Sour economy has led to increase in homelessness More than 250 men, most of them strangers, sat together as they ate their Thanksgiving dinner. Among them were artists, drug addicts, college students, former businessmen, veterans, former athletes and others whose lives had hit rock bottom. The unadorned interior, cinderblock walls, concrete floors and fluorescent lights lacked the homey feel of grandma’s dining room. Those who entered the facility weren’t greeted by family members’ hugs. Instead, they passed through a metal detector. No, they weren’t in a prison or boot camp, but at City Union Mission, one of several area homeless shelters. One week earlier, Nov. 14-20, the National Coalition for the Homeless and National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness co-sponsored National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Its purpose was to raise hunger and homelessness awareness. City Union … Read entire article »