But, the government of Nicaragua has contributed by building only 100 houses for its own people and still many families live in plastic tents or temporary housing without adequate shelter. Work brigades of local men and women, along with skilled carpenters and brick masons are today building strong, concrete block houses to resettle families living in areas vulnerable to natural disaster. Priority is given to the poorest families with children and payment is determined according to ability. If sufficient monies can be collected soon for a community Housing Construction Fund, at least 700 new houses will be built in the year 2000. Women and children are occupying quarters formerly reserved for skid row men.
Psychiatric hospitals discharge people with little hope of finding housing on their own.
Our nation's community shelters have not turned their heads. Despite increasing pressure to provide not only beds but, in many cases food, assistance in finding employment, day care and rehabilitation counseling these local shelters keep their doors open. Today with federal and state funding being cut for all services shelters are forced to rely more and more on private donations. Children grow up in anonymity without a birth certificate and 1.3 million never attend school. They know violence and abandonment, hunger and disease.