While none of us were looking, the US Congress stopped funding Housing and Urban Development. That is how Sarasota Public Housing is financed, folks! Never mind that this is unthinkable . . .

So now there are waiting lists for family public housing that, while the lists were closed in 2004 (city) and 2006 (county) there are still over 1000 families on these lists who qualify for housing assistance (sometimes called "Section 8") but are not receiving it. Instead of living in private rent-assisted housing, which is vacant for heaven's sake, they are imposing on the hospitality of friends, siblings or grandma and grandpa in overcrowded conditions.

So much for one of the richest cities in the richest country in the world! How many of us have the sense to be embarrassed about this?

People's needs continue even when capitalism wants to take a break from providing jobs and income.

Congress will be voting on this issue on March 6. I think we can depend on our congressman Vern Buchanan to do the right thing since he has seemed to be the decent sort ever since he took office. I hope the other congresspersons do the right thing as well.