Have you ever been homeless?

Discussion in 'General Chat' started by usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007.

  1. #1
    I was talking with some friends and one of them said they were homeless for several months many years ago. It was quite a surprise because he is pretty successful now. I never would have imagined him being homeless.

    Have you ever been homeless before?
     
    usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  2. Divisive Cottonwood

    Divisive Cottonwood Peon

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    #2
    oh yeah... on the streets of London

    ended up living in a YMCA in Hornsey for 18 months

    not there now though, of course
     
    Divisive Cottonwood, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  3. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #3
    Never in my life.

    I don't plan on it either! I have a stable flow of cash, a home to fall back on, and a lot of determination to become successful.

    I guess it depends on your definition of home, though :). Metallica claims that anywhere you rest your head is home :p
     
    zac439, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  4. PHPGator

    PHPGator Banned

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    #4
    I don't understand how anyone could be homeless in America without some sort of lack of mental capability. I've been pretty poor, but i've never even came close to being homeless. That was working at a fast food place, so anyone should in theory be capable.
     
    PHPGator, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  5. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #5
    Yeah, there are a lot of places that give away apartments and offer extremely cheap utility bills for under privileged people. Then of course there are those who take advantage of these kinds of systems.

    I have a friend who pays nothing for his apartment, and probably $40/month for electricity and water. He has a job and everything, but he told his landlord he didn't :rolleyes:.

    Opportunity is out there for those who seek it.
     
    zac439, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  6. PHPGator

    PHPGator Banned

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    #6
    zac, hehe, not that I personally care, but I hvae ran across several people that absolutely despise people that just use money up from the government just because they can. This sounds like what your friend is doing.

    All in all though, its true, we have programs established that will pay for your housing if you are at least attempting to find a job and/or work.
     
    PHPGator, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  7. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

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    #7
    I think I could imagine how some people could end up homeless.

    A spouse that drags the family of 4 down by gambling or drugs. Maybe a loss of a job in a single income earner family. Catastrophe, like an under or un-insured home catching on fire.

    We, in the U.S., have a lot of safety nets if people look around though.

    I have a family member that hasn't had health insurance for 15 years because of a pre-existing condition and the high cost of insurance. Plus there's some personal choice thrown in as to where she works...
     
    usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  8. zac439

    zac439 Notable Member

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    #8
    Haha, well that is very true, but his case is different.

    The apartments are privately owned by a very successful member of the community. He offers the housing free or extremely discounted to those who need it. I'm sure he writes it off in his taxes, but otherwise the government isn't involved.

    Social security, on the other hand, is probably the biggest abused system in the US by far :rolleyes:
     
    zac439, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  9. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

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    #9
    I wonder if there could be a level of self enforcement and regulation in such a community (via a council responsible), with an independent group or individual that checks for compliance and abuse.
     
    usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  10. Spartation

    Spartation Peon

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    #10
    Never been homeless ... even before I got born.
    That means I will never been homeless, because I don't want to and because homeless suX.
     
    Spartation, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  11. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

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    #11
    Well, that's good. :)

    I guess we don't know how good we had it in the womb.
     
    usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  12. clinton

    clinton Well-Known Member

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    #12
    I've never been.

    lots of people are like that, like that black producer, he lived in a washroom, who made that movie(forget his name), but hes rich now!!!!
     
    clinton, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  13. glendowney

    glendowney Notable Member

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    #13
    Nope never been homeless. In the UK if things got that bad for me, I could get a council house of the government. There's lots of them on an estate near me ;)
     
    glendowney, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  14. usasportstraining

    usasportstraining Notable Member

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    #14
    I'm hearing that a lot lately. It seems the key to being rich is to be homeless for a while. :rolleyes:
     
    usasportstraining, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  15. terminator69

    terminator69 Notable Member

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    #15
    Never for me, seems like it would be a dangerous practice.
     
    terminator69, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  16. buffalo

    buffalo Illustrious Member

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    #16
    I have been blessed. I have never been homeless... And now that I own a 'few' properties, I think I am a long, long way from ever being homeless... ;)
     
    buffalo, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  17. Waffleguy

    Waffleguy Well-Known Member

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    #17
    I lived in my car for a few weeks once when I ran into some troubled times. I was too ashamed of my situation to ask anyone for help... I worked my way out of the situation rather quickly though.
     
    Waffleguy, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  18. linkmistress

    linkmistress Peon

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    #18
    No I haven't but a friend of my sons was kicked out of his house and slept in some bushes at the end of my street for a few weeks was a very sad time for him.
     
    linkmistress, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  19. juniper

    juniper Well-Known Member

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    #19
    yep when i was starting university for a week i was homeless.
     
    juniper, Oct 18, 2007 IP
  20. SFOD_D223

    SFOD_D223 Peon

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    #20
    Last summer after recuperating from brain surgery, I was homeless with my wife and 4 kids living out of my car. This tragedy happened to us for 7 months of pure hell.
     
    SFOD_D223, Oct 18, 2007 IP