[kev]

Its sad to read stories like this, but it also leaves me with several questions.

1. Where is this persons chain of support? This means, where is his brother, sister, mom & dad, and cousins. Surely there is someone that can take him in?

A buddy of mine lost his job and was on the verge of being homeless. My wife and I took him in for about a month. In exchange for a living area and food, he cooked, washed the dishes, cut the grass, washed the truck and SUV. The agreement benefited all of us. My buddy was not a parasite - he was a hard working person that needed a little help. And today he is doing just fine.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7681978.stm

I really liked my job and wanted to keep it. I joined in February, and having worked for many years as an IT contractor - with its inherent instability - this position offered the potential of a full-time position. It could become a "secure" job.

But when security guards made simple, routine rounds though the cubes and offices, people would look up from their desks.

There would be a sigh of relief as the guards kept going.


I never thought it would ever come down to this, but here I am - homeless
But it didn't happen this time. On a Friday, my manager came to my desk. Usually he came by to ask me if I could put in some overtime. But, just by the look on his face, I could tell. This wasn't an overtime request. This is it, I said to myself.

Sure enough, I was told that my last day would be the end of the month.

Though I didn't show it outwardly, I was devastated.

I had to move from my apartment, put my belongings in storage and find a homeless shelter.

I now sleep in the back of my car, while I wait for a bed to become available at the shelter. I call it The Hotel Honda.

I keep a good suit and a dress shirt in the back of the car for interviews. I tell recruiters that I'm working.

This is not the life I imagined for myself when I graduated from university. I never thought it would ever come down to this, but here I am - homeless.

My meals are taken at a soup kitchen. This is poverty.

What galls me the most is that about one third of my income is taxed. I'm taxed on what I earn and taxed on what I spend.

Now that I'm in need there is nowhere to turn.

Nobody is helping me except for my contributions to my unemployment account.

Yet our leaders have found a way to bail out the very institutions that have put myself, and others, at risk.

 

[Grinnan Barrett]

So many times people are too proud to let others know of their plight. I can understand this first hand. When I was very little (4 to 6 years old) my mother came down with cancer and it wiped my family out. My parents were too proud to not pay their bills to the hospitals so we lost everything. we lived in an old car at first till we lost it and then we lived on the streets. Back in those days they had places called the POOR FARMS. That is where the indigents got sent.

It is not easy for people to see the loan company come out and take all they have. In one case they took the furniture out of the old house we lived in prior to the car and burned the stuff on the front lawn.

You learned to take your favorite toy to school because you did not know where you might be that night. That is one of the reasons my family became survivalists. They truly understood what it is like to be on the streets. I don't know what many of us will do when it really hits the fans. Today I live a very good life with my family. I am concerned that my kids may not have the resolve to get through. You don't really understand until you have gone without food for days and you are willing to stand behind a restaurant and wait for the garbage to be thrown away. I know I can make it because I have had to in the past. It is very hard for me to write this. The memories are not fond ones. To see what it did to my parents was even harder.

My mom had been a professional photographer and my dad was a tool designer with 17 patents. they could never come to ask for help after they were turned away by the friends they thought they had. They never got over it. I hope none of my friends out there ever has to see themselves or their kids in this scenario. GOd Bless

 

[speedofl33t]

I've taken 2 people in and in the past fixed jobs and living for 2 kids. I offered a million times though to take people in. Most don't want to. People are proud. They want to fix up their own lives.

And just because they are family that doesn't mean you have obligations. I'd only take in a few of my cousins. Some people just don't deserve it.

But overall, yea I'm with you.

 

[FXjohn]

So many times people are too proud to let others know of their plight. I can understand this first hand. When I was very little (4 to 6 years old) my mother came down with cancer and it wiped my family out.

thank god we're not socialist like Europe and Canada.

 

[Kronos]

I lived out of my truck for a couple of years. I have traded labor for a place to stay, lived a summer in a wigwam I built in a state forest, lived a year in a tipi on some private property. If you don't have dependants, or excessive needs its a good way to live cheaply.

Now, I own acreage and have a cabin and have taken in a couple of people to trade work for board. Still would do it with the right person

 

[mimidof3]

Living out of car

Some people could careless about their family members needs. Then there the ones that do things to save face. My older sisters took the younger ones in when our Mom died of cancer. I was 12 years old. Although we did not need anything material there was NO love there. When you know that you are there for no other reason than to make people feel sorry for the older girls for taking in the younger ones. You would be dieing before you asked for help later. So I can understand why some people make the decision to live out of a car before turning to family members for help! That is why I am so thankful for a husband that is a jack of many trades. He has saved us SOOOOOO many times from going without.

 

[Dwind]

thank god we're not socialist like Europe and Canada.

where is FXJohn, and what have you done with him?

 

[Macumazahn]

<SNIP>
A buddy of mine lost his job and was on the verge of being homeless. My wife and I took him in for about a month. In exchange for a living area and food, he cooked, washed the dishes, cut the grass, washed the truck and SUV. The agreement benefited all of us. My buddy was not a parasite - he was a hard working person that needed a little help. And today he is doing just fine.
<SNIP>

it is very good your could help you buddy. it was also good that he was a hard worker and made his way. but it seems to me he did not actually increase your holdings. his laybour would have given you a break but does not allow you to make more money. maybe for your exact situation it did but for many it would not.

I have a friend I know would take me in without question. however, he is barely getting by. the food I would eat would be taken straight from the budget. he is salaried so nothing I can do will improve his income. sure there are things I can do around the house but he still need to pay for the materials or for power for the tools or propane for the stove.

on top of that going to his place would put me out of reach of work. there is nothing in my field there. I will do common laybour but that would barely pay for transportation. it is doubtful I could bounce back in a month.

if it comes to living out of the back of a car and being a burden on my friend I will choose the car.

 

[sherrieallen]

So many have suffered so much more than I. I did not grow up dirt poor but we were just a step away. Someone said on another post that kids survive and don't realize how bad it is. This is true. All of my friends and cousins were poor also. We all thought everyone was and we didn't call it poor - we thought it was normal. Kids today see to much tv and the ads telling them what they are missing and I think it causes friction between the parent and child. My dad was a house painter and my mom worked in a sewing room. In any decade those aren't high paying jobs. Then dad got hurt when I was 13 and pretty much never worked again. My sister babysat, my brothers cut grass and raked leaves for neighbors and I lied about my age and got a job in a hamburger joint. We pulled through. We never were homeless but had many close encounters. Then when I turned 18 - at a time when parents expected since you were grown and out of school you'd move out and get on with your life - I moved into my own place. I couldn't afford electric, transportation or food but I had my own place and many meals of day old bread (which I still buy). A neighbor took notice and that was the beginning of my friendship with the elderly lady. She just happened to cook more than she needed. She just happened to be lonely and asked me to visit with her at night (so I wasn't sitting alone in a dark, cold house). Mrs. Weir never once put me down or confronted me by asking if I had food. She saw me walking to and from work (at least 3 miles each way) and she called my manager and told him she thought it was a shame one of his employees was walking to and from work. All of a sudden the guys in my office just happened to go by my house every morning or evening. This went on for 6 months before I met my wonderful husband - a poor college student working part time. To be honest we married to pool our resources and help one another. Did I love him? I think yes but not a deep love. Today, 32 years later we love one another more than our own lives. This is why I say in a shtf situation people will form alliances to survive. We did and it's worked out great.

I try to remember those experiences and try to pay back all the blessings I've been given. Yes, I know I'll never finish. We've helped people from time to time get on their feet but nothing like the last 6 - 12 months. We've had as many as 6 and now we are down to 2 staying with us. Some are family, some are family friends and 1 was a stranger until he became part of our family. People get sick, lose jobs or any number of things can lead us to homelessness. We try to remember someone helped us and now it is our turn to help others. I see more and more people sitting on the sidewalks outside of stores. Cars obviously housing families in the parking lots. And now a local church has started a ministry taking hot food to these people and the school bus stops at the shopping center so the kids can go to school. It seems every week another car with a family or another guy sitting on the sidewalk shows up. This is a nice middle - upper middle class neighborhood, not a ghetto. How those people in the ghetto are surviving I don't know since a lot of them were living on the edge before all of this started. We do the best we can to help as I'm sure a lot of people do but our resources are starting to run thin. I'm afraid we are in for a very bad winter and so I've started shopping at the thrift stores for blankets, warm clothes and things I can give them. I don't attend the church that takes hot meals but I'm becoming friends with their volunteers and helping where I can. This is as bad as I've ever seen it in my 51 years and sadly I think it is only the beginning.

 

[sherrieallen]

You are right, Macumazahn. Most of the people who have came here needed to stay 2 - 4 months. Most didn't come here until they were so far behind in their bills that it took months to catch up or save for deposits for rent, electric and such. I'm glad Kev's friend was able to get back on his feet in a month. My experience is it takes longer than that. And you are right also in that these folks did not want to be a burden. They wanted to cook, clean, work on the house and yes, it has cost money. Someone doing the work is only a portion of the cost and does not figure in the materials and supplies. It will benefit us in the long run (home improvements) but in the short run it is taxing our cash reserves. Still, it is helping them and us also in the long run and it saves their pride to know they aren't freeloading. Helping a fellow human being is far more important to us. We have never told anyone they have to work to stay here. The people themselves offer. If someone came to me and brought nothing to the table (who is able bodied) then I would assume they want a hand out NOT a hand up. I can somehow provide the hand up, so far but I don't stand for a hand out in my house.

 

[chaosbutterfly]

It's all around...

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/05/19/homeless.mom/index.html

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/wayoflife/09/19/tent.cities.ap/

My own mother was >< close to being homeless earlier this year; it posed a tight few months for me financially, and she is in debt now because of it. I count my blessings that she found a job *just* in time to save her home, or she would be living with me (and husband) right now. Who knows what the future holds for her? I prep a little more with her in mind.

Nope, no bailout for *us*.

 

[rncmomx2]

My brother lives house to house to truck and back. He refuses to work and has the entilted attitude that everyone should pay for his presence. He owes everyone money (including us) he still owes for a truck we sold him>was in perfect running condition would have lasted us 10 more years-he tore reverse out in 3 weeks and then seezed the engine within 3 months. he now feels because it is broken it is no longer his responsability to pay for it. Unfortunately we did not choose to be listed as a lien holder and can not reposes the truck. A small claims case is our best bet, someone else has had that idea this week and the sheriff come to my house looking for him with a bench warrant for his arrest- destruction of property. They were allowing him to live with them -told him to get a job he retaliated and tore up there front yard (spinning and doing donouts). He has no respect (although he was taught better than this) for anyone.

He has burned all bridges and no one will help him now, thats why he is living in his broken down truck on a dead end dirt road.

 

[Thedragon]

Unfortunately, family politics for what ever reason causes so much pain and suffering.
It is open to abuse and that is understandable, some people just don't care about others.
To the members who have helped friends, family and strangers in these tough times, you are to be commended.
We see reports over here of the people living in tent cities and their vehicles, local authorities have left car parks open after hours for these people to provide some safety.
In this country, private and church charities are stretched beyond their limits to cope with a different generation of people and families in distress.
While some of us pride ourselves in survival prepping, those unfortunate people are surviving day to day with much, much less.
They are the survivalists.
They are refugees from a global crises.
Through giving, accepting help and compassion, all of us could learn from this.
Yes pride can get in the way of urgent help, but for some of these people, pride is all they have left.
And for some, the very system they believed in has betrayed them.

 

[sherrieallen]

rncmomx2, I have a son (not the one that is a member here) who is taxing us beyond belief. He has some disabilities and that has gotten him many 2nd chances but we are at the point of turning him loose, so I understand how you feel. One thing I can say about my son is he will work around here in exchange for us helping him financially HOWEVER, when the money is gone and Mom & Dad's No Repay Bank goes bankrupt - what then? I don't mind helping but I do mind him making bad choices and then expecting us to bail him out.

Chaos butterfly, we do too. I think all of us have family that won't or can't prep. My son (who is a member here) is a college student and he works part time. He does the best he can but no way could he prep a years worth of supplies right now. Then I have another son who for his own reasons can not afford to prep. So, I find myself trying to prep for 5 - 10 people. I can't do it. We'll do the best we can and somehow I have faith we will pull through. I'm glad your mother was able to save her house.

The Dragon, yes it is spreading all over the globe. People who borrowed way more than their house was worth or took smaller payments with a baloon (big one time payment) at a specific date. Well, that date came due and they didn't have the money and now people who invested their life into their home are finding themselves homeless. To be honest with you, we have been decadent. 2 and 3 cars sitting outside double and triple car garages in houses with 3 or more bathrooms. Living up to the Jones's is what we called it when I was a child. A show so the neighbors could ohhh and ahhh and be impressed, though no one would ever admit that was why they did it. Never satisfied and always wanting what someone else had. And before we start calling these people sheeples, I'll say this .... I've seen it in this group. Being homeless can happen to any one of us. The 2 that are here now are a lady and her 15 year old daughter. The mother got sick, no health insurance, lost her job because she couldn't work and so she survived by borrowing against her vehicle. The mother is back at work but guess what? She is sick again and is having surgery next week. What do we do? I can not fathom setting a sick woman on the street (the shelters have no room) and certainly not with a teenage girl. Legally I could, morally I can not. And that is where our police are. Months ago they would have told families living in car parks (we call them garages or parking lots) to move on. Now, the question is .... to where? Yes, many got themselves in this trouble with bad decisions but they are in it now. I fear we will hear of babies dying from cold this winter and elderly people starving to death in their homes. When we ask where is their support system, I think for many of them the answer is .... they never had one, they burned bridges long ago or their family is hurting also. I am sorry it is happening in Australia also. For this I wish you had been spared.

 

[rridgeoutlaw]

An old saying "What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". Very true. I have been through things that I never talk about, they stay in a little closet I built inside me. I have taken in numerous people over the years, some helped themselves, others abused it and got kicked to the curb. I will offer a hand up but not a hand out.

 

[Thedragon]

sherieallen,
Very wise words. We have been prepping for more people than ourselves for quite some time, for people who do not have the means too.
"Keeping up with the Joneses" , that is a saying we have here too. It is all about image.
No doubt there are survivalists on this forum who are finding it increasingly difficult and. some may have fallen victim to the current crises.
The latest stats here are about 65% of pensioners are living in poverty, some can't afford proper food, regular meals or vital medication.
However it now filtering down into the younger families.
Housing forclosures are increasing.
Most are struggling with higher rents or to hold onto the home they own.
We have a " adopt a pensioner " community scheme here for individuals and families to help the pensioners as much as they can.
There have been some reports of increases in the young homeless, because they cannot afford rents and have no family support.
Very tuff times ahead.

 

[farmerswife]

they had a report sunday night about americans living in SAFE carparks,obviously they are called that because they could be manned by police, or security of some sort.the people had nowhere to go.I thought of winter coming on too.
no christmas turkey for many of them this year.

 

[Aubb]

I took a friend in once who was homeless,he was a total leech.
Never washed a dish,not even his own.
I warned him to start helping, he
just layed around and ate.
I kicked him out after a week,he sure did beg not to be kicked out.
I disowned him,no friend of mine anymore.

 

[thewolfman456]

In someways I'm lucky I guess. My family is what you call "old money" we've had money for a very long time. My father was well off and when he passed, he passed everything to me and my siblings.

My whole life I've always had the money to do what I wanted.

If anyone here needs help, I'll be glad to give it.

Right now, a friend that I grew up with lives with me any my family. She was renting a house out in Raleigh, but the owner of the house wasn't paying the bills. Even thou my friend was paying the rent, when the house was foreclosed on, she was kicked out.

Even thou she did what she was supposed to do, someone else did not.

 

[mongo]

I lived in my van (a 69 Chevy) for almost a year while I worked as a TV repairman in the 80's. Times were hard, I made about $6000/yr. I was single, so it didn't bother me. I learned how to wash up in gas station restrooms, or take a 'free tour' of a health club to use the showers. I learned to park my van in by the employee's cars at 24 hour stores. Eventually, I talked my boss into letting me park behind the shop and run an extension cord out for a small electric heater. Once I was able to save up the money, I rented a basement apartment (actually was a basement, the homeowner still had access to use the laundry)

I have my van, and a small motorhome. If I lose my house, I still won't be homeless.