Finney wasn't prepared for what he encountered when he arrived at Carter's rental house. They go in a 5-gallon can and throw it in the back yard. I've spent 30-some years of my life in Third World countries, and I've never seen conditions as this. When I went to this home, it made me ashamed to be a resident of this county. All to no avail.
Complete plumbing involves toilets, shower, baths and sinks, with hot and cold running water.
Every county has the problem. Nationwide, 1.1 million rural poor live in homes without complete plumbing, according to a 1995 report by the Roanoke-based project. That's about 405,855 households. Renters, such as the Carter family, need not apply. At least 103 Powhatan and 297 Goochland homes without complete plumbing were counted in the 1990 census.