What does it mean to be homeless? (18 year old, retire, government)
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in England being homeless means you haven't got a postal address, so no mail, no job offers, no benefit payments-they did away with "no fixed abode" payments years ago.
when I lived in Glastonbury, Somerset(UK) I knew a lot of the homeless in the area, some lived in caravans(trailers), some lived in campers and horse boxes, but a lot lived where they could, I even found one guy sleeping in a rubbish cart.
I have been homeless.
Those in RVs are NOT homeless, they are simply misplaced.
I had: no address, No PO Box, No money, No definite place to lay my head at night,No job {couldn't work really-for medical reasons}, no way to get job, as they don't really hire homeless people. and only what I could carry in a backpack I carried on my back, and just the clothes on my back.
I COULD on occasion, stay and sleep on friend's couches, and get a fresh shower, do laundry, or TRY to get into a homeless shelter. Otherwise there was a bridge I used to sleep under, for real. No one else "shared" my bridge, and rarely id people who WEREN'T homeless bother, I was fortunate enough to have enough clothing and a heavy jacket for the colder weather, simply wear MOST of what you own for warmth. My backpack was my pillow.
I was at a low point in my life, and my parents and sibling would not help, since I had/kept applying for Welfare {How DARE I resort to Welfare!}. I was medically unstable at the time.
THAT is MY definition of "homeless".
When I applied for Welfare, I was turned down 4 times. The fifth time I finally got Expedited Benefits BECAUSE I stressed I WAS homeless. They like and address, even if under a bridge, so I asked a friend if I could get mail at their home. I finally had an address, and my friend was gracious then to allow me to "more permanently" stay on their couch. I had to fork over 75% of my cash benefits for "rent" {a rip off since I took up only the couch-and their LL said they had to pay extra for me staying their, but the money I gave them WASN'T going to the LL-he knew I was paying as I privately told him I was, but he became pissed and evicted them [and me]}, and had to bring in the food pantry would give me. The food was reasonable, but "my" food was feeding three people, as they wouldn't buy any til my 2 pantry allotments or the once a month Catholic Charities distribution was gone, or any supplement what I Received. Oh, and I had to fork over ALL my food stamps. Now I wasn't so "homeless" anymore. I had a known place to lay my head. They were also surviving on Welfare and child support for a child who did not live with them. They mostly spent "my money" on beer for themselves.
When they moved, I went to their old LL to ask if I could rent the drafty small "cottage" they HAD been renting, because staying with them was such a rip off. He felt sorry for me, and allowed it. AND finally, I was "HOMED" again. Lets just say they were a bit "dismayed" I moved out, as I was their "cash cow". They are no longer my "friends".ANd the ONLY "good" to come of was in fact I met my now spouse through them, and they did my spouse "wrong" by using MOH for rides without paying even for gas, and in a few other ways I won;t go into here. SO we DON'T/HAVEN'T mentioned their names anymore, it brings bad luck and have ignored their phone calls.
That Is how I WAS homeless, and how I became "homed" again,
Living in an RV would have been a LUXURY to me!!!!! and RV can be SOLD to rent a place. I am sure they were NOT cheapo pop-up tent type RVs!!!
There have been times when my house/apt key physically broke or got misplaced and I got locked out. I would often half-joking say I was homeless for a night.
There have been times when my house/apt key physically broke or got misplaced and I got locked out. I would often half-joking say I was homeless for a night.
Was watching this series of videos on the LA Times website just a few moments ago...Several people living in cardboard boxes, in the woods, etc...But several people living in an RV, or in a large vehicle, where basically everything they need is pretty much there.
So, it got me thinking...What does it really mean to be homeless? The literal definition is one thing, but living in a well outfitted motor home or a camper shelter doesn't seem like the end of the world. Granted, I've always had 4 walls around me and a roof. But I've lived in apartments in college that weren't a huge step up from an RV. Running water and HVAC being the only real difference. And those things can be retro-fitted to a mobile set up to give a pretty comfortably existence.
To me, no true address, no property tax bills, no utilities, etc, seems like the only differentiator. In a place like Los Angeles, or even little old Birmingham, having most of the creature comforts available to you, homelessness doesn't equal hopelessness. Keep yourself clean, keep yourself employed or even employable, and you aren't much different than the guy paying $3,000 a month for rent or mortgage. And you could even argue that you are better off.
I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this. It's just an interesting topic and I hope a decent, non-political discussion can be had from this. Cheers to you on Wednesday!
Funny you should ask. I am one of those "Van Dwellers" and laugh at the term "Homeless" but, by the legal definition, I AM such, but I'd never admit it as my home goes where I go.
I work 28-40 hours a week. I have medical insurance (It's actually a silver plan with Kaiser) $27 a month, $37 a month for showers, wifi and workouts....Propane for heat in winter and cooking, just cooking when in spring summer.
No rent to pay, careful money management means I'll have some nice savings when I retire (If I make it there)
Postal adress foir mail $75 a year...Oh and vehicle insurance $400 a year....
If I break it down....For a month
Food is $140
Gas is $100
Propane is $10
Insurance $38
showers $37
Postal $6
misc $65
So about $400 a month and I make about $1,250-$1,500 a month....
Funny you should ask. I am one of those "Van Dwellers" and laugh at the term "Homeless" but, by the legal definition, I AM such, but I'd never admit it as my home goes where I go.
I work 28-40 hours a week. I have medical insurance (It's actually a silver plan with Kaiser) $27 a month, $37 a month for showers, wifi and workouts....Propane for heat in winter and cooking, just cooking when in spring summer.
No rent to pay, careful money management means I'll have some nice savings when I retire (If I make it there)
Postal adress foir mail $75 a year...Oh and vehicle insurance $400 a year....
If I break it down....For a month
Food is $140
Gas is $100
Propane is $10
Insurance $38
showers $37
Postal $6
misc $65
So about $400 a month and I make about $1,250-$1,500 a month....
If you can make it there, you'll make it anywhere.
In that case, what are the people living in RV's selling heroin, or the customers spending $1000+/mo buying heroin while living in an RV, car or tent?
Sure, technically they are homeless. They aren't buying food or clothing either because they can't or because food and clothing are free if you're homeless.
The primary, basic necessity of life in this case is heroin, maybe some meth, they can and do afford that. Homes, food and clothes are secondary priorities.
People who sell heroin and or meth out of their RVs are knuckleheads, there I just made another category.
I've been hearing about that issue on the radio shows. That's terrible what Magnolia, Ballard, and Queen Anne have turned into.
But the retirees who are driving $100,000 rigs? If they have no sticks and bricks homes, and they use a mail forwarding service, are they homeless?
According to the Coalition for the homeless, most don't survive very far into their forties.
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