and forcing us into socialism.

 

[DHK]

He's spamming his link. That's what he's doing... and that's all he's doing.

 

[ceramicr]

Let's continue to raise awareness about the importance of supporting our elderly population and advocate for improved programs and resources.

 

[somarco]

I took investment classes, and saved my money. Instead of going on fancy vacations or fancy cars I made sacrifices and more investments, and was fortunate enough to retire at a young age. I'm not too excited about having more money taken from my taxes to support people who chose not to do that. My hope is that the elderly that do end up living in cars and in tents will serve as an example to people to do the same thing and not rely on the government to take care of them - which is a foolish idea to start with.

The poor will always be with us. For many it is a pattern learned from their parents and the parents before them.

Years ago we lived in Birmingham. Just a few blocks from the downtown area was a rather large housing project. I rarely went there but sometimes I had to cut through to get to my destination. Generations of people lived there, apparently few had jobs. Nothing to do day after day but sit outside (weather permitting) and wait on the mail to arrive.

No matter how much taxpayer and charitable money is poured into these situations, nothing changes. Very few ever break free from the bonds of economic slavery and the constant stream of free services.

Dr. Ben Carson, grew up in a housing project and was raised by a single mother. He later became a world renown pediatric neurosurgeon, but those stories are rare.

Folks who get to 65 and are still living paycheck to paycheck (earned or given to them from the government) will not change their way of life. They were not willing/able to budget over the last 40+ years and that won't change when they start collecting SSA benefits. They will continue to be supported by charity and taxpayer wealth redistribution programs.

In 1964 LBJ declared a War on Poverty. There are more people (as a percent of the total population) on the public dole than there were then

In 1971 Nixon declared a War on Drugs . . . years later there are more people using drugs than before.

You can hope for change you can believe in but as long as there is someone willing to take all the free stuff and ask for more don't expect a different outcome. No amount of "awareness" will result in a different outcome.

 

[DayTimer]

As more and more people refuse to save/plan/invest for their future and retirement, we'll have more people voting and forcing us into socialism.

Another way of looking at is as more people find it impossible to save/plan/invest for their future and retirement.

I'm glad I'm where I am now and not a new family starting out. Every receipt from Walmart is new price shock to me. No way could I save much if anything from week to week if I were raising 3 small children on an income close to what I had when I was a young father.

An even bigger problem is the mass financial and economic illiteracy of the US population.,

My daughter graduated from college last year and has her first full time job. She was going to get an apartment closer to her work, which is 45 minutes to an hour away depending upon weather and traffic. I convinced her to stay home and bank as much as she can. I suggested she set herself up with a taxable investment account into which she deposits at least 10% of her take home, a Roth IRA into which she is also contributing 10% of her pay until the limit is hit, after which she will then divert that contribution into her non-taxable account, and a max-funded whole life policy with Penn Mutual. In addition to that she is contributing up to her employer's match in a Roth 401k.

She is dollar cost averaging into VOO shares in the taxable account and the Roth 401K with the intent of holding on for dear life until she needs the money for a home purchase, etc. and in the 401K until retirment of course.

In the Roth IRA she is trading stocks based on William O'Neil's How to Make Money in Stocks. She has two holdings right now: SMCI and CELH. She is doing very well.

So, one might also say, if only more people had someone in his or her life when starting out to advise them on getting started early.

How is it folks can get a high school diploma without ever having a class that would spell out them the mechanics of saving and investing and the consequences of not starting early?

It really is irresponsible of us not to have some sort of "Economics for Life" class in high school and in college and in trade schools for those who pursue education beyond high school. Many folks aren't offered such instruction until they get a post card at the age of 55 inviting them to a free steak dinner to hear an annuity sales pitch.

Thankfully my kids did take a required class in the proper use of a sewing machine and they also learned how to make pancakes.

If I were President I'd require every school district to make it a requirement of graduation to have their students take a Civics and Citizenship class (one semester junior AND senior year, and a financial planning for life class (again one semester both Junior and Senior years).

 

[DayTimer]

The poor will always be with us.

Good post, @somarco

I believe that we don't need to accept that so many will always be so poor among us. I believe with all my heart that the politicians WANT more, not less poverty as a means of controlling us. Why else do they require that kids take classes in high school about how to use a sewing machine (that none will ever own) and how to make breakfast, rather than a class about how saving just $100 a month from 22 to 60 can make them millionaires in retirement?

 

[misahar]

I noticed that this thread is from four years ago, but the concerns raised by Dr. Joanne Lynn are timeless. It's important to address the challenges faced by elderly individuals and work towards better support systems.
Dr. Lynn's question about whether we can tolerate millions of elderly people living in cars or on the streets without access to basic necessities is thought-provoking. It highlights the need for improved support programs and resources.
By the way, have you heard about leg exercise machines designed specifically for the elderly? They can be incredibly helpful in maintaining mobility and overall well-being. If you're interested, check out their website. They have some great information on leg exercise machines for the elderly.