In stark contrast to the upper class development, major conglomerates and headquarters of numerous worldwide organizations, screams the ugly side, the huge problem of homelessness. An estimated 15,000 people are homeless in Buenos Aires, 4,500 are children.
We witnessed a dirty, scrawny, street-worn woman huddled in the heat of a major pedestrian walking mall, an old flattened mattress and a heap of what were no doubt all of her worldly belongings beside her, and two young children, maybe two and three years of age, both clad only in diapers running around and playing in the street, barefoot and filthy.
Later on when we passed by again about 10 pm, the woman slept with one of the toddlers, and a haggard man sat nearby, seemingly at watch, as the other toddler, still in diapers, kicked around a big chunk of cardboard box, oblivious to everything around her.
Another day a young skinny girl, maybe 8 years old, sat on her butt, lifting it only to scoot forward crab - style down the walking mall and kicking a box along with her foot. She never stood up to walk, although we assume she could. Her leggings were filthy and full of holes, her shirt never washed, along with her hair. A store owner must have given her the box as it was new, and looked like a dollar store box you might buy for a birthday gift. It was for begging purposes and had a few coins in it, maybe a bill or two which kept spilling out. She continued to kick the box, and a girl, maybe 15, impeccably dressed in her McDonald's uniform with her hair all pinned back in a neat bun, had come from her restaurant and was leading the child toward it to give her some food.
We inquired about the child at McDonald's. It was almost too much to choke out the question, why something like this could happen, why kids on the street? The young girls explained that homelessness is a huge issue, that beds are available but have to be vacated by early morning, and that the government should do more, but that the government will not separate a chlid from its parent, even if it means the children sleep on the streets. Very sad.
Another day we took the subway and a girl, about 7 years old and her baby brother of about 3 years got on. The little girl was almost zombie-like in her monotone chant, continuously turning slowly around in circles and saying in Spanish, something along the lines of, 'we are poor and need food, if you can give us some money we would appreciate it, my brother is giving you a card, if you can help please pay him for the card', over and over as her sweet little brother handed out a small baseball-sized card to each passenger, beamed a huge smile and blinked his big brown eyes, then returned to each passenger to collect. It was just the two of them riding the subway. Most didn't give. At one point he got confused and handed money someone had given him to another passenger instead of a card. They smiled and gave him back the money. Then they moved on to the next subway car to begin the routine again.
When we got off the subway, an emaciated child was sitting in the subway hallway underground selling small packs of Kleenex for whatever coins riders could throw at her. Not a pretty sight.
A sad a state of affairs. The inequality smacks you right in the face as in tandem, the sightseeing tours are offered, the malls are bustling and big business rolls right along.
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