Surviving Alaska: Down and Out in America's Coldest City
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 เม.ย. 2014
- How do the outdoor homeless survive the winter in America's coldest city?
That's the question Weather Films, the documentary film unit of the Weather Channel's website, Weather.com, asked in January 2014.
We sent a crew to find out.
We discovered a group of people who brave punishing cold, random violence, their own substance abuse problems, and the efforts of outreach workers in the pursuit of living as they want to -- outside, beyond the reach of shelters and law enforcement.
There's no narrator in this film -- our goal was to show the humanity and complexity of the men and women living without homes to by letting them speak for themselves.
Read the full story here:
Executive Producers
Shawn Efran, Greg Gilderman, Neil Katz
Producer
Eric Jankstrom
Editor
Brandon Kieffer
Director of Photography
Eric Jankstrom
Additional Camera
Shawn Efran
Zak Melms
Associate Producer
Katie Wiggin
Kait Walsh
Producer
Nicole Betancourt
Coordinating Producer
Brady Leifer
Composer
Nathan Matthew David
Assistant Editor
Kim Schlechta
I was arrested in Arizona for possession of marijuana and a weed pipe. They charged me 2 felonies and put me in jail, while in jail I lost my job, my apartment, all my possessions in my apartment, when I finally got out I had only the clothes I was wearing, $300 and no job or home on probation for a year with a $250 a month probation fee I had to pay or I go back to jail. I used my last money to buy a tent and supplies and moved to the desert outside phoenix where I lived. I had to hide because if the cops caught me I would be ticketed for camping in city limits which would be a probation violation. I wasn't allowed to leave phoenix to live with family in flagstaff because my probation I wasn't allowed to leave the county. I used a solar shower and clothes from a church to appear clean and got a job and worked my way off the streets but it took forever. Once out there the world ignores you for the most part, a lot of people will be upset with you for being homeless. I wasn't on hard drugs nor do I drink. My camp was in an area they called "apocalypto" where other homeless had camps and you had to protect yourself and your camp from others, I had a machete. After it all I felt like I survived the apocalypse and now nothing seems that bad and I'm much stronger mentally. I do miss the freedom of being detached from schedules and bills and all that but I don't plan to be homeless again.
Respect for your strength & ability to handle the shit.. 👍
Didn't you know about the risk using those drugs?
@@OmmerSyssel I didn't think marijuana would come with that kind of a consequence. It's hardly a drug, it just relaxes me.
@@azdrifter3968 Law's very seldom recognise weed for comfort or medical use..
I'm surprised you were unfamiliar with local law.
Some societies has a tolerance level, others zero & honest people like you has their existence ruined..
Great you made it 👍
Regards from DK 🍻
Are you still smoking weed? I hope that was a lesson well learned. I use to drink, caught a DUI. Now I don’t drink anymore. It’s been 15 years. Most of the time is that ppl don’t learn from their mistakes.
everyone is working and they dont have time for more problems
Homeless in Maine for 3 years, pretty similar conditions. Went to college, worked nights, slept in my car, and finally got work as a microbiologist. Turning your life around is 1/4 luck and 3/4 willpower.
Greg Alman happy for you man! I wanna live in Maine one day were you from there? Or just getting away
I got no luck, 3/4 isn't present either.
@@douglasmorgan9873 Hang in there bud, from Ireland.
@@cachafazmcdara thanks man but I already gave up, started delivering pizza and lifting weights full time.
@@douglasmorgan9873 How old are you Douglas? John.
I was never homeless. I was never a drug addict. I was never an alcoholic. As a police officer it was my duty to care for the less fortunate and to try to lift them up. Sometimes I was successful. Oftentimes I was not. But I never stopped trying!
Go Peter!🎉
yeah right dude Fuck cops dude I was homeless for over 8 years and got harrasssed and beat by so many cops jus for being homeless. Fuck cops acab
You are a great human being! I hope all is going well for you!
The cops in Alaska seem to care for their people and that should be acknowledged
It's very hit or miss to say the least. I've had my camp destroyed by police with my items trashed.
Kind of makes me made that the outreach officer made face with the cameras cause otherwise, they would evicted that lady cause the residents of the neighborhood would be complaining about the dirty homeless people too much.
@@sheeeitmayn4384 hello let's see u in picture 🤦🤦🤦🤦
How do the care
F*ck the police!
If I was stuck homeless living in a tent during winter, I'd probably want to be drunk too...
Exactly
Drunk coat seems to help them.
@Kitsalp Srewolf do u understand addiction?
No man being drunk in the winter thins your blood
The alcohol will just make you freeze quickly. Pass out drunk and it's all over
Most of us are a couple of paychecks away from being homeless.
Try living within your means and don’t get hooked on drugs. You have free will. Use it wisely.
@@davetherave8840 lol! Harsh!
another smart arse dont get hooked on drugs tell that to the millions who never choose to get hooked people like you make me sick
Nope, I'd be good for about 5 years at least, I was living paycheck to paycheck and worked two jobs for a while to get away from that situation.
Superior Being I work two jobs and still barely make it. Sometimes you get stuck with medical bills and car bills to pay off.
3 pot charges and you end up homeless in Anchorage ???
Gotta be more to that story
Exactly
I dont believe he went to college. That workw9rs hat looks like jobs corps
@lasest2 this guy does t understand how the statute of limitations works... you can't wait out something you have already been charged for, you can only wait out the 7 years in which they have to charge you.
@lasest2 California wont my dad left parole and a new felony charge been arrested in tn 3 times everytime they call California to see if they gna come get him they say tell him dont come back to California my uncle also left 8 years probation and moved to florida they wont go get him either
I'd rather b in jail than to b in the woods homeless
How cruel to destroy a homeless person's stuff.
It's dirty to burn someone's tent down. It goes to show that many times when your down and out people will kick you.
That was sad. And you know why they did it? Because they thought it was funny. I moved to Thailand nine years ago and only come back to visit.
Daniel Tyler I'd be happy to leave this shit hole I live in here in Mich.Muskegon. But no money to get out. Living day to day and it sucks.
But if you're on top of the world and living the good life they will be right there trying to get from you.when you're down that will be nowhere to be found
homeless people up here light things on fire to keep warm . we have had a lot of fires because of these assholes so when their tent gets burned down its because we people are tired of the fires and the trash at all these homeless camp sites , shit / poop in bags everywhere and empty bottles . fuk em !
@@robertallain8966 I wouldn't say fuck em,but yeah,that must get you/yours totally fed up!!
You have to be a cold person to destroy a homeless persons camp.
No a cold person would get in the tent!!
Maybe some doing drugs accidentally burned down their tent?
I've been to many cities where it's pretty much illegal to be homeless, including here in Yonkers. I wouldn't be surprised if it was some municipal figure that trashed the camp. Hell. Even regular people will treat homeless people like crap. I've seen a homeless man kicked out of a Chipotle as soon as he finished eating. When I use to live in a suburb, there was this homeless guy that lived in the forest out of sight from the neighborhood, and all he'd do is read a book outside of his tent down by a creek and live his life in peace. The suburb paranoia kicked in months later when people found out about him living there and a few neighbors went into the woods as a group and kicked him out. Idk how they did it, if I recall right I was told they said they'll call the cops on him for....being homeless on public land? Needless to say, he left. What on Earth gave them the notion he was a threat, and more importantly, who the hell did they think gave them the authority to act like authority!? Ridiculous.
Yes it's terrible and I don't think it was the police because through the video the police genuinely care I dont think thats an act. I think it was some angry impotent coward that targeted the most vulnerable people they could. It probably made them feel better I think they should be prosecuted but thats just me. Nomatter what people who do those things will be judged by God and I think that when they meet god they will be punished. Thats my belief.
Kent Vene. It’s just so inhuman when homeless camp in front of my house like come onnn
I can't even imagine living in Anchorage, much less being homeless there
I used to live in anchorage. My roomie and I went ice skating one time on a pond right in midtown by our apartment. We skated til about noon then crossed the street back to our house to warm up. Looked out the window 2 hours later and the fire department was chainsawing a frozen block of dead body out of the pond we were just skating on...
Omg
Me either and I’m from Wisconsin!
@@leanneadams2549 northern Wisconsin is pretty similar
@@sdriscoll1757 wtf bro
There’s a part of me that thinks this is more properly a mental illness and substance abuse problem rather than homelessness. I feel so, so fuckin’ sorry for everyone involved.
Write a check, bleeding heart 👎
I’ve lived in Alaska for most my life and I can say confidently, the homeless population stems from addiction and mental illness. From many different sources and causes. It’s a sad situation and there never seems to be a solution for it.
@@SnakeEaterGaming I don't live in Alaska, I'm from Tennessee, but that's true almost worldwide.
Mental illness & substance abuse is the cause of the overwhelming majority of chronic homelessness cases.
Homeless in a warm climate is one thing but homeless in cold Alaska is the highest dimension. Wow!
The upper midwest is colder than Anchorage. Anchorage is on the ocean and its average low in Jan is 15F the same as Iowa, and much warmer than Minneapolis, Fargo, Duluth, etc...
Alaska is the only place in the USA you can build a house in the woods and poach without ever getting caught unless your dumb. It’s cold but a perfect place to be homeless
Anchorage is one thing, how bout Fairbanks!!
@A G Tell me about it, I used to live in Phoenix back in 89 had a job working outside and it felt like I was in hell. I now live in Dallas and it's not any better with the humidity.
sell high Hot climates are deadly too
Im a vet and been homeless for 2 years, 32, was in for 11 years and they found a heart issue and i couldn't be in no more so i got out. I cant work with my heart issue so i sleep on a cot, i do odd jobs when i feel ok and pay my phone bill, i dont drink or do drugs but i see the ones out here with me and they do them, i try talking them off the junk. Ill be alright you all, just watched this because this is not what i had planned 5 years ago. World can flip on a dime. Major learning experience. Yall stay safe up in Alaska! Yall stay warm. Going to bed, god bless.
Antihippie24 Thank You for Your Service 🇺🇸 and I said Prayers for You for Your needs
Antihippie24 Bro. You need to get in touch with the VA. If you were really in the military and had a heart issue while in then you should be getting a disability check. Here is the number for your area1-888-248-3682 or 907-334-0874 or Veterans Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255.
Antihippie24 homeless but have a phone??? Hmmm priorities!
So sorry to hear that. Wow, a vet and now you have to live like that, after all your years of hard work in school. God is powerful, believe something will come through. This is just sad. What happened to your family??
Ive been there and its not all its cracked up to be. But it can be a good life . I has it good when i was homeless. A goid tent and a place to put it. No one bothered me and no one touched my stuff. Prayers sent . Take care of yourself your not alone
I'm not knocking on the homeless, just sharing a story. When I was a child my dad's good friend had a property and home that he owned outright, save for taxes. He never married. He had a bad habit of smoking pot, always drinking, and has made dozens of stints at the county jail. Also spent years in state prison for various felonies. An anti-social kinda person. But he never ever once disrespected my dad or my family. He always treated us kindly. He eventually lost his house and property due to taxes that he couldn't keep up with. Now he's homeless, but I seldom see him in the streets, but I know he's out there struggling. When we do run into each other at the local convenience store in the town where I grew up (I no longer live there), he always greets me and asks for money (for beer). I'll give him whatever cash I have in my pocket as I hardly ever carry cash anymore, it's all plastic nowadays. I also always offer to buy him some food from the store. Although it makes me sad to see him that way, I've come to understand that nothing I do will turn his anti-social behavior around. But it's always a joy to see him.
Very sad story, makes me want to cry for them. I've known hard times of a different sort myself and i know how hard it is to turn things around. God. Pleasd bless them.
Him-“we gotta respect are native Heritage”
Girl-Throws liquor bottle in the woods/her home -
she's a real work of art...'''hasn't worked in over 6 yrs...'' =skating thru life
She's a small representative of the Native addicts. Alcohol and drug addicted mainly due to the fact that the state funds their addictions from free money every month that they earn for no other reason other than being Native. It's disgusting.
Lol 🤣🤣🤣
Can you imagine being homeless in an Alaskan winter AND heartbroken because your relationship broke up? I'd die. These are some tough people.
Wade Guidry it’s amazing the will to live
I rather commit suicide. They are way too strong.
She’d been homeless for 4 months, probably as a result of meeting this man. She is better off without a chronic homeless person.
These ppl are way tougher than your homeboy in southwest/Southern USA, rampaging community with shootouts and gangs that don't have to deal with snow to do such violence.
lol many are just lazy bums that dont want work or responsibility
What sort of low life SCUM would burn down a homeless persons tent.
99% of the time a homeless person. They treat each other poorly. 1% chance a local who hates homeless.
The same kinda person who would kick a Dog when it is already down.....
Me haha. Joking
@Johnathan Watsonson i am from Thailand
A trump voter
There is a big difference between being homeless in Anchorage than Miami.
Well its always bad but yes
Too dam humid Miami
No thanks
@@SuV33358 plus hurricanes
Tell us the difference ? 😂
@@sunshinesweetlove8238 Miami is almost tropical and Anchorage is virtually in the North Pole. Obviously being homeless anywhere is horrible.
I am a property owner and resident of Anchorage. I have been a victim of crime from the homeless. I have seen our wonderful parks covered with garbage. And damaged our quality of life. My taxes fund several ways to help them get back on track. On some level the homeless need to take responsibility for their own situation and seek treatment for their substance issues.
Facts
Apologists.
I have more stolen from homeowners so don't point a finger unless you can prove it
I've camped in the deltas in the winter from tok jct to Fairbanks to palmer to Anchorage I camped on the Tudor rd and Seward hyway the right gear is the key and I never been frost bit and I am 65 camping still
It's a money scam the taxes don't help it gets pocketed
"You'll find out."
Cameraman falls.
dyscea 😂😭
I thought nobody noticed, the camera guy slipped 😂
I literally laughed out loud.
😂🤣😂🤣😂
Fn golden! Yeah, that guy found out quick what dude was talking about.
Super friendly cop. I’m glad he isn’t making their difficult life even harder. Not all of them are like that. He’s one of the few good ones.
Well he is infront of a camera. I hope he's genuinely that nice to the homeless.
Stupid remark. There are a lot of good cops.
Friendly bc cameras were there there sick of dealings with it an there only human.
Most cops are evil but all cops are powerless to fight back against the system even if they wanted to
One of the few good ones? Most cops are amazing people, there are very few bad ones that make it harder for all the good ones.
That guy tearfully saying "You're gonna hurt me" is heartbreaking 💔
Life is cold and hard, Sarah.
0:47
Before it was called Anchorage Safety Patrol, it was called Community Service Patrol. I worked the night shift as an EMT on the van for years. Without exception, nearly ALL the homeless there are homeless because of substance abuse. Alcoholism is ubiquitous there. Tragic.
I was told Alaskans received basic income monthly from the oil industry. That money should be for rent.
@@heatherwhite8951 not true. All residents of 6 month or more qualify for a yearly dividend of an amount dependant on the oil tax revenue from 5 years prior. It normally comes to between $800-1600. Now natives, many of them, depending on which corporation they were born into, receive monthly checks that are quite substantial. You don't see them because they are able to make a rent payment with that money
"Once you're stuck in Anchorage, you're stuck in Anchorage"
They don't call it Anchorage for nothing then
very clever
😂😂😂😂
You are not stuck you just gotta get the f up and go.Steal a bike at 3am and ride as far south east as you can and just keep pushing until you get to a real city and then it is a cake walk stop making excuses your problem and instead make hustling your problem there are plenty of ways.
iPhone Guy 😂😂😂 have fun doing that you’ll be riding on that bike for a couple years until you actually make it out of Alaska
You ain't goin nowhere . . . homelessness, can be fatal !
Awww!! The First Kid hurt me to the core!! If im going to be homeless I might as well be pleasant to look at😭😭😭😭
Yes, me too, kept thinking " that could be MY son" heartbreaking.
😭
I feel bad for him but at the same time hes a dumbass. How do you get arrested for weed 3 times. In college we would smoke in my dorm, hell at night we would walk around campus and smoke. It was all dumb and we never got caught, and this pothead got arrested 3 times? He doesnt deserve to be homeless but he was obviously being a dipshit. And then he decides to move tk Alaska to waut out his felony? Felony charges are extraditable from any state including Alaska. He could have at least gone somewhere warm. He should have stopped after being arrested the second time.
@@jsilva7005 well alaska is on the northern side of Canada so it's not a bad idea at all. He's just doing it wrong. If you're gonna be homeless in Alaska you become a mountain man like Glenn villeneuve.
I'm glad I can drink at home and crawl into my cozy bed.
John VW.... yessss thank you Jesus 🙏🛌.... 🍞🍷
Even when you have nothing, someone tries to take stuff away from you, the human race as a whole is very sick
There's help. Victim Mentality is very damaging.
@@dianecarman1979 kunt, you try to take something from me you'll DEFO be a victim
Foh your victim mentality, bich
And the people with nothing take a LOT of stuff from the people with stuff. It's a vicious cycle and there's no real end/solution in sight, sadly.
Usually the government, if you live in the uk (true story)
You are very correct. Even at my lowest when I had nothing but my bag someone still got me. There are homeless who are trying, and then there are maggots who enjoy the pit of despair.
I was a drug addict almost homeless in Alaska, I got sober and changed my life completely in less then a year, but you got to want it, and you have to want to be sober and take the step towards healing, life is about choices plain and simple.
Congrats on changing your life
Your right. People don’t realize that it’s the very small and tiny decisions that make the biggest impact in your life.
Absolutely!!! Good job 👍
I get it
🤗
for what it's worth... I was stationed in Hawaii for 5 years... during that time, I noticed that if you are going to be homeless, that is the best place I have ever seen... temp never gets too cold or hot, food grows on trees, always a spot of beach can found to get a nights sleep... plenty of rain which helps for personal hygiene sake, and local gov seems helpful... they even erected a small tent city for the homeless in downtown Waikiki ... makes no sense to try surviving in the most hostile environment possible when you have no home...jmo
I'm sure than can afford a plane ticket! Not like they can swim
OR rich/greedy assholes who own property, rentals, & buildings could STOP HIKING PRICES so people CAN afford places to live. Even a drunk should be able to find a home even if its something others would never live in, at least it's not outside.
In Waliki . . . better than camping, on the beach . . . for all the tourists to see !
That tent city is not on Waikiki but on the other side of the island
Also they have a very huge drug problem
@@wildershoney2439 If they have low prices, alcoholics and drug heads would live there. Then the good people would leave and you'd have a building full of drunks and heads. Keep prices up.
Ok, Anchorage is not the coldest American city. I lived there for 8 years. Yes, it can get cold. Want cold? Check out Fairbanks. I would not want to be homeless in Alaska, anywhere.
Yes
I will never go to Alaska
Visited Alaska Last winter and it was beautiful. However it is indeed insanely cold in some areas. And I do feel bad for the less fortunate people there. Such a sad situation no matter where it's at. Even if it is their own fault.
fairbanks is small and considered a town.....
I thought the exact same thing as I was watching this. I reasoned that Fairbanks was not a city.
I have a friend from Anchorage he moved to arizona like 7 months ago. He told me ,he is one of the lucky ones to get out. And that drugs and homelessness is trully bad in alaska
Theres lot of homeless ppl there
Arizona is probably worse tbh, drugs are straight rampant and because of our temperate climate we have lots of homeless.
@@xmrpaintx1 California is worse
Homelessness is getting bad everywhere and WHY???? Cos the corrupt system of fiat money we live under ruled by the pig BANKsters.. it’s time for revolution .. if your a true Christian or Muslim usury is forbidden and this is why.. on judgement day we will all answer before God why we didn’t help our brother and sister.
Damn 'if I'm going to be homeless I might as well wear a suit and tie, and be pleasant to look at'
That was sad
Because of a damn pot charge!😡
Him I feel sorry for. Most i do not. Homeless here in my city are mostly thieves and have made our parks unlivable.
he's a spice head that bums around 4 th ave, see him down there every day...
@@akpenetrate1690 are you being serious?
I was homeless in Anchorage after I left the army but i dusted off and got my ass in gear and got off the streets all thanks to God
I don't think God had anything to do with it. Sounds like you just sucked it up 😀 good for you
God bless you!❤
If there was a God, you wouldn’t have had to experience such a world. Well done on pulling yourself out of the shit man.
Destiny Dad God really does help! I served in the Infantry and went through hell too! God helped me from going over the edge! Happy you pulled through!!
You took responsibility for your life.
I feel extra bad for the kid who thinks doing this for 7 years makes warrants disappear. Whoever told him that is wrong
I was like I have never heard such shit before
0:35 When I wake up on Monday morning and realise I have another week at my nightmare job ahead.
nice!
I’m a Vietnam vet this breaks my heart ❤️
It’s okay, my heart would be broken if I lived in nam too.
Oook Rambo. You sound like an I. The rear with the gear type
@LAFOLLETTER Have you ever been homeless?
@LAFOLLETTER I don't think it's just a choice. I'm pretty sure there's an alcoholic gene that predisposes some people to "need" alcohol. For them it's a fight every day day to not drink. Unless you struggle with it you probably shouldn't judge.
@@maxinator2002 right homeless or addicted..if u haven't than dont speak some people have no.clue at all
Honestly if I were homeless I'd probably drink to excape reality. They're Damned if they do Damned if they don't. To burn down someone's tent in dead cold weather...... that's pure evil.
If I saw someone doing that I would be disgusted.
mankuro But would you take action?
@@eggrollsoup I actually would If I saw that. Straight run up on his shit
Homeless shelters exist.
Mike Rodgers - I read an article written by a homeless woman who told why she chose the streets over a shelter. She said the shelters were filthy and full of bedbugs. To make matters worse, she was more likely to get harassed there. The streets were cleaner and safer.
They need to expunge everyone who had marijuana felonies.
Right, because it's law enforcement's fault that these people are willing to risk jail time just to get high.
@@DixiePokerAce no don't get me wrong to drive high Under the Influence alcohol whatever is graphically wrong. You're correct what I'm saying is the overcrowding in the jails because of marijuana offenses is stupid costly and inefficient. The marijuana charges need to be expunged with the caveat of drug testing until that state has recreational marijuana use
@@DixiePokerAce LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN BE CROOKED PAL....THAT SHOULDN'T BE NEWS TO YOU!
@@ericunderwood1482 Right, because nobody buys and sells illegal substances. Everyone accused of that was set up by the cops. I don't give a shit about people using drugs of any kind but don't start complaining when you end up in jail behind it. You know the risks. If you willing to risk your freedom to get high, that is 100% on you.
@I C Because lowlife drug addicts like you deserve special consideration. You hate the laws here? You should leave. I am absolutely fine with drug users going to prison. It's better when they get killed trying to buy their shit but I will settle for them being locked up. If you are willing to risk your freedom to get loaded, you can go to jail. I really don't give a shit.
Seeing this makes me wanna cry 😢, I’ve been homeless before and been on drugs but I am proud to say I have 8 yrs clean and a roof over my head..and if I can do it , anyone! Can just gotta want it..at the end of the day you can’t help someone that don’t wanna help themselves..it’s soooo so F’ing sad this video literally has me In tears no bs..like seriously I’m in F’ing tears right now watching this.....again
Good for you, I'll be Soon 3 years clean from a HardCore Almost 15 years of Opioid Addiction & 4 Years Of Homelessness, it was the worste time of my life but I made it out alive to tell my story, so Keep you're head Up & stay strong my friend, you got this so be proud & stay the course... Peace Out
karl clincoin cuz, that’s some of. The realist shit I ever heard 💯
@@mjr412 hey I speak from my mind & My Heart, I'm No Better Than Anyone Else on this Crazy Planet & I never Judge a book by its cover, where I'm from everyone knows everyone's business So if you're a Homeless Drug Addict Alot of people Will talk Shit About you, it's a small town curse I suppose so I say fuck all the Haters cause we only get 1 life to live, so I tell people try living every day like it may be your last & try your best in life to help others while doing some kinda good before your tickets up ya know..
If you want you can Google, Cape Breton island, Nova Scotia Canada then you'll see just how small it really is.. where I live is just a tiny speck towards the upper right hand part of the island haha.. I hope you have a good day
Stay strong and keep going. 8 years is great. January will be 40 years for me.
Stumbling through 11 years and still grateful. Some people are tough as nails, I dont know if I would make it out of some of these challenges. Thus grateful.
"Am I my brother's keeper?" I believe the answer should be Yes. The problem with homelessness is global, yet so very little is being done. I worked as a volunteer with the homeless a couple of years back. There were very decent and educated people among them, they didn't all drink or do drugs. They wanted to work. Most people don't realize that ending up on the street is the quickest process you can imagine, particularly nowadays.
Thank you for this video!
As one whose been there, it’s hard, but there is hope. I spent a year and a half in a tent in the midtown woods. We would walk through the night from downtown to diamond just to avoid freezing, and I worked 3 jobs to support us, only really sleeping on my day off or for a few minutes on the bus.
I managed to find my way to Oregon and ended up working in the union and am now managing an rv park. That was 4 or 5 years ago now, and I only just found stable ground. But it can get better. Just take the help people offer and don’t give in to the bottle or pipe.
Everyone knows my history, and instead of feeling ashamed for it, there’s constant curiosity and admiration for my tales. If anyone is homeless in Anchorage and reading this, keep that fire going in you.
Love,
-Kandi Kayne
Hey it's Richard
Where are you located
I lived in anchorage alaska for 10 years. It was some of the most beautiful and hardest times of our lives. It really makes you find out what kind of person you are, and how strong you really are or not........
"I wanna help people, that's why I got into this, I care". How every person should think that works with people.
We got money for everything else except our fellow human beings.
Yes very sad
Throwing money at everything isn't the answer...its their addiction thats causing this
Ain't that the truth brother
@@derickc6633 if only it was that easy , A lot of the homeless are war vets , they get home all fucked up and then left out to dry
No support no nothing
Addiction is a very difficult illness to beat. It IS an illness. We wouldn’t be talking negatively about someone with any other mental or physical disease, as if they chose to have it. No one chooses to be an addict. The money needs to be put into treatment & real rehabilitation services, which DO save lives every day. Most often, it takes a few tries to stay sober & rebuild one’s life. Many have criminal records that make it difficult to find a job or a place to live. I see the obstacles they must contend with. Many are very motivated & do all the right things, but still struggle. Treatment & continued support & services should be available to all who need them. And we should recognize & treat addiction as the mental & physical disease that it is.
that's a pretty depressing party...
Mental health issues mos def
They're losers
My heart pours out to these homeless individuals, and the people helping out in the only way they can. A prayer goes out for them.
I was homeless in Anchorage 20 years ago. They had a tiny little soup kitchen that got moose roadkill donated and had the best soup to warm a soul. Great town, I miss it. I don't miss being on the streets part though.
"Jim Beam never hurt nobody". I beg to differ.
martman104 right? That guy and his friend Jack .. they love to hurt ! That’s why my kidneys suck and I go to another place that’s about alcoholics and drink gut rock coffee every night.lol
Fucked up GG Allin !
@@screamingparrot4070 a fellow friend of Bill's. Hit that coffee like a caaaave mman. Keep on keeping on, I met the best people in my life drinking nasty coffee in church basements.
Pete Thoresen sweet! Bill is a awesome friend to have!
That guy went to college for awhile,classic.
good for the guy who got a job ...be a leader man and keep doing for you and making your life better ....it will happen just takes time keep your head up man
I've spent a lot of time in Anchorage and Fairbanks and am always amazed at the amount of people staggering around drunk. I've seen that patrol walking around and picking up these same people. It's terribly sad.
Yep, been there too, if they had any money, buy a bunch of pull tabs.
I remember being homeless in West Virginia during the winter, it can get down to sub zero temps very quickly and can be very similar in weather conditions at times. I told myself "There is no way I'm going to live out here and be found dead by the river, I have to get out." Getting out of that situation by yourself requires a tremendous amount of willpower and mental constraints to keep focused because the feeling of being powerless and vulnerable stays with you to the very moment you get the keys to your own place. Eventually one of two things happen; you get off the street or you start losing your mind.
Man it's sick to destroy these peoples only form of shelter I mean come on who does that shit?
Angel Psychos with power.
Congratulation to the Weather Channel, a great documentary
Misleading documentary. Anchorage is MILD compared to other parts of the country.
America is such a sad place now I've never seen so many homeless in my life and I've been all through the United States in the last 6 years it's incredible we don't take care of our own
Two causes - opiate addiction and the collapse of the mental health care system over the past 40 years
@Laura Lafauve it blows my mind that people in the US think like that (I'm in the UK). I think most people here don't even think of it in those terms, probably that thought has never even crossed their mind! 🤷🏻♀️😔
Here in my town in Iowa, we had a group of unruly teens mess up a homeless camp. They absolutely trashed it and even threw things into the river. The community page caught wind of it and a bunch of people got tents, sleeping bags, canned goods and toiletries, and clothes and more and they took it down by the river and left it for the people who’s things got ruined. It was such a prideful moment for me, I love Iowa ❤️ 🌽
That’s nice we just started picking up trucks of them downtown it’s sad walking over them but up here u gotta just survive the high utilities gas groceries is insane. We need help up here like we need funding for mood lights in the town for depression or something cuz drug abuse is so bad in this town
I've yet to see a place more in need of a tiny home (or shipping container) community for the homeless.
Sarah Norment, a man in LA makes them, the city forced him to remove them; a few days later, an old lady who was in one died from exposure! th-cam.com/video/FhFKPZqFd3o/w-d-xo.html
That is just encouraging them. (Waiting for the butthurt). 🤣
Fuck Arizona is worse than Iraq obviously, I mean seriously? Live in a tiny shit box?
They don’t need fucking tiny homes they need rehab and initiative.
Sarah Norment I guess you’ve never been to Philadelphia... on one street alone in Kensington there’s hundreds of homeless people, it’s sad & I may be right there with them soon. 💔
Dude why would someone go through and destroy a Homeless person tent? I can understand making them move or relocating them, but that is cruel
Radioman909 police do it all the time.
Well I'm sorry to that.
The dirty cops here where i live do it like its a game.."GTA without stealing cars but getting points for slicing homeless ppls tents&throwing everything they own in the bay/slough... Its repulsive the magnitude of evil among us..nevertheless PPL WHO GAVE AN OATH TO SERVE& PROTECT.. god bless you all and i pray lord you soften those hearts Nd change there wicked ways. A.D.
Because the homeless cause crime
Could be just kids or people who thank anyone dow is a low life and have no ideal mother nature could send people from the US north or south with no more than the rags on there back. sad but true
I’ve lived in Anchorage my entire life and I can’t think of a single time it’s been -40. MAYBE we get to the high - teens, for a day or two.
Or 90 mph but people still can get frost bite and die around 0
This video: Anchorage is America's coldest city
Fairbanks: am I a joke to you
fairbanks is a town
@@wienerdogsrule621 Fairbanks is a city, albeit a small one. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairbanks,_Alaska
1 THING I FIND SHOCKING IN THE US IS THAT BEING HOMELESS IS THE SAME AS BEING A CRIMINAL. NOT ONLY ARE U HARASSED BY THUGS BUT ALSO BY THE AUTHORITIES, THE SAME ONES WHO SHOULD REALLY MAKE SURE THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN AT ALL.
Wtf are u talking abt?? I live in the United States and that is NOT how homeless are treated. They get ALL kinds of public assistance and get chance after chance after chance when it comes to panhandling, stealing, loitering, harassment etc. Stop lyin.
You don’t know what you’re talking about. First off, these homeless people aren’t people just down on their luck, they are willingly homeless. I’ve worked with them before at Ruralcap, which is a local affordable living situation for them, like a hotel, where they pay about $30 a month to live there. Most of these people WANT to be homeless. Most of them ARE theives, most of them ARE thugs who will shake down and intimidate random people. They do crazy shit like smoke bath salts and yell at random cars and pedestrians, sometimes attacking people. These people are mental cases who abuse drugs. They often times harm each other too, burning down each other’s tents and such. And they TRASH the place. You can always tell when they’re nearby from the sight of random trash strung out and about in the streets. I have absolutely no care for these people. They *choose* to live like this on their own free will and we’re expected to pay more taxes to assist this behavior? Then mislead people who vote with their emotions, like yourself, essentially force us to pay more for this human garbage.
Why would you destroy a homeless persons tent? Why do people suck so much.
cody fox Answer is in your second question... "Why do (answer) suck so much." When was the last time you saw an animal whoring out its offspring for some drugs? How often do you see trees fucking each other over for a goddamn profit?
cody fox Oh, COdy, I was already pissed about that, that is why I had to pause this upload to read how other folks felt. I'm like, this is so damned wrong and what can we do about it. Folks who see this and want to help or want to draw up plans and answers for these people. It doesn't make sense, no one should have to live like this. I mean, the people who have abilities to build some small studio space or build some free place together can't help out the other person? I mean, what did that a hole get out of burning someone's tent and trashing their things. I mean, what power could they have gleaned from that? This is so utterly wrong, this should not be happening. Someone has GOT to listen to some reason here and do what is sensible. I mean, why in the hell would this state, knowing how cold it is allow people to live this and then want to snatch their dignity in these flop houses. How come the state can hire a few folks to build some simple homes or the folks build them together so that folks can have their own space? I don't get this, man, I don't get it at all.
RayVal53 We realise that, but certainly not all of them are doing that. We can't lump what one group does to what others are not doing because we see some behaviour on one end. And what is that to us. Maybe these people you call whores and animals need to feel like people again. WIll we burn for helping folks to get them started. This is not bleeding heart anything. These are people and it is obvious that they need some help, a chance, the town can gather together and hear these people out and come together with some plans or some ideas. Something. We can't damn everyone for screwing up they feel bad enough as it is. We are all screw ups in one way or another and we really do not have any place to make that statement. None of us are any better in how we live our lives either, whether we have a home or not.
ITS AT THE MAYORS ORDERS
Smack Orino, Animals care about their offspring and packs if they have one. You are misinformed for thinking otherwise.
7 years homeless in alaska for a weed charge? Sure, buddy.
@@-Jason-L not alot of other states have extradition agreements with Alaska. You would find he is not alone fleeing the law in Alaska.
@@TraceyAllen ANY state can extradite from any other state, including Alaska. It's literally written into the constitution.
The Extradition Clause of the U.S. Constitution (Article IV Section 2) requires that:
A person charged in any State with Treason, Felony, or other Crime, who shall flee from Justice, and be found in another State, shall on Demand of the executive Authority of the State from which he fled, be delivered up, to be removed to the State having Jurisdiction of the Crime.
@@MrChaiguy yea the catch is not many will, the money and logistics involved outweigh the charge...
Fun fact - the camera crew funded that party they filmed
Mine thing is how come they didnt have a fire
No they fucking didn't. I know all those people, they hustled for their own shit. Lol shut the fuck up dude your literally just making shit up and making assumptions. They paid for that $10 bottle and small bowl of weed? Wow such a party lmfao.
@@sethmoore3083 it gives your camp away. Camping in anchorage is illegal.
The kid in the suit is actually a smart kid. It's sad to see that....:(
No, he is really really dumb. There is something wrong with his head. If he was smart, he wouldn't have run away from a felony and he wouldn't choose to hide out in Alaska to be homeless.
Sucks if it really was just weed possession. I live in a legal state.
@13 minutes is why he's an idiot..
Nikki F. 👍💯% Truth!👏😊
isit1984yet mom
I got clean and am still healthy but used to live outside here in Seattle. Several years ago I personally knew another homeless person who died sleeping in the winter due to falling asleep atop his bedding coming down off meth. I used to wish to be immune to the usual elements since I was already so down and out.
Born and raised there and was on the streets for almost two years. Been all over Alaska, been there done that!!! All most lost my life 4 times, stayed at Brother Francis shelter, rescue mission on Tudor Road and now I live in Washington my second home and loving life.
Super upbeat. 10/10 would recommend.
That homeless kid from Clemson university life was destroyed for personal possession of marijuana??? The legal system I this country made that kid homeless and ruined his life.
The law against marijuana is repressive, unnecessary and detestable. This law ruins lives. Don't you try to tell me that laws are so sacred that this kid should suffer.
Erik Kirby Just because something is against the law doesn't make it right. It use to be the law that you could buy,sell,or own a black human being. It used to be the law that you could beat your wife. It used to be the law that women could not vote. Some laws are UNJUST and a law that destroys lives for possessing,using or growing marijuana is UNJUST. No one should have their life ruined for smoking a joint.
Caleb Ballantine Agree with you 100% !!!!!!
Nathan Drake, his stupid choices destroyed his life. No one to blame but himself.
Terri Smith 100
Please do more stories like this. I just want to say Thank you to every person. There was some very courageous and brutal honesty in these stories. Truthfully, any one of us could be faced with similar circumstances. There are natural disasters and economic issues and heart breaking situations that occur in every life.
Thank you for your comment. It was heartfelt and honest!!!!
Whenever I see something like this, I often ask myself: What can I do to help, especially the youth who are the future?
bohemoth1 you can help the youth by making them take responsibility for their actions.
People that grow up and are hard working and responsible dont end up homeless on the street no matter what tragedies they face. They have built trusting relationships with family and friends that will help out. Homeless people living this way choose to or have exhausted all their friendships and worth ethics
As a 13 year resident of this state, retired Air Force, and federal employee, I’m eternally grateful where I am. I retired starting out well, but then quit one job to start a union job at remote radar sites that paid well, but assignments were based on seniority and I went months without work and had to borrow from my thrift savings plan to pay my mortgage in Eagle River for 2 months. My retirement check and unemployment benefits weren’t enough to make it, but that’s when I owned a nice suburban home and had six people living here.
I’ve seen it all over Anchorage, but only in driving. I dread driving down Gamble and stopping at the red light by Carr’s every time. I see most of it around Bean’s Cafe and did see a tent camp around the Muldoon exit.
Many of the homeless native people were banished from their villages and shamed by elders probably for domestic assault, sexual assault, or drunkenness. They come to the city with no job skills or clues how to make a living.
What really pisses me off are these young 18-30 year old enlisted servicemen that don’t have a clue about this. They have free room and board, food, healthcare, education, and dental care, but whine about how much they hate their job, being told what to do and when to do it, and living in this cold and dark place, but they’re all wearing nice clothes, have their X-Boxes, and smartphones. And most of them now are from middle-class backgrounds.
It's in the 90's right now where I'm living an remembering that unexplainable cold just made me shiver..
I have lived in Alaska my entire life. The homelessness in this state is staggering. We need more shelters, resources, and affordable housing.
U mean people are homeless there?? 🤔🤔🤔
@@lashawnaschnathorst7541 Yes. We have a very large homeless population. You should look up the videos regarding homelessness in Anchorage and Fairbanks. It’s crazy.
It’s also dangerous due to the extreme weather here. I currently live in Fairbanks and every year we have several deaths of homeless folks who have frozen to death. Typically drugs and alcohol are involved and the individuals pass out in the cold or fall in the river. It’s awful.
I spent my first winter in Fairbanks Alaska. I moved there with a job ,but found the working conditions to be less than expected so I spent my first winter in a tent on top of a jumbled concrete pile. The tent was a 4 man Army cooks tent. I had what is called a Yukon stove , the Army made. I bought 3 things a tent, the stove and a pair of Mukluks. It was -60 that year. A guy on the main street sleeping in a doorway in town had died. I was in the country (the bush) alone.............................lolly
You crazy fuck
As a young man in the 80s I lived this way from Anchorage to homer alaska... I didnt do drugs but life got hard and I use to hang out in laundry mats where it was warm and I finally got a job at the laundry mat and saved my money and went to homer and lived on the beach where I got a job at the cannery working night and day and got my life going where I am today...some other people I know did the same and today they own a very successful business in homer and own many very nice boats where they take people on fishing tours and our doing very well as I am....I hope the best for these guys and stay off the drugs..
I can't even imagine being homeless in Alaska. It would be hard enough in a warm climate. My heart goes out to these folks...💔😑😞😑💔
Umm🥰🥰🥰 sorry about that
Let's see u in picture
EVERY town especially major cities need a Safety Patrol NOT police officer BUT Safety Patrol
They have those here. They do nothing. And police *ARE* safety patrols. Anchorage Police are far different than some of the California police I grew up dealing with.
Stfu sheep go back to work
Thank y'all for caring
I found this documentary so sad. I was homeless myself several years ago, but I was lucky because I was accepted into a shelter in Cleburne, TX, I found a great job & got back on my feet. Of all the homeless people I came across, the addictions and the horrible life stories really broke my heart. Even with all that, I'll never understand the insistence of some people to remain homeless. 💔
😭 if I’m going to homeless, I might as well be nice to look at 😭 God bless him. Wearing a suit and tie 😔
How is camping illegal anywhere? We are natural beings born on to this plane. If we dont have a home where are we suppose to go? We have a right to sleep where ever we want if its not hurting anyone! This is MY earth too!
Peter Pierce Come back when you're working hard on daily basis to support your own business & these drugged types are housing next to your valuable living place. Including necessarily peace to sleep..
What comes in must get out.. How do you think that works in that deep frozen reality?
Peter Pierce agreed !
Peter Pierce it's just typical everyday persecution of homeless it occurs in every city and state
Fuck You Peter...you are a Human Parasite....
Dingus Dow good try at flailing away trying to salvage ego, STFU jackass lol if u didn't have family to fall back on and got hurt or sick you'd be homeless too, you're clearly blessed and devoid of compassion entirely. End of story.
Felony for smoking weed! What a disaster!
@Josh Renzo That sounds more like Nazi Germany than America.
@Josh Renzo I'm not so sure the people in the Philippines are happy to see dead bodies lying in alleys in the morning, and hearing gunshots at night. I'm pretty sure that only a psychopath would enjoy that, and I'm pretty sure most Filipinos are not psychopaths.
@Josh Renzo What's wrong with using or selling drugs? Why should either be illegal?
@Josh Renzo People who smoke weed cost the taxpayer money? Yes, I agree with you there, bit why is that? I think it has more to do with the fact that it's illegal than anything else. As far as drug dealers go, if they're living in an area with high property values, they keep their business away from home. If the area is already a shithole with low property values, they'll set up open air drug markets. All they gotta do then is lower the yearly homicide count in whatever area they control, and they ain't got shit to worry about from the cops.
Josh Renzo They're not happy about it! in fact they want Legal weed just like many places that have legalized! if it's Legalized piece of shit hippies can no longer make money off it if it's sold at Walmart!!!
What great work you are doing supplying food to these guys. Fantastic work
This is crazy!! I was homeless on the streets of Anchorage at the same time this was filmed. I was an addict, thank God I lived through it.
Money Mike It just got to be too hard, I had nowhere to go, no real friends to speak of. I had just been taken advantage of yet again. I was alone. I sat down behind a dumpster and shot up everything I had, about a gram and a half. I wasn’t exactly suicidal but if I just happened to overdose I wouldn’t mind. But I woke up 4 hours later with my ass in the snow, surrounded by my paraphernalia. I was angry I woke up, I couldn’t even do that right. So I got up and texted a friends mother, I asked her to tell her daughter I needed help getting off dope. Within 15 minutes my friend showed up. She started the ball rolling for me. My dad let me spend one night, the next day I had to leave. I was upset my son was upset. My dad asked me why I was so apprehensive about going to rehab and getting clean. I realized that I was scared of never getting high again. That fear is what kept me high, I couldn’t cope with my thoughts or being in my own head. Dope dialed that down. But my Dad said something that changed my mind. He said that after I graduate rehab he will allow me to smoke weed. He knew I needed something to check out once in awhile. So we started cold calling every resource we could find in the yellow pages. We ended up talking to someone at the hospital who said to come in right away and they’d help me medically detox. That was all that was available, we didn’t have very many rehabs back then. The waiting lists could be 3 weeks to 3 months.
So I walked into the ER and told the lady that I was suicidal due to drug withdrawal. I guess those were the magic words because next thing I knew I had a social worker assigned to me. She found a tiny program that was specifically for homeless long term drug addicts. I guess there was only 4 or 5 spots in that program. I met all the criteria and somehow that social worker found me a rehab detox bed. Within 90 minutes they had put me in cab and instructed the driver to not stop anywhere along the way. This rehab is a loooong way outta the way. In the middle of Anchorage. When I arrived I was one of 4 people in detox. The only girl. The majority of the beds were empty. But I would frequently hear the nurses tell people over the phone that they didn’t have any availabilities and that they would have to get put on the waiting list. I didn’t understand it all but I realize how blessed I was and what a rare thing this was and so I grabbed a hold of that chance and I held on for dear life. The miracles just kept rolling in too. Because I met the criteria for the program I got a bed
To bed transfer. Which means I got to immediately go into their long term rehab. There was no waiting in between detox and rehab. That in and of itself is a miracle. Then because I was the only girl in the program, and we were all roomed with our separate groups. Because I was the only girl I got my own room. Nobody else in the entire place had their own room. I really hate socializing with people, I had major anxiety just cause I was there. So it was a blessing to have my own space. I honestly believe that if I shared a room I’d be putting my sobriety at risk. I don’t get along with people, I’m quiet and withdrawn. Plus I was the only one that was there voluntarily. Everyone else was either from jail or some other court mandated bullshit. So I was the butt of a lot of jokes. But if you would’ve asked them who they thought would make it everyone of them would say me. I’ve been clean for 6 1/2 years and help addicts on Facebook. You should send us a friend request. It’s called No Addict Left Behind. I hope to see you there.
Doog awww thanks!!! And if you know anyone struggling with addiction come find me on Facebook @ No Addict Left Behind. I’d love to hear your story so send us a friend request!!!
Doog Well thank you, but I’m single. Been that way since I got clean. I’ve got so much left to work on before I can even begin dating. But your sweet. Thank you. I really hope to see you on our page. That way we can chat more directly.
Doog can’t wait to talk to you directly.
Doog I’m sure there is. You just go to your Facebook settings and then to your privacy settings. But not to worry, our page is a closed group, no one outside the group can see or post or even comment:
I wish homelessness just didn't exist ❤️☺️
I wonder if its improved by now or worse, alot of homelessness in L.A now but it's not freezing cold. Prayer we send.
This brings tears to my eyes seeing these homeless people! It's so sad some of these people think that police are only there to possibly hurt them when there are people out there who genuinely care!! ❤🙏
This is heartbreaking I wish all of them the best love and light.
Thank you for this video! you guys did a great job making people aware of the problem in Alaska, God Bless You All!
Wish that kid in the beginning knew that he didn’t have to go to Alaska for a weed warrant. Unless it’s a violent crime they’re not going to extradite state to state. Also he should move to a state thAt it’s legal now. 12 states all together. No need for fake weed either.. that shit is crazy
Thank you to the officers & volunteers making sure our local homeless are surviving the winter.
"Respect her native heritage" as she throws the empty bottle in the woods.🤣🤣🤣
good call, i don't mind if they want to be homeless just don't make a mess
Getting trashed is fine, but why trash the Forest ? No respect!
Dog, they are homeless pretty sure if you were in they're situation you wouldn't give a fuck either and don't act like you've never littered neither everyone is guilty of that.
She is the empty bottle that has been tossed into the woods
savage
Damn ... that shit really touched my heart. I know what it's like to be homeless ... but man, under these conditions? That's really very, very bad! Good luck to all who are faced with these problems!
I'm sorry who does that to someone's tent, bless her she's freezing.
BE HOPEFUL… BE MOTIVATED… and most importantly BE GRATEFUL!!!
The really bad thong about these people is that they leave trash EVERYWHERE.
This dude is living in Alaska, because of marijuana? Buddy needs to move to California and enjoy the sun.
SoCal Rocks we don’t need more homeless people.
Laws changed it's no longer a felony anywhere in the USA.
@@justjill9856 marijuana is still considered a felony on the federal level.
*michigan
If someone bought him a plane ticket I'm sure he'd be down.
Thank you asp team I’m sure dealing with intoxicated people isn’t easy but what you’re doing matters ❤️🙏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼✨
THE TIE HOMELESS MAN IS VERY INTELLIGENT AND MENTALLY ACUTE AND DRIVEN..I HOPE HE PROSPERS
we are all one step, or pay check from having except your clothes and your mind