Young and Homeless

i was in boston in august...drunk and running into a 7-11 downtown for a bottle of water and i noticed an obviously homeless guy sitting outside talking to another dude...I got my water and came out and they were like hey and in my drunken stupor i was like oh my god are you homeless?! and he kind of acknowledges, and then i said you're way too hot to be homeless (cause he was..) i wish i stayed to talk to him more but then i peaced out...damn.
we also have tons of homeless people where i live in who panhandle at the stoplight at irving park rd under the kennedy in chicago...and I swear there's a girl there who looks like shes 20. it's awful.

i love my life. i have no problem with my short commings because i am better off than most.

several of my friends have been homeless at one time or another. i offer them a place to stay and as much food as my mom will give them, but i wish i could say, i never knew a homeless person personally...

its sad, when you have no place to go, no one to turn too.

people need to care..
people need to help...

jon is lucky to at least still have his parents (even if he doesnt want there help XP). i wish him the absolute best.

Wow, I have read some extremely ignorant opinions on "homeless" ,like," you have to be Dumb to be homeless"! First off, many of the people that are on the streets are there because they are mentally unstable (something that is hard to understand unless you have known a person like this) our govt. used to care for people incapable of living in our society in hospital built specifically for them. Until the goverment closed them down and put the on the streets! So for the past few decades the homeless " problem" has gotten worse,&worse!! but, what I am trying to make, is that alot of the people whom some have such disdane for are there because they can't live like you or I ! For them , thru their eyes life looks VERY different! So try to have a little compassion if that's possible!imagine if it were your grandfather or an uncle maybe! Help out at a shelter for a day or two, so you can get a peak into that world instead of the regertitation you lap up in YOUR cozy comfy world!

These are all amazing tips to live by,( literally), the best advise comes from those who have walked in those " shoes" ! I might add , keep clean ( carry soap, TP, tooth paste/ brush, was cloth) and always offer to GIVE before asking to TAKE!! big cities "feel safe" but you can get swallowed up as just another "bum" small towns offer more hospitality ( as long as you are honest and trying to make your life better) best advise though is to stay off the streets,(unless your a " trustifarian" in that case good for you, and don't screw it up for those who really need it, while you are " skummin it"

These are all amazing tips to live by,( literally), the best advise comes from those who have walked in those " shoes" ! I might add , keep clean ( carry soap, TP, tooth paste/ brush, was cloth) and always offer to GIVE before asking to TAKE!! big cities "feel safe" but you can get swallowed up as just another "bum" small towns offer more hospitality ( as long as you are honest and trying to make your life better) best advise though is to stay off the streets,(unless your a " trustifarian" in that case good for you, and don't screw it up for those who really need it, while you are " skummin it"

I don’t know if I have very much sympathy for adults who are homeless.

I believe that the greatest injustice in this country is that we allow minors to be homeless. They are only kids, and have no real control over their destiny at that point in their lives. Adults need to take responsibility for their own actions though, even if they are only 24.

the only thing america makes is enemies.! home and abroad !

This is a tangent, but an important one I think.

Many Americans talk of how our economy is suffering, how our country is on the brink of collapse and how our way of life is ending.

But I don't think so, I think we're already dead and just in denial.

3.5 million homeless, 40 million below the poverty line, 50 million without health insurance is just the tip of the iceberg.

Think about this, who in this country is actually saving up money? How many of you actually own your homes? How many of you are in NO form of debt? Is it 25% of us? 15%? 5%?

We've been goners since the multinationals shipped all their production overseas and we've switched out our real wealth for the illusion of wealth in debt. We've become a nation whose sole duty is consumption, that's the task that's been assigned to us while we rot and until we fade away.

What do we make anymore? What do we offer to the rest of the world? What do we export? Our scientific and technological edge is being slowly eroded, our basic necessities are all imported.

When 24 year-olds and middle class people are out on the fucking street, it's time to wake up and smell the coffee. We've gone the way of the Soviet Union.

i have a hard time feeling compassionate for this kid. he obviously has parents that love him. instead of gritting his teeth and sticking it out at home, he's taking the bed, food and livelihood of someone who really needs it. i'm not saying he doesn't have a rough life, but he chose it and if i were him i'd feel pretty guilty about taking advantage of the system.

its hard to get a job anywhere with no car, no change of clothes, no alarm clock , no nothing....its a viscious circle.
count your blessings !

i think anyone whos homeless is just too dumb to find other means of housing. its very easy to network online and find places to stay like....couchsurfing.org

Nice he had a backpack. Shopping cart anyone?

Wal-mart isn't hiring where he lives?

We spent about 3 weeks with Jon, thank god it was spring and not too cold, although sometimes we'd be going around Boston before dawn.. it would be chilly.

It's amazing how many homeless people there are. They're camouflaged around us, and we can't even tell.

Doing this story opened my eyes and heightened my senses to the realities the people around us face. I think it's given me a keener sense of the kinds of stories to pursue.

Will be working on another homeless story -- Manila after the floods. Soon!

I don't imagine just remember, and if the the places you're seeking food from won't feed you; most fast food chains throw out mixed up orders, and extra stuff at the end of the night (it's clean and thrown out at the end of the night, so it's on top). Also under bridges where the bridge starts leaving the ground holds heat good, clean it out in daylight and you can have a warm place to sleep. Also small dry drainage ditches that have banks real close to both sides of you keep warm better too. If you're real brave drainage pipes are fun & warm.

I'd also recommend finding at least one other respectable homeless person, so neither of you have to be alone (safer). And don't be afraid to ask for help, as long as you not asking for help on wall-street, or at Bank of America, and act decent; people will most likely help.

Move south before it gets cold. Travel around big cities to avoid trouble and ask for help when in need. Don't be shy about asking for work at the backdoor of restaurants. I made it and so can others is it hard sometimes HELL YES! can it be done yes it can. Winters are hard under the best of condisions. small town cops can be nice and will normaly help you. When all else fails go to a local church they will help find day work. Just don't give up and you can make it any where.