Florida

Florida is a classic example of a man "priced-out" of his home town and forced to move to a cheaper area.  For twelve years he rented a small apartment in a predominantly black neighborhood in Jacksonville while working as a gas station attendant.  When his apartment complex was renovated rent jumped two hundred dollars a month and he was forced to move out.  With his minimum wage salary Florida could not afford to rent another apartment in the area and was forced to live in his car- an 81' Oldsmobile- in the middle of a scorching summer. 

Florida's brother wired him fifty bucks from Portland and offered a room to share until he could get on his feet.  A week later Florida arrived at his brother's one bedroom "shit-hole" on NE Burnside and soon discovered his brother selling crack-cocaine out of the apartment.  Florida has lived in his car the months since and still has not been able to find steady work.  Despite all this Florida claims and appears to be a happy person.  His car still runs well so when he has gas and is not in the city looking for work or food he likes to drive out away from town and enjoy Oregon's natural beauty.  "I'm happy in Oregon," he said, "it's a beautiful state accept that winters are cold here.  I interviewed Florida because he was holding a sign that said, "Will work for food."

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