A 'homeless' person has been panhandling at the same spot 4 years in a row

Here, too^....more kids....more welfare for some....

 

It is boot-camp strict but given what they offer for free in a neighborhood where rental rate start at $3,000 + per month I’d say that’s a bargain, and there’s no pressure on the vets because the maximum allowable stay is two years. Regarding women there's an entire floor dedicated to female vets, only.

Hotwater

 

Public displays of such shameful behaviour bother me on a visceral level. Have some pride.

 

what about food?

 

I grew up in Chicago. You just learn how to ignore them. I don't always ignore them though. Sometimes I will help out if I think it's really needed. I'm much more likely to help people I know. But one time....it was the day of my dads funeral and we just left there and were going out to eat. This guy and a couple of kids approached me in the parking lot. He asked if I had a dollar or two so he could buy some food. They did look pretty damn skinny and homeless to me...even the kids. I thought about what day it was and how kind my father was. Maybe the dude was lying, maybe not. I decided to give him whatever I had in my left pocket. I pulled out the money and it was maybe $50 or $75. He was blown away. I told him to go buy his kids some food and to have a nice day. But that's the only time I've ever gave a homeless person that much money.

 

Oh the gypsies sell their stories too, usually written poorly on cardboard and then in their children's hands to pester everybody.

 

theyve turned fancy and technical here....the gypsies are into driveway paving (always need to pay up front of course ) and some of the real techie ones are the countries biggest card skimmer scammers

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSZwEwl_1Q"]Cher - Gypsys Tramps And Thieves - YouTube

 

Also grew up in Chicago. Tough city to be homeless in. I became homeless at 16 (mentally ill mother, a father that I only met once).

I tried to work (no high school diploma), so all I could do was flip burgers. And I did it well: Got promoted to instructor after only six months.

However, depression and anxiety soon set in big time. I missed my brothers and sister, and had no idea what the hell had ever happened to my mother and father?

I didn't try therapy (I had no health insurance). And I ultimately sold all my worldly possessions, and ended up sleeping on the streets. I tried the main homeless shelter downtown. But they wanted to convert me to Jesus, when I was already an established Buddhist.

So that only lasted one night. I can't tell you how many times I offered to clean, work, answer phones (whatever would earn me a few bucks), and I'd end up with a sexual proposition instead. I guess the fact that I had no phone number or address made me seem like I was less than human. And my only worth (being 17) was as somebody to service males for a few bucks to buy a much needed meal.

I told all these business owning perverts to fuck off. And I remain proud that I did not cave in to all the bullshit and lies.

I was hungry. Very, very hungry. But not that hungry.

QP

P.S. I never asked for money on the streets. I asked for work. And nobody gave me the opportunity. Chicago is the last place you want to find yourself homeless in...

 

Poet, are you in a better place now, I hope?

 

Love that song

QP

 

Hey, thanks for your sweet concern.

Yeah, life is much better, but I am haunted by the fact that I have no living family. They all died. Abject poverty is a serious killer. Most people don't want to address that fact.

QP

 

I only have a brother left....so I guess I am a bit better off than you as far as that goes, but I know the loneliness......but consider me, and I am sure several others here, your family, ok?

 

I will. Thank you much. :love:

QP

 

You got it. Love your signature and Ginsberg quote, btw....The Howl is very powerful.....

 

I've been seeing on the news talk about the "new scam" where people buy bulk metro cards and break metro card machines so they can offer a swipe thru thru the turnstiles.(NYC subway)
As for skimming, that won't work with metro cards but it will work with credit cards. An MSR206 machine isn't exactly what most homeless people save up quarters to buy but u never know ..

I remember stuffing the coin return of pay phones as a kid, come back later for a nice surprise

 

I never tried to "scam" the system the 2 years that I was homeless in Chicago. And regarding the news: They ALWAYS focus on the worst examples. That's how they get their dubious "high" ratings.

QP

P.S. This is only one reason why I gave up watching television. It's all grossly exaggerated (or lies). And you don't get it unless you've been there (or somehow survived it). And most don't survive to tell the story true. I consider myself a very lucky man. :sunny:

 

When I lived in Chicago we were pretty poor. My mom, my brother and I were homeless for a while but not on the streets. We were lucky enough to be taken in by some friends until we could get a place. But yeah....I'm more familiar with what it's like to be poor than I'd ever want anyone to have to be. I finally found my dad (long story...he was looking for us for 7 years) and moved to Iowa to live with him. It's interesting to me that I saw a lot of hopelessness and desperation in some of the poor people I saw and others still lived happy lives despite their situation. I knew that my life didn't have to be that way forever. As soon as I was old enough to make a positive change in the direction of my life, I planned to and that was what I did.

 

You are a self made man, Wizard....

 

Thank you. I guess I kind of am.