A New Start for the Poor

September 8, 2005

From someone with as good credentials as we have ever seen, and Austin roots.

Gerry Charlotte Phelps was teaching economics at the University of Houston when she was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to 35 years in prison. Out of her layered experience of prison and programs come sane words for long-term assistance to those whose lives were disrupted by Katrina, and whose opportunity is to move out of poverty. The latest chapter is here.

These are not things that need to be done during the first part of this emergency.  Rather, this is for the time after that, when Katrina evacuees will be moving from getting immediate emergency assistance to trying to normalize their lives.  That is when good programs to help them "up and out" of their situation need to kick in.  The following is for that time.

Comments

[Mark Daniels]

I thought that David Brooks had some excellent points on Katrina perhaps creating a fresh start for our country in terms of helping future generations embrace hope and break the cycle of poverty.