I can recall in the 1980's the smug, self satisfaction emenating from Europe with regards to America's homeless problem. It was plain that our euro friends felt superior to Americans because they had so few citizens living on the streets. In truth, the majority of homeless people in the US still today are substance abusers or mentally ill - just as they were back in the 1980's. But as the social fabric that was held together by massive benefits begins to fray, some parts of Europe, too, are now experiencing a skyrocketing rate of homelessness. Reuters: Officials say the number of homeless in Greece has increased about 20-25% in two years, a staggering rise in a country where adult children often live with their parents and pensions traditionally go to supporting young families. It's a statistic that resonates across many European countries laid low by the one-two punch of recession and austerity, as rising unemployment, shortages of affordable housing and social benefit cuts push...(Read Full Post)