Isn't there any sort of social welfare if you're unemployed in the US? I'm in Australia, and if you're unemployed here you get an allowance from the government, it's not much but enough to keep you able to share the rent with a couple of people and so on, so no one has to live in tents or die from exposure in the year 2009.
There are a small percentage that abuse the system, but not many and most view it as an acceptable price to pay for a social security net. To receive it you have to do so many hours of community service after a number of weeks, which minimises abuse of the system. But then we also have free medical if you need it to. If you're really on the skids the government will provide housing even. I believe this is the same in the UK and some other european countries, the UK is where we got it from.
The total laissez-faire system has it's up and down sides, which really aren't necessary in the 21st Century imho.
Unemployment in the US can be tricky to get. You need to be laid off in the proper manner and then you can only collect for 9 months on average. It would definitely be enough that you don't need to live on tents. It's different in every US state.
Here is one program in social welfare program in PA: a lot of college kids working 20 hours a week in minimum wage jobs qualify even if they're aware. I know someone who did it, apparently there are multiple interviews that are annoying. http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/ServicesPrograms/FoodStamps/ I can't find the specific figures right now but regular old welfare is now called TANF. I remember seeing the numbers paid and they were laughable, not enough to pay rent.
Yes. We have welfare, food stamps and related programs, which consist of transfer payments to non workers. In most regions we have homeless shelters, which provide beds and food. Various regions have a variety of other programs.
In particular, I believe Seattle guarantees a bed in a homeless shelter. I know NY does. People live outside the shelters anyway.
There are a small percentage that abuse the system, but not many and most view it as an acceptable price to pay for a social security net. To receive it you have to do so many hours of community service after a number of weeks, which minimises abuse of the system. But then we also have free medical if you need it to. If you're really on the skids the government will provide housing even. I believe this is the same in the UK and some other european countries, the UK is where we got it from.
The total laissez-faire system has it's up and down sides, which really aren't necessary in the 21st Century imho.