Where Do They Go? The Painful Reality of Seattle's RV Homeless Sweeps
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 15 มี.ค. 2023
- Lux has been homeless since she was 16. Growing up, her mother was critically ill, so Lux lived with her stepdad. He would kick her out randomly when he was drinking. "I wouldn't know where to go," she said. "Eventually, it got to the point where I didn't want to go back." Lux is now 19. She has lived in her RV for three years and has been forced to move about 20 times.
Seattle's controversial RV homeless sweeps have been a source of contention among advocates, residents, and city officials alike. By forcibly removing vehicle residents from their makeshift mobile homes, these sweeps not only displace vulnerable individuals but also often leave them with no alternative shelter. This policy, aimed at addressing the visible impact of homelessness in the city, has been criticized for exacerbating the issue by further marginalizing those who already face significant challenges.
The trauma and disruption experienced by people subjected to these sweeps cannot be overstated. For many, their RV or vehicle serves as a lifeline, offering a modicum of stability and protection from the elements. The sudden loss of their mobile home can have a devastating impact on their mental and emotional well-being, and without suitable alternatives, many are left to face the streets unprotected. This not only creates an unsafe environment for those individuals, but it also makes it increasingly difficult for them to access necessary resources and services that could aid them in their journey towards stable housing.
Lux receives help from Vehicle Residency Outreach in Seattle. "Joe and Jonah have been visiting me quite often," she said, bringing her food and to Goodwill for clothes. They also let her know when sweeps will happen, so she doesn't lose her van. "I really appreciate them."
Bill Kirlin, Director of Vehicle Residency Outreach, said his team works with parking enforcement, which will refer the team to homeless people living in their vehicles to prevent them from getting impounded. "Being homeless is traumatic in different and unique ways," Bill said. "Having an understanding of that helps. Three of our four people have experienced homelessness and lived in a vehicle. They better understand what comes with living in a vehicle."
Joe Ingram is one of those people.
"What we do is go out and meet people living in vehicles," Joe said, adding he and his partner Jonah will buy vehicle parts, provide gas money, bags of food, and get people like Lux things they need, including moving their vehicles. "If they get swept, they will lose their home, and they are walking the streets, and there are no shelter beds available. There's no shelter to refer people to now. It's just moving people over and over again."
Joe has been doing outreach for over 20 years and has been homeless multiple times. "I'm good at responding to their needs," he said. "I build bridges, bridges of trust. "I can feel the trauma and the apprehension they have. The first time I met Lux, I went home and cried. I know the trauma and the fear of not knowing what will happen next."
According to Dr. Graham Pruss, a Vehicle Residency Expert, 30-50% of people who are unsheltered in Seattle live in vehicles. That is anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000 people. Many cities like Seattle have regulations that push oversized vehicles like RVs into industrial zones, often very far from social services. The result is a systemic disconnection between people living in vehicles and the actual social services.
Finding a solution is looking at the diversity of vehicle residents and how to connect them with the existing services - overnight temporary parking spaces, longer-term supportive parking spaces, and more permanent stable parking spaces like an RV Park or mobile home park.
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Invisible People is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to educating the public about homelessness through innovative storytelling, news, and advocacy. Since our launch in 2008, Invisible People has become a pioneer and trusted resource for inspiring action and raising awareness in support of advocacy, policy change and thoughtful dialogue around poverty in North America and the United Kingdom.
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The police in pacific county (bottom left of state) flat out said its "no crime" for lying landlords to lie and trick tenants, to harrass, threaten , assault person and home, to harm, steal property and belongings from paying tenants/customers. Forcing people into homelessness or death. Even disabled and elderly are not safe.
I want to tell you about a small island called Jamaica. The year 1976, the government started the National Housing Trust Scheme, with less than 1 millions contributors. Every working person paid 2% into the Scheme matched by 3% from the government. Thousands of Low Income homes have been built for the poor, and is still ongoing to this day. If a contributor is not eligible for a home, being they already have one then they can apply for home improvement loans. You have build on your own land, or get help with starter homes. From 2006, refunds with interest have been given to people who have not benefitted, as they already have a house. The call just went for this years refunds.. No homelessness in Jamaica. Jamaica is now under 4 million, can you imagine what the USA could do for it's people, with over 200 million contributors?
@@deidradahl2802 Ya the richest country in the world and we dont even take care of our own. .. Like the police ion the west coast who let landlords harm customers. CREATING more and more homeless.
@@olecamohatmcgilicudy4256-- I wish we could come together and demand that they copy Jamaica, and provide Low Income Houses for the poor. But the government would be too proud to copy, a tiny island like Jamaica. All we have to do in our thousands is, squat on a large parcel of land and refuse to be moved. If the rich and other Landlords own all the land, where will the poor live
Keep Voting Democrat y"all!!👍👌
I spent 17 months in king county jail and when I got out I had no place to go and ended up on the streets. I had to get a tent and stayed in it for a couple of months up until one day someone stole my tent. I then had to go to a shelter and then I got housing through REACH. Big shout out to the folks at REACH for finding me my studio.
❤ blessings to you!
I’m always glad to read about or meet someone who also got out of being homeless. It’s so important to know it is possible. Addiction is a huge barrier but sobriety is also possible.
I worry though because the drugs today are so much more toxic and addictive- even a casual user is in 100x more danger now.
glad you were able to get back on your feet. Best of luck
Camillus House in Miami!
Where do you work?
This administration is putting many families in difficult situations. A lot of people are financially struggling to live, put a roof over their head and put food on the table. Things are getting worse these days, if you don't find means of multiplying your money you might wake up a day to realize you didn't plan well for yourself and family.
I'm surprised someone mentioned here, a friend told me of her good works toward investment last month, l decided to start with $4000, l'm glad my profits hit $16,300 in few weeks, seeking for coin's investment is indeed profitable. All thanks to Margaret Johnson Arndt
@@MarkFreeman-xi3rk I'm in dire need of an investment advisor, how do I reach the mentioned Margaret?
You can easily search her online.
This is really helpful to my situation!! Thanks, I will search her immediately with the provided name, I'll give her a head start of $3,500, to start building my retirement savings account.
Oh come on! Families have been in difficult situations long before this administration.
I grew up very poor, never homeless but lived in trailer parks. We rented trailers in bad neighborhoods and shitty trailer parks. My parents kept what little bit we had in good condition and clean. So many trailers around us were a mess and there was lots of drug use. No shame in being poor but there is shame is being dirty.
Keyword- parents. Some many issues because so little parenting.
It's. Not were you live its how you live stay blessed
No ..nore is there shame in drug taking your brain washed by new wave conservatives..
@@luvsilly60 nah its called free will
Shame is maybe not the right word either.
That’s a product of a broken heart most times.
I’m almost 67 years old, permanently disabled and on Social Security, and I’ve now been homeless for a year and a half…. I live in my car, unwanted everywhere by every city even though I spend way way more being homeless than being housed… gas food, yet I get so much less: cramped conditions, no heat, bad diet, no immediate toilet facilities or none ….
Just leave the country where rent is $100 a month.
Horrible that this i USA today. They put so much money in to other things and not any on the poor in USA. I live in Sweden. You all deserve so much better.
I’m so sorry. This is what I keep trying to get everyone to see.
What do you want the people here to do??
Just disappear but with no help?
To the man saying leave the country, yeah right.
She can’t even stay in a hotel htf is she getting to another country let alone another state.
Homeless and don’t speak the language too?
@@crystalmasters8582 I just see billions going to Ukraine, Americans can use that money.
I was a vehicle dweller in Seattle for 15 years. The worst problem was dealing with the large criminal element within the homeless community. I've been off the street and living in a home in Oregon, for almost a year now, thanks to my Brother and his wife.
When I'm living in my car I'm never parking around other people who are also living in their cars. I'm parking in your quiet neighborhood, and you'll never even know it, because I don't cause problems. "When you do things right, people won't be sure you've done anything at all."
There it is. When people think of the homeless they think of crazy druggie dirty criminals. Not clean quiet discreet non criminals.
These days I don’t think you can call all these vanlife and buslife people homeless. Especially compared to a NYC apartment
I am sure you don’t have problems because you are considerate and cause no problems, but some do know you are there. There are some nice, private, shade-covered parking spots in my neighborhood, usually taken by a few cars or vans with open roof fans, or with the windows covered, who stay there at night and leave in the morning.
Pretty sure these are taken by those living put of their vehicles, and I so wish there were more places people could park longterm and overnight in vehicles and have security, access to bathroom and a kitchen, etc,. Would not be that hard for every church to fence off and make a shade over a few parking spots, and allow people to stay there as they need.
@@Itried20takennames You're a kind person👌I have little sympathy, when having been in that situation it was motivation enough to get myself out. I wanted nothing from anyone, and I expected better from myself. But I'm aware that some people are physically incapable of that.
You thinking people don’t recognize a new car in a neighborhood is incorrect. I’m not saying it’s a problem unless you leave trash.
As someone that was homeless in Seattle living out of a tent under I-5 and then a car for 6 years total 10 years ago I looked forward to the visits by outreach! After pulling myself out of that situation 10 years ago and getting sober this definitely humbles me a bit now that I have a good paying job, a brand new car and a safe place to lay my head down at night without fear of loosing it. I hope things get better for each and everyone of those souls. I was a lucky one to be able to get out of that cycle. ❤ keep up the good fight guys!
Beautiful to hear. Well done on your sobriety. All deserve to thrive
Well done you .❤
Did you use social services like rehab or temporary housing to get sober and off the streets? What do you think of addicts that don't want help and choose the lifestyle? Not being a dick. Genuinely curious.
@Patricia O'reilly I tried the ARC salvation army and was there for 2 months but that place wasn't for me and then I got an opportunity to go to Phoenix AZ. I used a little down there and then got into rehab. Honestly if it weren't for me getting out of that area I would still be using or dead. I think they need to impose stiff jail sentences to the dealers and get rid of the needle exchanges. It's become to easy to get the drugs and use them and if you get caught with them it's barely a slap on the wrist. :\ it's definitely a sad state out there
@@mjwbulich whoops meant to tag you in the above post lol
This old guy deserves a medal such a considerate guy big love fam
This is absolutely 💔 to see how these people are FORCED TO LIVE because their government doesn’t care!
If you can't help yourself...why should anyone else try to help you ??
We fight for less government outreach not more. These people can't keep their living spaces clean, they obviously don't care about themselves
I've been homeless and my 1 priority was to keep my space clean. That is often all it takes to avoid the sweeps.
There is a lot of mental illness in the homeless community, and some of them are just not up to it.
The government doesn't care about these people on the streets. They tell them to move. They care more about helping illegals instead..
Absolutely! Keep it clean/tidy and 99% you're fine!
Exactly these ppl make everything look bad and that’s the problem.
@@jazziered142I have a severe hip condition since young so painful and extreme depression. I grew up with a addict mother and abusive father and was homeless most of my life. No matter where I was I always kept the place clean. There is no excuse for being dirty unless you are physically disabled as I am. And even with my physical disability I push myself hard to keep my apt clean. So much so that most the time tears are dropping down my face while I do it, but I refuse to live like a mess. I’m losing my apt now and my parents our only support system died tragically 10 months ago. I am getting a van to make it a camper van you won’t see any trash outside of me or inside if it no excuses.
I was homeless a few years ago for l am thankful a couple of months. I'm retired and get social security and the town I was in I knew very well. There was an awesome homeless outreach that fed me once a day. I could shower everyday and around the corner was a laundrymat. I was very blessed to have an income a SUV and I had different places to park and sleep. And being old took me longer but I was abundantly blessed. These precious people . God please help and the very nice man who drives around and helps. He's an angel on earth,very nice guy.
We could learn a lot from Japan they take care of the elderly. They have invested heavily in training of geriatricians and community care centers for elderly with no families. China is doing the same they are learning from the Japanese on elder care. The U.S. could take an education from the Japanese on elder care. Take care.
@@suzvalentino1901 problem is they also pay taxes for it and americans are unwilling to do so.
Good luck.
God bless you.
@@suzvalentino1901 they hide their issue in those countries
Huh of you have income whats the problem ..you made a choice
My heart breaks for the homeless.
I live in Samoa and there is no such thing as homeless.
Everyone deserves basic needs e.g shelter, food and water ❤
People come here to the UK from various parts of the planet claiming asylum, they usually arrive here illegally yet our Government put them all up in hotels, a vast amount of them are economic migrants but I find very disturbing is we have people who were born in the UK and fought for this country yet they are on the streets.
Totally BONKERS MENTAL.
@@G4RY1159 I don't think anyone in the UK should be behind an immigrant when it comes to shelter - we need to look after our own first.
@@G4RY1159 same situation in the United States
Nobody deserves anything.
You deserve what you work for.
Enableing people to live like animals is not humane
@@G4RY1159Yes, I heard about that. And investors in London and other places keep their apartments empty, because it's profitable. Not ALL people who are homeless, are addicted or alcoholic, it's these damned high rents in place that caused homelessness. In the 60's and 70's, you didn't see this large scale homelessness until 1980, that's when the rents jumped up several hundred dollars in a month, staying that way. It's political corruption behind the low vacancy rates/ high rents. Building enough housing would bring the rents down, but the real estate industry always fights this,as does politicians, apartment associations, developers,etc. And stern, conservative pundits oppose housing being built,they just say," lock ' em up !". Clamoring for internment camps, arrests and prisons,instead. Many homeless people are seniors and disabled people ! It's a stereotype,to claim only drunk guys and meth users are homeless. Plus homeless people have jobs also- but you dare not tell the boss,or company! You'll be fired if you do. A country like America should never have a homeless crisis. But then again, Neoliberalism is why we do. Sending jobs and manufacturing out of the country didn't help the citizens,that's for sure ! It seems all English- speaking countries are copying each other. Especially when it comes to housing issues.
In the mid 70's while I was in the US Army, my civilian boss asked me to help them build some portable military offices. I was a Bump and Paint man before I was drafted and ended up staying with the Army after VN...The idea he had was to make an office out of a 20 foot container. I welded support brackets for the plumbing and electrical... we glued 2 X 4 studs to the walls with insulation and the ceiling sitting on top of those walls. In the center or the ceiling I welded brackets to secure the ceiling studs. The Base engineers ran the wiring for 12 Volt/24 Volt and 110 Volt We also made a mount for an air conditioner in the front. This was almost 50 years ago and at the time my Boss said; "You know this would make a great small cabin, just add some "Murphy Beds", heater/stove and a fridge... They later added a front wall and door behind the metal doors. Why not try that same idea for the homeless... Lease some county or state land and set some up. Arrange for bus service a few times a day to the area so they can get to school, training or work... maybe even a rent to buy system so they become owners... dress up the outside and add a front porch and back door... just a thought.
Wow! I used to know Joe through homeless outreach work in Seattle 10+ years ago. Extremely cool to see that he's still at it.
Pays his bills
With van life increasing and people living in their vehicles because of homelessness, more cities really should consider having designated areas where people can park their vehicles and just live. Make the vehicle park safe, have showers and bathrooms onsite. Put a social services facility on the premises. Have people come in and clean the facility/park everyday. It beats having people just park on the street in residential neighborhoods and having to do these sweeps every few weeks. There has to be an empty industrial park or warehouse are they could use.
Not a bad idea for the 1st step and temporary situation until they can find better housing and a job but the homeless should be responsible for keeping the area clean. I'm assuming many homeowners and business complain and that prompts the sweeps which are partially done for health reasons.
This is a really good idea! ❤
Yes! Why can't areas be designated. I know there are areas where these poor souls can be safe and find some peace.
Slme cities have gated and locked parking lots that are paid for shopping and ect during the day and when the stores close they gated parking area let's ppl who live in their cars come in and park and they lock the gates so the ppl can sleep safe, they even have security 24/7...it was shocking to see the lots almost full..anyone from young college kids to families of 4 living in a minivan all pulling in, using the portojohn toikets and outdoor sinks to brush teeth and clean up..and then they are go to their cars and they cut the over head bright lot lights at 10pm so the ppl can sleep in darkness but feel safe. I thought that was amazing, I wish there was something like this when i was living in my car..I never ever got good sleep always slept with one eye open and was so scared of someone attempting to hurt me
Oh that solution would just be too easy! It really angers me that there are solutions but our cities don't care! They just want to herd people around like animals!
They need a safe space for these folks to park. A place where there's restrooms, washing stations, trash removal.
Like a jobsite?
@@jamesstone9213At times, there's people who do security at job sites in their self- contained motorhomes. They park overnight on the property, like a construction project.
@@jamesstone9213 you think the old disabled are what employers are after? Suggest a place hiring homeless people? You know better, and deserve everything you wish for others.
Who is going to pay for that? Who is going to clean it up when they trash it?
Nope, Tell them to get a god damn job doing something. A lot more people are willing to help people out if you help yourself out. People want handouts all the time and are just weak minded and give up.
my heart goes out to the 19-year-old.
Of course, way too many will claim it's all her fault. She can get out whenever she wants. She just has to save money and buy some property or a home, etc.
@@philgar7786
Who's fault is it then...
This society need to learn a lot from Menonites and Amish !
@@agamenonatreo8529
Yes...
They CHOOSE to work hard and live within their means
They also CHOOSE to not make babies they cannot afford... or drink... or do drugs...
@@virgilhilts3924 so that is the Amish way ! and in that way they are more free, free without drugs and vicious !
It is utterly heart wrenching to see ANYONE…SO MANY living like this in this country! 🤦🏻♀️
I find it disgusting how the "cleaners" just throw these peoples' belongings in the bin.
America is cruel to it's people. All except the rich. And even they must live with some underlying fear, should they ever be down in their luck, there being so little by way of a safety net in the United States. Profit above everything else: what a disaster.
Finland provides housing to all citizens and as a result, they ended up saving money. Yep: saving.
And the added bonus: they actually put a priority on well being of citizens -!! Good gosh!! No!
Americans need to face facts that the way the US is run is clearly NOT working.
☕
What?.
Jobless??
You must be a troll, if rents are 2k, and you make 1k to 1,500 per month for everything, 12 months per year, or put food on a buy now pay later plan, do the math....
But if you help them, where does the help stop and they start helping themselves ? . . . Homeless people have been a part of the human race from the beginning. . It's not a problem that can be eliminated without placing a large burden on the people who are working and trying to pay their own bills. .
As a nomadic day laborer, seeing these videos helps to remind me how fortunate I am compared to many other vehicle dwellers. I truly appreciate the work y'all do to help those less fortunate than myself👍👍
Thank you for helping human beings, this guy is a true kind hearted human being
I just wanna hug Lux 😭
IM SO DISGUSTED AT THE GOVERNMENT. Taking away the very little of what people have. Absolutely shameful.
Me too!
I still have a soft spot for the young people that can be helped. This girl just needs safe housing and some job training to get back on her feet.
yep and yet they can afford to send billions in AID to Ukraine...
@@tamizral...yeah it's got ridiculous and shameful instead of building tiny houses.
watching from australia
The 19 yr old. God bless her and everyone dealing with homelessness and living in a vehicle 🙏
Not all of us want to be housed just left alone,I've been in a van over 4 years I love it why can't we just be left alone.
God bless 😂 are you kidding yourself
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
@@taraba5475 Do you think you are worth being heard here? You're kidding yourself!
@@philgar7786I thought that Seattle was a ' liberal ' city, that helps to get housing for their homeless residents. Evidently this is a myth. It's not a poor area,so why aren't they building affordable housing for working class and homeless people ? The sanitation and police departments cost way MORE with these policies than it does to create housing.
Seeing this, just brings tears to my eyes. I lived in a vehicle for three years. I got lucky... when my housing finally came through, someone ran a red light and totaled my vehicle/home. I had to dodge the insurance company because they wanted the rent vehicle back before I could find a place to accept section 8 ...plus my pet's were with me. It all worked out, but I'm still without a vehicle because prices are too high. It feels great to have a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. There were days that I thought I freeze to death when my alternator went out during the coldest days of the year. That really tested me. I was struggling not to end it all. That's why I can't help but cry while watching this.
I'm glad you're doing better! I pray you get a vehicle soon ❤
@@Ms.Delphine1204
Thank you.
I'm so glad for you & pets. Hang on to that place for dear life! It's a blessing.
Happy for you things are better. Never give up ❤
@@Earthbound369
Yes indeed. Thank You.
She nay have suffered so much due to her family but, Lux, I sincerely hope life turns around for you. You deserve better.
The haters have no idea how easy it is to slip through the cracks. I've been there. falling in that hole is easy, climbing back out is very hard.
By haters you mean people who work hard and aren't addicted to crack? It's not that hard to not end up on the streets. Three words: GET A JOB
I used the last of my money to move out of Seattle 15 yrs ago. It cost me $4,000+ to move to an affordable place. Seattle was expensive. The competition for the apts that existed was stiff. Crime was also escalating.
I left Portland 6 years ago. Cost me $10,000 to move. Best money I ever spent.
Why did it cost 4k
For at least some of these people moving makes a lot of sense.
in the 1970s to the 1990s I lost so many friends to Seattle. They went there on vacation, loved it and moved. Now I wonder what they think of the city and where they are now. It must have been so beautiful back then, and totally different now. I've never been there and don't plan on a visit now.
@eckankar It was beautiful. We could walk around downtown in the 90s and felt safe as teenagers. Now I just avoid going to Seattle if I can. I feel like the city is just rotting away.
I'm sorry for saying this but one of the biggest problems that homeless people bring onto themselves, is throwing garbage and junk all over. We have a homeless shelter in the city where I live and the neighborhood around it has been completely destroyed with their junk and garbage.
Where are they supposed to take their trash? And how?
@@mononymousmouseTo a garbage can. They are everywhere.
What do you do as a volunteer to help other's in need?
@@lc6636 there are barely any garbage cans in our city. It’s damn ridiculous.
@@mononymousmouse If they have a job, they can haul it to a dump. Or go find a public trash can and throw their trash away there without it letting their trash pile up. I toss my trash out all the time when I travel, I throw it away at gas stations, rest areas.
I feel for these people. My son moved to Oregon and was homeless for a few months. Rent is not affordable for someone making minimum wage. You almost have to have roommates in order to pay $1400 on rent.
Tell your son to get an SUV and pull the seats out the back.
Then move to somewhere more rural. I live in Indiana, rent here is $700 a month for an entire 4 bedroom house. Stop living in the most populated places and you will find out how cheap everything is.
Suggest that you advise your son to move to a small town that has plenty of jobs and low rent. Here in Michigan, there are plenty of them, just stay away from big cities.
@@charlesrobert6211 Why do those small towns have homeless too then?
@@joed6749 Very few if any, most are coming from across the border, and they too find shelter. I moved from Grand Rapids Michigan which is boom town with rent skyrocketing to a small town. Apartments here are begging for tenants. Most rent is between $500 to 700 a month. There are also plenty of good paying jobs.
Lux is so young so hope she be ok and her little cat bless them all ❤
I hope we can come together as a society and finally open our eyes and realize how these people are human just like us, they deserve help, they deserve homes.
They deserve a room in treatment centers away from downtown
Only enoughroom to house all the Ukrainians
The government wants these people to exist, it’s a reminder to the rest of the population what happens if you don’t toe the line, don’t get up and go to that job everyday.
What party runs the city?
@@mohammedmahroof246 actually I believe that's biden's illegals. 😮
I lived in Seattle for 5 years (until Dec 2021) and used to volunteer at the Georgetown and Othello Tiny home/homeless villages. It was emotionally draining to see what the homeless population goes thru, but I’m thankful to these organizations that continue to do good work. I pray that we find more solutions to end homelessness.
I've been living in my shuttle bus for almost a year now outside the Seattle area I've only been asked to move twice and they even felt bad for asking me to move the main thing I suggest if your living out of your vehicle is keep things tidy do your maintained on your vehicle and don't leave things out side your rig
Absolutely! Keep things tidy. Keep the van clean on the outside. Don't smoke or use drugs or alcohol--a waste of money. Stay quiet.
Seattle is my hometown. It breaks my heart to see how the homeless are treated. The 19 year old has her whole life ahead of her. None of them should give up hope.
How do people become homeless anyway? U do have social system in usa
@@bambinaforever1402 Drug addiction, mental illness.
Social system are u kidding me? The cost of living has skyrocketed back home. How are supposed to survive when u can't afford rent? If you only have a High School diploma what kind of job can u get? The right says trade school yeah but guess what happens you have too many employees for one type of job. I got an inheratince live overseas will stay here till I'm old and grey. Many people work together just scrape by back home or have odd jobs or lucky live in cheaper areas share a house. But its easy to end up on the streets. Many have mental problems employee problems as well. It just shows a broken system no one cares to fix. Its a sad state of society.
@@brawnbenson552 That describes a minority of American homeless. Most are just impoverished by the economic system we choose to have here.
I was taken from my moms when I was young and I started running away at the age of 13, I successfully ran away at the age of 16 and was homeless till 18ish! I was lucky to have someone help me out with an address and I got a job shortly after that, I hated being homeless so I worked a lot to save money, it wasn't easy and not many people care enough to help! I feel their pain, and I know what that man means when he says he cries for them, cause I do too!
My story, same.
Congratulations on your escaping homelessness ! Kudos to you,and anyone who can !🎉🎉
I live in Fort Worth Texas and depending what website you visit, the waiting list for housing states 7 or 15 years. Last time I checked for someone they weren’t even accepting applications. Think about a mother with toddlers, their kids might hit 18 before they get a roof over their head.
She should have kept her legs closed.
Here in Oregon the waiting list is 6 months to 2yr for low income housing
Unless you can afford $1000 to $1200 or $1500 for rent then you’re into a place a lot faster than 6 months
Yes,in Texas, they're very authoritarian, Neoliberal, and are proud of their harsh conditions in those housing scenarios.. In California, immigrants did get housing,even before veterans did. In fact, there's a lawsuit filed against the VA in Los Angeles, for doing real estate deals behind the veteran's backs, while veterans were,and are,dying on the street, or in the tents on freeways, and foothill camps !! Something is so wrong with this picture !
I lived in Seattle for 6 months on contract. My mini studio was $2100/month. Rent is ridiculous.
i love this city. its been a few years, but seeing my peers struggles again takes me back. i love yall and hope for the best
I get being in a hard place where you end up living in your RV or car but what I do not get is the filth and trash they have left on the ground.
It's got to be drugs and mental illness cuz I say the exact same thing like just clean your areas up and maybe they won't mess with you.
They don't have trash service. And yes, some have addiction, many I know are disabled, or just too exhausted to deal with it.
@@suen5006 "Some"? They mostly all are drug addicts.
"Too exhausted" is NOT a valid excuse to simply clean up after oneself. It's called being a SLOB. There are dumpsters ALL OVER the place that they could put their garbage into. These people are homeless because they dont want to work, plain and simple. The lifestyle they show us clearly demonstrates this fact.
@@suen5006 Well they're just getting very nice Porta pots in Reno they need them and dumpsters ever so many feet. It's ridiculous.
There is frequently no way to get rid of garbage/trash. No garbage pick up, no bags, no cans, no stable storage location for possessions. If you burn it - they call the cops on you. If you put it in a dumpster - they call the cops on you. Taking it to the dump is hella expensive... So what do you do? Many people just wind up living in filth because they either 1) have no other options, or 2) they have become so used to being punished for everything that they try to do, that they no longer see any point to even trying.
I feel and understand all these people. I live in my van full time. Although it's my choice to do so, I still understand most of their issues! Unfortunately, many , many more people will be homeless in the coming months & years because of job loss, inflation, etc... We are not a disease, we are people just like everyone else!
The hostility that people who live in sticks and bricks is astounding.
I'm a van dweller also and yes, I'm human. I think the haters are going to find out soon enough when reality kicks in. Gas, food, rent is gonna be out of reach soon.
Nice to meet you!
God bless us all!
I understand and gladly help homeless folk who are not drunks, criminal thugs and druggies. I have a mental block when it comes to seeing homeless drunks and addicts as anything but victims of their own choices. When I say criminal I DON'T mean those homeless people who have records for so called, "Quality Of Life Crimes!" Criminalizing standing, sitting and laying down on a bench is stupid. Criminalizing pooping on the streets, drug abuse, panhandling and erecting tents big enough to block the sidewalk with junk I agree with. Public Health Sweeps that power wash, disinfect and clean the streets are vitally needed when encampments make sidewalks impassably strewn with garbage, dope needles, feces and much worse!
Yes i agree. We need to find a much better way to treat people!!
@@AUTISTICLYCAN Every time I get busted for throwing a small bag of garbage into the dumpster of a business, I think, this is what happened in Portland, right? People who won't let the homeless use a toilet or throw away their trash are part of the problem...
In a van by the river lol. 😅😅😅
I worked at Industry for the Blind - it was great seeing blind people wanting and willing to pull their fair share
I would love to donate but sadly I'm on disability and am barely making ends meet. All I have to offer is my prayer and a heartfelt thanks to those who help these people. I was homeless for 1 month when we moved to San Diego. Luckily I got a minimum wage job to rent a week by week room and then found a job in my field which afforded us to be able to get an apartment. Life on the streets is hard and people just need a break, a little help and compassion.
Goes to show how one person can make the difference. This man was put here for a reason. God bless you sir!
"I'm not a nice man".. God: 'yea, sure.'
I live in Chicago, we have homeless tents all over. It is sad!!! We have groups that help get them blankets, coats, clothes, food. Normally the ones helping are a check or three away from being in need . They are young, old, veterans, women, children, sick, mentally ill, all have a story. Yet let’s bring more in from other countries and the government here will make shelter and food appear, yet our streets are full of citizens who are stepped over by the government.
If you can take old warehouses and turn them into shelters for other countries citizens, why can’t they do that for our own?!😡
Ive been homeless off and on for 7 yrs. The hardest part for me was working very labor intensive jobs and different shifts and relying on a shelter for a bed and shower basically. They refused to let me sleep past 5:30am when I got off work at midnight, and had to drive in snow..etc. Then after having to listen to these supposed "Christians" sing songs and do their little act. We got kicked out for the day, in freezing cold. So I got about 3-4 hrs of sleep per night. Luckily there was a salvation army day shelter that was warm. My car didn't have heat. One morning during the lock in singing "worship" I got bitter because I was tired and I told the lady singing, "You must enjoy having a CAPTIVE audience but I'm homeless, trying to work full time, struggling to keep warm and all I need is 2 more hours of sleep but you force me for 2 hours to listen to this". Ended up sleeping in my car in 5 degree weather with one sleeping bag. I used their parking lot so the cops wouldn't make me move. It was very hard. Being around people who do drugs and alcohol is scary for me. It really freaks me out. People take your stuff even when you're nice to them. Sometimes I was able to fight thru and get somewhere but then the plague came and the 10k I'd saved was gone... And it's now the rent hikes. My health is failing from being in so much stress and the elements. Anyway.. I'm usually too embarrassed to tell anyone I'm homeless. Thanks for listening.
There comes a time when people in mass just have to leave a place like that and never return!😕 It's not gonna get better! America should not be like this ☹️
The sweeps have been so horrible. Thank you for documenting this
By documenting these sweeps people are given a little more time to move
I agree wholeheartedly with you! What you have to put up with when parking on someone else's property for free for an indefinite period of time. As long as I pay my lot rent at the RV park, I have not become a victim of the sweeps!
Imagine looking at this trash waking up in the morning in a $1.5mil house. Hell yeah I pay money to move this trash out of my street.
I wish i could give to these people but I'm close to homelessness myself. I work work work for pennies its so expensive to do anything for us lower class people who have never experienced what its like to live with financial security. Im heartbroken for them and myself. Im just a slave working for the people who have some money.
Same 👍👍
@@SweetUniverse good luck to you
That's 90% of people
The government should be ashamed when you see the wealth they have
we need MASSIVE birth control NOW so this doesn't continue into the next generation. The population globally has doubled since I was young and the planet is just not sustaining so many. We've polluted the air, water and ground, now we're changing the weather. TOO many people to keep going on.
I put my backpack on walked out of that shitty city. Camped in the woods, did odd jobs worked up my own chainsaw and gear. Have been felling and bucking for nature preserves saving for a truck. Worked hard someone noticed they let me stay in a cabin. MOVE OUT AND MOVE ON GET TO WORK.
people who live in houses also live in areas where trash collection is organised. We put the bins out, we take them back in. I suspect things would look cleaner if the same type of trash collection was organised for RV dwellers, gypsy camps etc. Some might say "They don't pay taxes". They do. 1-Nobody under a certain income pays income tax, even if they live in houses 2-Every little thing they buy has VAT. And even if that was the case...we might want to still collect the garbage out of kindness and because vermine does not keep itself to certain areas, so if we make sure that every part of town is clean, then we keep everything safe from infection and illness.
Good points 👍
In San Diego the city left the RVs alone until the trash became impossible to ignore. Such a shame for those who did not live like pigs.
About to be back on the streets after 4 years of living paycheck to paycheck. Even if you're making $20/hr, thats only $1 over Seattle's minimum wage. Lots of people are 1 missed check away from being homeless. You pretty much have to have a roommate if you want to save any money.
Thank you posting this! This is exactly it. I make $20/hr in San Diego. I live out of my van. It is the ONLY way i have been able to SAVE. I would be stuck paycheck to paycheck without a penny to my name otherwise
And having roommates isn't all it's cracked up to be, either...
Even friends, besties, have falling outs, so get in, make your money, and move on...
@@MagesseT1 its terrible. In 2014 rents were starting at $700. Now its $1400. Wages are at $20/hr since at least 2014, unless you are biomedical or Qualcomm. Its unsustainable
@@MagesseT1better than living on street or in a tent,
I was in a DV relationship and once I was able to leave I had no where to go and no money to go there.
No family no friends bc my ex had me alienated.
I had wasted a ton of money applying and filling out applications & being turned down.
I also work and have a decent job but I can't pay $1200 for a studio apartment plus lights, gas, heat, ac wifi, phone, car insurance, health insurance all for me to be home 4-5 hrs a night.
I found an office space that's 10x20 and moved in there with an air mattress.
This country needs better housing options.
@@user-lc1lm7cq8h nope not at all.
Where I live I found one for rent on craigslist and went to look at it and it's actually a good size . I was expecting like 10x5 or something like that but I got a 10x20 office space for $350!
I shower at the gym which is 5 mins away n my work is 9 mins away.
It's been a life saver .
You have kids though.
You should be contacting shelters and they have resources to help u.
With kids u wouldn't be in the shelter more than 3 days and they would find u a place.
U wouldn't be able to be in a place like where I'm at bc any kind of noise someone would know kids are here. I'm by myself.
I'm super quiet and try not to even go out in the hallway after 9 if I dont have to this means bathroom also. So I stop drinking stuff early so I don't have Togo out there.
These people are great, they help strengthen their self esteem because they treat them with kindness and respect (even if they don’t have a home; which should be a given for every human).
As someone who spent a few years Homeless I can say from real life Experience, Rehab is where most need to go. The rest who are just down on there luck don’t stay Homeless long, because they take the shelter and temp housing help successfully .
This is a great point. It's true, and it is something that people often don't seem to want to acknowledge. I was living in my RV for almost three years, and just now got a real place. I worked the entire time I lived in that RV.
But I know for a fact, if I was still shooting heroin, I'd still be in that RV. Getting high would be my #1 priority each and every day. I've been off heroin since 2016, and I'm one of the lucky ones; because if I was still using today, it wouldn't be heroin I'd be buying on the streets, it would be fentanyl. The cycle of homelessness begins for many, and continues, with addiction. It's so hard to keep a job with a bad drug habit. It's nearly impossible long-term. You can't afford rent if you can't keep a steady job. It's easy to see how we get trapped in the streets. As long as that drug is keeping you high, you don't have to face your problems.
@@vastirvision My story is very similar. I'm glad when I was Homeless in the late 90's open drug use was not tolerated at all here, or I never would have stopped I would definitely be dead. I cleaned up years ago. I still fought with booze on and off for some years after, but now I'm completely clean over 10 years. I own 2 houses now one is a rental Life just keeps getting better .
Things are different the last few years. A lot of people that are recently homeless are working full-time, it just costs too much to live.
Yes. The young woman could easily work in a remote resort, if she could have someone take her cat. It would give her experience and set her up with a nest egg. I bet she could even take the cat- every fishing lodge I've worked at had rodent issues!
@@Chahlie Before she would be able to work, she'd need a therapy to solve her childhood trauma. I had some issues in my family too, with a drinking father and I know how hard it is to find self confidence and enough inner peace to be able to work even in a simple job like you've mentioned.
Seattle has gotten hundreds of millions of dollars to deal with the homeless issue. Inslee is asking for $4 billion more. The city and county need to purchase or set aside land for these people to park their RVs and set up tents. Seattle needs to build restroom, shower and laundry facilities there and provide trash and security. They have the money. They also need to account for all of the money they already have.
Yes someone is not doing the right thing with funds allocated to help homeless
That money is being 'diverted' for 'administration cost'. It's stolen by politicians and white collar thieves who look down on the people they are supposed to be helping.
Probably in they'er pocket needs to be invistigated.
It makes me realise that even though we have homeless people in the UK, we are in a much better position. I worked as Consultant Psychiatrist and alongside Social Services, so I know first hand.
You're doing a great thing, guys. I witnessed homelessness in Colorado while visiting friends there who received services at a local one-stop center. I like the ideas you mentioned. Hope you can implement them. Blessed be. 💖
I used to dream when I'd retire to sell my house and live in an RV. Now that I'm retired I'm staying in my paid off house till I rot.
Me too. RV living is hard work. Some love it but if your health isn’t the best and if you don’t have a solid emergency fund and a fund for when you need a home again, stay in place for sure.
Your house is never paid off!
Then again maybe you don't live in the USA??
I'm talking about the Grand Scheme of things! I'm referring to Property taxes, school taxes, maintenance & up keep, if the government at any time wants to rid you of your property because they want the land you live on, I assure you, they'll have it! If you had dinosaur bones, or a gold, diamamond, or a silver mine the property or a rich oil field on the property the government or anybody else wouldn't have a say in it?
Roosters have Dens, & foxes have holes, but the son of man has no where to lay his head!
@@rd6006 true dat . Systemic abuse of every one . The tax man the feds the police congress all built on corruption
😂 funny!
Oh the times we live in 😢
I live in a van on family property but not for long.
Thank you all who put yourself out there to help these people.
God bless 🙏♥️
The sad thing is these people shouldn't have to create a private organization to help the homeless because our government should be handling this problem. So many states are given 10s of millions of dollars every year to help the homeless situation, but an old man that has to use a walker is out there helping these people. What a beautiful and compassionate soul he is. I hope he is blessed 100x times over for what he does for the homeless. People like him are the ones that should be making the laws instead of the corrupt politicians that could care less and both parties are responsible. With all the money they get it's absolutely shameful how little is done for the homeless by our government.
🎉
@@CharleneOrtizTraining the thing is the money given to the homeless is taken from the people who went to school, show up for work, try to have a live but being taxed more and more and more to pay for people who choose NOT to provide for themselves. Poor people having 6 babies, homeless, drug abusers, all that costs money and every penny of that money comes from the dwindling population that shows up to put in a 40 hour work week.
Hell is real. We can not hide our sins from God. Is your heart right with God? Jesus Christ loves you and He died for our sins. If you reject Jesus Christ, you will not have everlasting life in Heaven. ACTS 2:38 “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit....
Amen!
This is absolutely unacceptable to be happening in this country!!! UNACCEPTABLE!!;!!
This is absolutely disgusting that we let humans go through this! I'm ashamed
Go fix it
People have choices.
Utopia is false so different people get pushed around in life. Some make it big and others end up in the streets. Life is unfair but unfortunately nobody can make it fair. It has ups and downs and some people can't handle it due to mental health and disability.
Fax but they got money for war
@@yannitoob7525 I absolutely do everything I'm able to do in my area!
My heart aches for the houseless. I to love on people everywhere I go.
My little brother died on the streets. Forever will I miss him. However, my mama passed away January 19,2023. They are together now. That is a beautiful thing.
Your comment hit hard. I too lost my big brother . he OD'd, homeless. I feel your pain. Sending hugs
There needs to be a national push for low income/subsidized housing. And I mean built with a degree of quality and easy financing terms or no down payment programs. We need this so desperately in the US.
Spot on
All the apartments in my little town are section 8. Most people pay next to nothing. So, if you’re working, you’re overqualified for these apartments. But there’s no other apartments. 😡
@@cjhoward409 Get low income! Low income is 33% of your gross income so obviously you probably only want to work about 15 hours a week OR have someone else do it! You would have to sneak around if someone else did it but between two people, one person working hardly at all and the other (NOT CLAIMING THEY LIVE THERE) and having their I.D somewhere else and their (mail) delivered somewhere else the second person can work as much as they want and do not let anyone know! Some people will try to report this and it is (Fraud) to not claim all the income in the flat but it wouldn't be worth it at that point!
People on section 8 generally do work, they are usually (single mothers) and disabled people and that voucher probably covers about 80% of the rent and I disapprove of it because men basically can't use it.
These people need to push themselves into making better life choices and working harder
@@virgilhilts3924lol if only working harder could just poof fix all this. Wages suck and everything is crazy expensive.
I worked two jobs while I was homeless, it really is hard to pull yourself out. A lot of these people look elderly, and A LOT very well might be vets. America has a problem taking care of their veterans. 🤷🏻♀️
Thankyou for helping these people ❤ im from New Zealand and ive lived in my car before.. people would actually freak out when they found out i was living in my car. I kept myself clean & tidy and my car too. Its a hard life though for females..i was always on guard 🦋
It's really cool to see homeless folks helping other homeless folks out when society has turned their backs on them and the system has failed them. Once someone has suffered a financial hardship or situation that caused them to end up on the streets and they have other homeless people helping them out, this is where you really begin to know who your real friends are. it's really sad when people claim to have your back when you weren't homeless but when you end up homeless on the streets those same people don't give a sh*t about you. They just pretend you don't exist.
Sooooo many taxpayers in every single state are 1 paycheck away from ending up like this.
Exactly!
One month of not working, one month of being sick and not being able to work, having an extensive car repair, one paycheck away from being in these situations. Sad but true.
Yes they are. So many of them leave such toxic and horrible comments on videos like this. They seriously need a taste of what it’s like to be in this situation, a little bit of humbling
How are others out there coping with the reality of this world? Even though I’m not living the RV experience personally, it gives me a profoundly dark anxiety to know that we as a species treat our own in this horrendous way. Why can’t we just allow people to exist simply, as peacefully as possible? It was not very long ago that most people in society could attain housing if they wanted it; you didn’t have to have a hundred thousand dollar salary or extensive wealthy family to have basic heat and shelter or to have your means of survival not eviscerated by police; And you didn’t have to rely on a kind hearted stranger to pull your house on a rope or charge your vehicle battery by chance. The cost of merely surviving is insane and normal people are suffering immensely for this. No compassion. For what reason? I don’t know how any of us can stand to live in this world that we have created.
I agree. The indignity. I think it's called 'a war on the poor'. How shameful that any white tower 'professional' came up with such an idea as to treat these struggling people this way. Like they have no right to breathe 😔😒
There is nothing "peaceful" about the homeless. If you don't like getting shuffled around, work on getting employed, stopping your addiction and cleaning up your life.
@@bombaybeach208 If you bothered to do your research thoroughly, which you failed to do so, you would have realized and found out not all homeless people are drug addicts, alcoholics, huffers, willfully homeless or living out of a tent or RV, or criminals. How do I know? I speak from present experience as my husband and I are homeless after I became disabled and was unable to work anymore, and on top of that, my husband is working three jobs to try to help us get back on our feet. Next time you want to shoot your mouth off and make broadstroke assumptions about people in ignorance, you would do better to actually go out there and learn! But the question is will you? My guess is you like your cognitive dissonance and don’t like having it debunked by someone who disproves your assumption. May God have mercy on you and lead you to the real truth. God bless!
Hey dimwit , maybe you would rather be a chicken ? ABX have your head pecked off in your pecking order? If any number of other species tgat get treated worse.
If you can’t afford where you live go some place you can. Plenty of places you can live where you dint need a 100 k job. The bottom line is These people made their choices in life and their choices sucked. Now they made their bed and can lay in it. The law of averages applies to humans too , some make it some don’t.
@@bombaybeach208 there a LOT of people who work and are either double-up with family or friends or live in their cars because they cannot afford even a basic place. These are the truly 'invisible' homeless people. They are mentally and physically stable but housing costs are too high. Wages have not kept up with the cost of living for decades.
God bless you for all you do 😇❤
Gods grace and mercy endures forever. God bless everyone in this video.❤😊
According to Wikipedia, crimes against humanity are widespread or systemic criminal acts which are committed by or on behalf of a de facto authority, usually by or on behalf of a state, that grossly violate human rights.
God bless what you do for others. Being homeless sucks and once you get to that point in your life it's difficult to get back up.
My dad. Vance Mclay is homeless in George Town. Thank you for what you guys do
Save as much people as you can god bless you all 🙏🏽
I was on a waiting list for housing in the Boston area. I was told it was over a 10 year wait. It’s been 11 years since I applied, and since then I got a house of my own. I spent years living in a vehicle. I got a letter saying the wait list was still ten years + the other day. I don’t need it now, but it’s not there when anyone needs it. That’s where the problem is.
what is waiting list for housing?
Ugh! Boston is the worst for housing! Especially now. I grew up there. I live in Maine now. Less stress, but housing is getting crazy here too.
So you not gonna answer the question? Your gatekeeping
I live in a home in West Seattle by Westwood shopping center and a bunch of RV’s right across from my house. It’s all the trash that they leave that bothers me.
Th city should house people, and since that is not happening, they should at a minium offer trash pickup
@@InvisiblePeopleYou mean the citizenry should house ppl. Governments's only source of income is YOU. If you feel citizens should house ppl, buy a small place and give it to someone. If everyone who whines about what the citizens should do for others, would ACTUALLY do it, the problem would be solved. Less talk., more action.
Watch this short video th-cam.com/video/SizHuR225Co/w-d-xo.html
@@InvisiblePeopleYou go pick up the trash laying around. The people living there could care less.
@@susansmith493 we’re not going to individualize our way out of this collective problem..
30 yrs ago I was homeless out on the street three times. It is a very depressing thing to have happen to you. All things are difficult. It takes determination, kind people to get you back on your feet.
respect for the very good people helping.
I love to see other humans helping others in need. Thank you for the video ❤️
You people better be careful about mistreating those people who are barely surviving in their RVs.
Please find them temporary or short-term places to park.
Abusing your authority will only come back to harm all those who think it can't happen to them.
We need to remember they are human and that they are our brothers and sisters.
God bless that older veteran who was once homeless for 20 years.
To see another man cry over others is very, very rare and precious in this world.
They need some employment. NOT a handout. 🙄
@da1ve468 low e.t.'s I agree.
But they first need housing or at least a place to get cleaned up and ready to go out looking. They also need a mental health clinic that can treat their needs.
I work around, and with the homeless, a large majority of them are on drugs or have mental illness that needs to be treated. There are also those that are just lazy and don't want to work.
So yes, no handouts.
its amazing what you guys do for the homeless.
Fantastic work, keep it up friends!
Our nearby city just got another two million, not one person roaming the streets will get real help. Money will go to study homelessness (their extravagant lunches etc), shuffle money among administration, agencies. I looked into this years ago in Cincinnati. I read about a grant and lookup up number of homeless, could have bought each a home. Thievery off backs of those in need.
Real problem is greed and I believe most addictions are intentional posioning of our youth and for drug trafficking profit
Exactly, government taxes people, gets fed grants, etc and virtually none of that money ends up helping those who need it. It’s a racket. It’s my opinion this is done by design. As stated by WEF “ you will own nothing and be happy” when UN Agenda 2030 moves whomever is left into “Smart Cities” completely controlled by this tyrannical World government. Problem-Reaction-Solution Hegelian Dialectic
Exactly
These workers are true Heroes for helping those who are in need.
I guess just giving them a large parking area with assigned spaces and maybe free wifi so they can reach out to the outside world is out of the question? Why not just make a big parking lot, assign a space to a person so it's theirs to use, and send social services to them to help them get back on their feet?
I lived in my van for years due to huge medical bills, bad credit, and low wages. I was never bothered by anybody. The key is to not make a mess, have basic respect, and to not outstay your welcome in any location. I bought a very dark window tinting kit and kept my vehicle very nondescript and clean. I moved to one of 7 different locations every night for years. The best places to park are large hotel and medical facility parking lots. I see many with this lifestyle staying at the same spot for weeks and months, throwing their trash, drug paraphernalia, and human waste on the street. All the while they victimize local business and residences with theft and destruction of property.
I don’t have much sympathy for those who refuse to respect society at large and play victim while leeching resources from people who do want to work and contribute.
That sweet 19 year old kid, Lux, my goodness. I wish there was something I could do. This hurts my heart so much, it’s so awful and sad.
Maybe she has social media, where you may contact her, to see how you may assist her. Maybe she has a PayPal or Zelle account etc.
Would it be sweet if they where a 49 year old male?
@@Kristine14 Someone needs to assist her in cleaning up that place. It's dirty and trashed. I live in my travel trailer but I keep it clean and organized.
@@MegKampen I was thinking the EXACT same thing. She could ALSO maybe go get a JOB??!!
@@Dobermanmom01 That is true! She has a place to live.I about got sick when I saw all those cigarette butts all over the floor and her feeding the cat on the counter top out of a can and onto a piece of paper.
Good job illustrating how it is. Thank you.
I am not a doctor, but I have been around, plenty of mentally ill human beings. It’s very evident that many of these people suffer from multiple types of mental illness, and there is nowhere for them to go. I truly feel for them, and I do not know the answer on how to fix this ever, growing issue. Breaks my heart. Prayers for all of you 🙏
I can't put into words how much Somerset touch my heart how awful and what they have to go through everyday but thanks to people like you helps them when you don't even have to you do it as a kindness of your hearts and my heart goes out to them people don't understand try to walk a mile in somebody else's shoes
Maybe if it was cleaner, and not trashy, they wouldn't want to "sweep". You can still be clean living in a vehicle.
Let's take a deeper look. While the minimum wage in Seattle has been rising slowly, the rent and cost of living has been quickly outpacing it. For every tech-billionaire that installs a HQ in downtown Seattle, more people on the outskirts get priced out of previously affordable housing. Many folks are feeling a loss of hope, and have no other option than to live in a tent or RV. Seattle doesn't have the social safety nets in place to PREVENT this from happening, let alone the programs needed to rehabilitate those already in this situation. Unfortunately, people who've lost all hope will frequently turn to substance abuse. This makes it exponentially harder to get people back into a productive role in society. I know desperate people do desperate acts to survive.
However, this doesn't excuse the roving gangs of RV residents that siphon gas and steal catalytic converters. A bad neighbor is still a bad neighbor, whether their house has wheels or a concrete foundation. If your encampment has a pile of 50 stolen bike frames in front of a broken down RV, and the residents of your caravan are seen stealing propane tanks from yards, and cars windows are being smashed in a 3 block radius immediately around you, dont expect the neighborhood to welcome you with open arms. They will resent you, they will report you, and eventually you will be swept away. If you want to avoid that, be a good neighbor. Don't steal, and keep your encampment tidy. People will be far less likely to report an encampment if that encampment isn't causing trouble.
In the longer term, the city needs to offer more programs to help people from falling through the cracks in the first place, more rehabilitation and job training programs, more tiny homes, rent control, and equitable pay for those working at the bottom.
God bless those wonderful people who are out there trying to help. They are treasures..
Thee people like Joey are so basic to the homeless, thank you all❤❤❤❤❤
One thing that blows my mind is the city workers who just keep their head down and do what they’re told. I worked for Parks and Rec in Saint Paul MN for a summer, and we were the ones who were responsible for clearing out homeless encampments. The one time my crew went out to do one, I took one look around at what was going on and I said “nope, fuck this”, and I quit on the spot. Went and got a different job that didn’t include ruining other people’s lives in the job description. For some reason, I was the only one who wasn’t cool with it. Why? How is it that everyone else is comfortable with literally stealing the possessions and shelters of other human beings without blinking an eye?
The prevailing belief that people get themselves into homeless situations because they are lazy, and therefore don't deserve to live 'free' on the street, or parked in industrial areas.
The whole attitude in the U.S. and here for a big part, in Canada: 'pull yourself up by your own bootstraps'. (this is physically impossible to do and an absurd saying). We can really never attribute our own successes in life to solely our own efforts! We always get help and in helping others, we can get them to a better place as well.
These people are ruining the lives of hard working Seattleites by taking advantage of their resources without asking. What about them?
@@erockromulan9329 to me, that just sounds like something you’re choosing to believe so you don’t have to feel bad.
@@kgbinfo People moving out of the city because there's human waste in front of their shops and broken windows isn't something I'm _choosing_ to believe. It's reality.
EXACTLY! This comment is the one.
7:52 reminds me of my late sister, she was homeless for years after being kicked out by our mother. same laugh and all. I was always to young to understand what she went through at that age of being homeless at 19 because my grandparents took me in. but seeing this girl gives me a look into what my sister may have gone through
It is utterly shameful that a nation allows people like this 19 year old to have to have to live with an abusive stepfather. Where was child-welfare? I grew up with an alcoholic father and while he wasn't abusive in the traditional sense, his addiction still created a home where yelling and fighting with my mom was a daily occurrence up until he died when I was in my early 20s. It screwed me up. It also of course hurt my mom until she died just three years later. 15 years on, I have been battling complex PTSD. It ruined my career and personal relationships.
To any parent out there: If you have issues, go seek medical attention. Don't let your kids be the relieve valve for your issues. You put that kid into the world. It is YOUR responsibility to prepare that child for the world so they can live full and responsible lives of their own.
We often take the most basic things for granted. My husband and I live in a converted 30 ft bus, but it was something we planned so we had the money to do what we wanted and we have an awesome solar system and it looks beautiful inside. We're very fortunate because we own an acre of land so we never have to worry about having to move. We get to enjoy living in our bus whilst these people live in fear everyday living in their broken and run down RVs. They can never really sit back and just rest. Of course we've worked very hard for everything we have. Nothing has been handed to us and we both grew up in single parent homes where our moms were immigrants. My husband immigrated here from Mexico when he was 5. He grew up in East LA in the projects and was very poor growing up. My mom immigrated here from Guatemala when she was 26 and my sister and I were born in Boston. We didn't have much, but my mom cleaned houses and worked very hard to make sure we always had what we needed. She is my hero and the greatest mom anyone could ever have. I'm so grateful for her. Unfortunately many of these people came from abusive homes where they were never loved and made to feel like there worth nothing. It's so tragic. We are all worth being loved. We should all feel like we have value. The homeless problem is complex. It's not as simple as affordable housing. These people need treatment and support for the trauma many of them have experienced in life and help with drug addiction, mental illness, etc. The US mismanages so much money and will give illegal immigrants better support and services than our homeless and that's shameful. Unfortunately as long as corruption exists in our political system the homeless problem will not be solved. Both parties are responsible for homelessness. Every state has challenges with homelessness. The Democrats and Republicans waste too much energy pointing the finger at each other which solves nothing. Of course there is also a group of people that don't want to be helped. They don't want the responsibility of having a job and paying bills. They'll complain about how hard it is to be homeless, but if resources are offered to them they are not interested. That's why it's a complicated issue to solves. Everyone's situation is unique. I hope someday we have politicians that will make common sense, effective and compassionate policies that will help the homeless with treatment and resources that will help them build a life they can be proud and a home where they feel safe and a space that belongs to them.
We can't really day what it is that makes a job and functioning possible ..there is trauma , illness ..mental and physical etc ...and the inconsistency of having a home and basic needs met .
These men are angels! what a great team!
Salutări din România! Foarte trist ce se întâmplă!
This is so tragic. It’s heartbreaking. God help us