Rent

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Alabama police apologize after 'homeless quilt' sparks outrage

By Alexandra Kelley



The police department in Mobile, Ala., is apologizing after two officers sparked outrage with an image of them holding up what they called a "homeless quilt."

The picture, posted to Facebook, showed officers Preston McGraw and Alexandre Olivier holding up cardboard signs confiscated from homeless people around the city.

“Wanna wish everybody in 4th precinct a Merry Christmas, especially our captain. Hope you enjoy our homeless quilt! Sincerely, Panhandler patrol,” the Facebook post said.

McGraw and Olivier, two recent graduates of the Mobile Police Academy according to Al.com, were tagged in the post.

MORE: https://thehill.com/changing-america/re ... -with-sign

Disciplinary action to follow? 'More training' probably.

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No surprise here (unless they're blowing up another bubble):

2020 is the summer of booming home sales — and evictions

The affluent are taking advantage of the cheapest mortgage rates in history to buy bigger homes. Meanwhile, renters face more job losses and fear eviction.

By Heather Long
July 27, 2020

For Realtor James Dietsche, there is only one way to describe the real estate market right now: “It’s insane."

A 1950s style three-bedroom home he listed in late June for $200,000 in a small town outside Harrisburg, Pa., received 26 offers the initial weekend it was for sale. Many buyers were young couples seeking a starter home and retirees looking to downsize. But bids also came from Philadelphia, New York City and the Washington, D.C., area. One person was willing to pay up to $50,000 above asking. Several were offering to buy it without inspections.

While Dietsche’s cellphone has been ringing with eager buyers, Tammy Steen’s phone has been buzzing for a different reason. Her landlord keeps calling demanding the $700 rent she does not have. Steen, 52, was a hotel housekeeper at a Hampton Inn in Pensacola, Fla. Her temporary layoff now looks permanent. She has yet to receive unemployment aid despite applying in late March. She has applied to countless fast food, retail and maid jobs but has not been hired. She has started selling hot dogs on the side of the road to beachgoers, praying she does not become homeless.

Continued: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business ... ronavirus/

Dietsche, who is also a mail carrier, says he has been delivering a lot of forwarded mail for people relocating from major cities. Some are deciding to stay, figuring they can travel a day or two a week to a big city, if needed.

James Dietsche

Can’t help but wonder if Dietsche uses other information he compiles as a postal carrier to further his booming real estate sales.

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Deaths among D.C.’s homeless jumped this year, including 23 who died of the coronavirus

Karim el-Amin, 42, took shelter Dec. 8 in his tent near Thomas Circle in Northwest Washington. Temperatures were turning colder that week, with lows hovering near freezing.

Amin, who suffered from medical issues, did not come out again. The next day when someone checked on him, he was found dead. He is buried with family members at Fort Lincoln Cemetery, just across the D.C. line in Prince George’s County.

“I guess he died in his sleep,” said his brother, Qaadir el-Amin. “At least it was a peaceful death.”

Karim el-Amin was one of at least 180 homeless people who died in the District in 2020 — a 54 percent increase over last year, according to data from the city’s medical examiner obtained by The Washington Post through the Freedom of Information Act. About 13 percent of the deaths this year stemmed from the coronavirus.

The data for “undomiciled” decedents — defined as “an individual who did not have stable housing and/or resided at a homeless shelter” — said 80 people died of “intoxication,” 23 died of covid-19, nine died as a result of homicide and four by suicide, among other causes of death.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc ... story.html

Unspeakably tragic.