A couple of weeks ago, my “Around the Campfire” article entitled “RVers discuss homelessness in campgrounds” received a lot of attention. In the comments section following the article, many readers offered their opinions about homelessness and its effect on campgrounds. We heard from campground owners, RVers, and campground workers. A few homeless or previously homeless folks also weighed in.
As I reviewed all of the comments, it solidified my belief that our society’s homelessness is an extremely complex issue. No two situations are exactly the same and so finding “one solution for all” has not and will not work.
I also found that homelessness evokes quite strong emotions, and I appreciate those folks who took the time to voice their opinion clearly and succinctly without rancor. Here are just a few of the many, many comments we received.
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More homeless in campgrounds?
Tom A. offered, “Recently camped at San Clemente State Beach (CA State Park). There were no fewer than ten encampments in the visitor parking and day-use area. Some appeared to be living out of their cars, vans, and/or RVs and others may have been just moving through.”
Drew said, “We go to an RV park often that is pretty much off the beaten path. Until about two years ago they had very few instances of homelessness there. Then a few weeks ago there was a man who came in and asked if he could use the BBQ pit a couple of spaces away. (The pits are furnished by the park.) He then put a can of food directly in the fire until it exploded—making a mess. Another woman came into another area of the park and asked if she could lay down on a patch of lawn near another site. She slept there for a few hours then got up and left. These instances were both pretty harmless, but we’ve seen more of this lately.”
Greg S. commented, “We had an older guy next to us in Florida two years ago in an old 5th wheel. He had no idea how to do anything RV related. I knew this was all he had, so I helped him as much as I could… He was doing his best to survive.”
It may be a matter of where you camp with your RV. Neal D. said, “We have not noticed any apparent homelessness in any campgrounds in our travels. We did have an instance of a squatter once, several years ago (2017).”
Campground owners/camp hosts weigh in on homeless in campgrounds
Lucinda T., a camp host said, “Some years ago we camp hosted in an urban campground that saw (over a 3-year period) an elderly woman with dementia get dropped off in a pop-up by her family; a suicide; a fire in an old motorhome; and ‘full-timers’ who were really working poor just scraping by…. Campground owners are not social workers…. The homeless problem overflowed into the campground years ago.”
Campground owner Bill T. offered his perspective: “I am a campground owner and know from first-hand experience the effects of the housing dilemma. I offer seasonal sites, as well as monthly sites, and it’s the monthly customers that put me right in the middle of the crisis. I failed to see the effects of renting out monthly until it was too late. I have had to intervene in substance abuse, domestic violence, and even threats of violence against me personally, dealing with folks that are just an inch above being homeless. I lost three of my seasonal customers due to the problems … over $6,000 in revenue. I have had some success in helping people out of their difficult times by offering them an alternative means of living, but that’s been the exception, not the rule.”
Homeless or previously homeless commenters
Joe T. said, “This is a very interesting discussion considering I am one of those homeless people. My girlfriend and I were on the verge of losing our home that we rented due to my health brought on by substance abuse. We decided to take the show on the road. Big mistake…. I am now in recovery and trying to earn money as a rideshare driver…. Due to the state of the economy and my health, I do not think we will ever get out of the rut we are in. We frequent campgrounds with our tent and SUV. Unfortunately, even tenting has become too expensive. Crazy, right? We spend more time at rest stops over campgrounds. At night these rest stops all fill up with families who are homeless living out of a vehicle just like us.”
Tom E. also commented: “For a few short weeks I found myself homeless. I lived out of my van. If it were not for the kindness of a fellow worker, I too would have ended up out on the street, lost my job, my van, and [been left] to figure out how to find my way back to a roof over my head. I saved my money and rented out a basement apartment, continued to save, and eventually I was back into a home. Don’t judge [those] less fortunate.”
Redefine homeless?
Some folks wanted readers to know that they are not “homeless.” Instead, they are “houseless” because they’ve chosen to live, work, and travel out of their RV. They do not own a stix-n-brix home, nor do they rent an apartment. Their RV rig is their home—and they are happy and content with that choice!
Solutions to homelessness?
While several commenters suggested that homeless folks “get a job,” others argued that the solution isn’t always that simple.
Frank asked, “Fill out an application: Address? None. Phone #? None. Will you get the job?”
Connie added, “My husband offered [a homeless person] a job several years ago and the guy turned him down. Said he made more holding his sign on street corners.”
Concern and frustration
Clearly, homelessness reaches into (and well beyond) campgrounds. It seems to be an issue that will continue to be debated. Please feel free to leave a comment but keep it polite and civil.
##RVT1109
Why can’t yaw leave homeless people alone. Get over your prejudices and they are not homeless if they have RVs!
To me the problem isn’t having enough comments to decide how you’re gonna write an article for this website, it’s you want this and not a solution to you needing this, the followup, and an ending. This is not some news article for some people.
Example. Look outside. What do you see? Smog from uncontrolled wildfires in Canada. Hundreds of them. Yet how many are flocking up to help out ourselves, let alone those living in it up there.
You don’t really care, you just rather make a buck off the story while the people you so desperately seek their understanding and wisdom from, hold the keys to your truth. A true person out doing this will never tell you the real, full truth. It’s something you have to earn on your own.
The wife and I decided to hit the road in our class A DP 3 yrs ago, right before Covid.
We are houseless not homeless.
Have volunteered in State parks but found that wasn’t our cup of tea, too much politics amongst the staff.
We are F/T RVers not homeless.
We stay in RV parks, some rest areas and some truck stops.
Have seen and experienced areas that we dreamed about when we were kids.
There are a lot of displaced people out there that have hit hard times unfortunately, but there are a lot that do it by choice that are not .
Its like Simon and Garfunkel sang “We’ve gone to look for America” by choice in our Retirement years and we have and still do Love it!!
We are retired Vagabonds enjoying life!!!
People need to stop categorizing people!!
We like the Lifestyle with our 2 dogs and enjoy meeting all kinds of people and places!
Live your life because nobody is going to live it for you.
While reading this it brought to mind something I just experienced in Mn. I was at a small mom n pop campground. My site n the one right next to me looked more like a backyard, open grassy area, trees on one side, a swing set under the trees, 3 picnic tables scattered, n at the front, next to the road, like an after thought, was the electric pedestal n faucet. The only way to access the electric, which ended up being by the front of my car, was to pull the cord all the way out. It worked, since I was just staying the 1 night. Then a truck pulling an old popup backs in all the way to the swing set. Without setting up, he throws everything in the truck bed n seats on top the popup, n the ground around it, then leaves. The night ended up with the pop-up, a large tent set up directly behind me, his truck plus 2 cars, 2 women, 4 kids, 2 cats in the popup, n a dog that barked constantly. The oldest boy was probably 12-14, n paced constantly around their site. Prob not “campers” by choice.
Dear (social) media content producers,
You have a responsibility to portray realistic imagery of the unhoused population, which is just as diverse as the general public.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/30/tech/openai-google-realistic-images-bias/index.html
…”they can also produce disturbing results that reflect the gender and cultural biases of the data on which they were trained — data that includes millions of images pulled from the internet.
The bias in these AI systems presents a serious issue, experts told CNN Business. The technology can perpetuate hurtful biases and stereotypes. “
I just finished reading your linked page Julie and your actually speaking my language. Your linked article discusses exactly how easily people can be manipulated thru AI. That if your seeking a result or response, AI can be manipulated thru programming to manipulate the masses. It is a dangerous tool surely to be used for bad.
Apologies for my initial post to your comment. I guess my faith in CNN to actually expand upon the information and conduct actual investigative journalism is founded in historical precedent but I can keep my fingers crossed that they do.
RVTravel, in my experience has taken a stand against AI in journalism so cautuonary advice may not be as needed as is so with the MSM, and MSM consumer, IMO.
AI is software that is written by someone or some team. That software has a “personality” that is generated, conscientiously or sub-conscientiously, by the writers. After looking at the code, you can tell who wrote it and what their biases are for the software. These biases are what comes through in the results of running the software.
There is a golden opportunity to really help people that cant afford a home especially here in Canada…..a lot of people can’t afford these huge mortgages needed to purchase a home nowadays but they can afford an rv. If city governments would loosen up rules such as rving in winter months, then young people as well as older folks could have a year around place to put their hat …also subsidize the campgrounds to keep rent down…not a solution for everyone but at least a start..
We live full time in a newer fifth wheel. We invested in hookups on my wife’s property and let the kids live in the house while we live in the rv. We travel and use my wife’s property as home base. I guess we’re house less. Turns out our arrangement is illegal in our small town. We asked to be permitted, and were turned down. This is very common throughout the US and contributes to homelessness. How many people could be housed in rvs if allowed on private property? Our local Zoning Committee is unwilling to consider changes to the code to allow living in an rv on private property!
KellyR, Neal Davis, Bill.
The 3 of you, along with Tommy Molnar, are among the most gracious and rational of commenters on this site and still, received clapback from a couple of the “homeless” defenders. We all know why, I don’t need to say it. I choose to engage the victim class rather than turn away. Sorry it brought heat your direction. Neal’s post was tremendously compassionate and rational, and he still got a lecture from Mike the Bum. Sheesh. KellyR got a racial reply. Wow.
Peace and love fellas.
This is wrong. You and others called me a victim because you did not like my words. I am not a victim. I am a human being. I love, I laugh, and I struggle. My struggle does not define me. You have used political buzzwords meant to demean me and others. You have made insinuatingly negative comments about gender identity. There is so much hate, and it is spreading to my own heart.
And so I beg you, and everyone here, to stop promoting division.
THAT is the real problem. A house divided against itself shall surely fall.
There is ignorance about homelessness. And I have tried to give a voice here. Perhaps I have been too antagonistic at times, but it is very emotional. We are a discriminated class. Openly hated. I don’t know if you know what that feels like, but it is awful. My truest struggle every day is not my poverty, but my hatred. Every foul look, judgemental comment, and open act of hatred. I get treated like a shoplifter in every store. Profiled and abused by law enforcement. I get animal control called on my dog, just because I’m homeless. (He’s very happy and healthy, and eats even when I don’t). I tolerate the world’s hatred everyday. And everyday I pray to whatever may be out there that I have enough strength to keep my heart open just a little longer. Because as soon as it closes, I am nothing but a husk.
And so I extend my possibly dirty hand out to you, and thank you for the conversation. I genuinely apologize for anything I have said that may have angered or upset you.
Thank you for your very thoughtful message, Mike. I hope you and Cancelproof, and others, can just agree to disagree. You and Cancelproof are obviously both very articulate and intelligent and compassionate people. As much as we at RVtravel.com would like to be able to help resolve these complex issues, I don’t think this is the appropriate forum to do so. As your ongoing mostly polite (thank you) conversation will attest, you’re just going around and around, and “never the twain shall meet,” unfortunately–at least here. I don’t want to get in the middle of it with you two, because you’re both obviously much smarter than I am (and your brains are much more agile than my 76-year-old one😲). But I’m hoping we can call a truce and not continue this conversation, here anyway, ad infinitum. “Moderating” comments does not include “refereeing,” at least in my opinion. (I have posts and newsletters to work on.) Thank you both for being civil in your comments. I hope your struggles resolve, Mike, and I’m sure they will with your obvious smarts. Peace, love and hugs to you both.🤗🤗 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Thank you for engaging. Speaking for myself only, I hope you return for further conversation in the coming weeks and months. This topic is featured quite often and I believe more conversation is better. Different types of homelessness obviously exist and different types of housed obviously exist and it serves no one in generalizing each other’s circumstances within our individual demographics.
A more specific approach to how you find yourself homeless and including your age category or possible disability, education or your discernable skills may in fact serve to help some of us more readily remove you from the category of homeless that you may have been pigeon holed into, by no fault of your own, thru assumptions, including possibly my own.
No one disparaged anyone on a gender issue today. I simply indicated that a socialist saying he is not a socialist, is not dissimilar to current xx or xy chromosome conversations.
Hand accepted and mine offered in return.
And while you guys are shaking hands, I’ll give you both a BIG hug. (I have long arms. I used to be 6’2″ tall, but age and gravity have taken their toll, at least on my height.) Take care. 🤗🤗 –Diane
Oh joy, here we go again. I come here to read about RV living. I don’t go to https://www.hhs.gov/programs/social-services/homelessness/resources/index.html to debate the stinky slinky versus a macerator.
Those that truly care about homelessness don’t exchange stories and opinions from the comfort of their Class A in a Thousand Trails resort park. Having a domicile is at best a right, not having one isn’t a plight that justifies forcing people to live in society’s definition of a domicile. Be careful of what you ask for, your RV could easily get outlawed to 30 day occupation only.
In the meantime, if you could only carry one device for a three month trek, would it be a Valterra SewerSolution, an electric macerator or a traditional 3” stinky slinky? Why?
Thankfully, other articles are posted for your enjoyment. Don’t like an article, don’t engage. I like my macerator BTW.
The recurring theme is mostly substance abuse. Most, but not all homeless are substance abusers. I realize that some people are on the street due to circumstances through no fault of their own, they are the slim minority. I have worked at shelters, I have seen firsthand the reasons for their situations.
Our state defacto legalized all hard drugs by passing a thinly veiled decriminalization law that had millions of taxpayers dollars wrapped up into the law, but it has only served to make the problem much worse.
Stop the drugs! Stop the drugs!
Oregon? I left there because of that. I’m homeless and I don’t like drugs in our communities any more than anyone else. Legalizing drugs is not a responsible action. Oregon is proof of that.
But, I don’t believe it’s fair to say that the majority of homeless are addicts or abusers. It may certainly be the case in a shelter – which is one of the reasons I avoid shelters. The “abusers” are simply the most visible. There are a great many of us who walk a different path. But you don’t see us as much, because we tend to be more self reliant. When we are not plagued by vice, we have more resources and less needs. And it is very frustrating to be constantly treated as though we are all addicts or that the rich and famous never touch drugs.
Amen
Thank you for so bravely entering the fray again, Gail. As the varied and numerous comments you printed demonstrate, this is complex. Likely the ‘solution” is unique to each “homeless” or “houseless” person on the streets, under bridges, in campgrounds, wherever. One potentially difficult step is to talk to, but especially listen to, the “homeless” one encounters. Certainly, giving them money if they request it may or not really help; you have little certainty of how it will be spent. But, treating them as a person, showing that they do not repulse you, that you have enough respect for them to engage them in a conversation, may be the small spark that renews their sense of self-worth, which could be enough to strengthen their resolve to not give up. There but for the grace of God go I, or any of us.
Renews sense of self worth?
It is commonly believed that self worth doesn’t exist as a homeless person. As if valuable property makes valuable people. When your self value is based on “earthly” values, then certainly your self worth vanishes when your “precious” is lost.
I think it is the “housed” that need to examine their sense of self worth. If your self worth is based on net worth, you will surely see the world in those terms. If money is your highest priority, then all other things will be subjected to it. But if you take all of that money away, what is left? You will never know, until it is gone. That day comes for all of us.
I say this, Neal, because the content of your message suggests homelessness is unique to each person’s circumstances. And you promote a form of compassion as the solution. This is good, But this perpetuates a broken system. It is our values, as Americans, that produce the environment we live in. When individualism and ego are placed as priorities, the environment and the community must make sacrifices to accommodate. When money is placed as a priority, humanity becomes a “resource”. The problem is collective, not individual. The individual is just a symptom. The result of a broken, collective mentality. We all have to make changes if we wish to be a part of a better community.
Mike, I for one appreciate your engaging here. We all have compassion for anyone that is homeless. Please square this circle for me. If money has no value or at the very least is not a priority for homeless folks, why are they on every street corner with a hand out, for cash? It would appear to most of us it is for drugs quite often or most often. Cash has no value but crack does?
Also, your asking the housed community to “make sacrifices for the collective”. What sacrifice does the inhoused community make for that same collective? Poetry doesn’t pay the bills.
It’s amazing how many people with little or no money tell me how unimportant money is to them, over the years. They are often the ones that ask for more of mine though. Most of us want more from life than “just enough to get by on”. We have family/legacy and peace of mind.
If money is not important to homeless then we already have that part of the equation worked out. Of course money is important. No money no food. No money no drugs. The question is this then, food first or drugs first, for Joe on the street with his last $20?
First, compassion is not a word, it is an action. It is not something you “have”, because it is not a possession. Seeing a hungry person and feeling sorry for them is not compassion. It is pity. Recognizing the need for food, and then inviting that person to dinner. That is compassion.
Second, just because money should never be our highest value in life, does not mean it doesn’t have value. But is it more valuable than you are? If it is the highest priority then there is nothing we are not willing to sacrifice for it.
Third, you seem pretty fixated on drugs. Are you jonesing? Addiction affects every community, and it is just plain ridiculous to stereotype an entire community. Addiction is a serious crises in this country, in every community.
And you do not see the contributions of the homeless because your values are based on money.
I learned about community from the homeless. A homeless man once shared half of his only sandwich with me when I was hungry. Since then I realized it was often that the homeless were willing to share ALL with some one who needed it, while the housed would not even share their excess. It’s the homeless that showed me there is more wealth in community than individualism. Humanity is not valued by it’s material works. And what of the homeless who go around cleaning up trash? You don’t see us very often, but maybe one day you will. Maybe more homeless would feel like helping keep the community clean if they felt like they were a part of society.
The homeless provide immense value to the community, human value. But without an actual place or respect in greater society, how can our voices be heard? How can our contributions be honored?
Bottom to top.
Thanks for contributing “human value” to our community. An obvious subjective value, its immeasurable, unlike an objective value like paying taxes, signing paychecks and donating diapers.
The army of homeless that are cleaning up the trash must be different than the army if homeless deficating on public sidewalks. Sorry, missed that army.
Where did he get that sandwich so he could share half? I’m guessing it did not appear out if thin air.
Drugs, much more complicated but the drug user in a big home with the mortgage or rent paid, a full fridge and the heat on in the winter is obviously paying his bills before buying drugs. It may not last and go upside down for him but he is indoors and not on the street injecting in front if children in a zombieland.
Compassion begins with honesty. If you can’t be honest about a problem, no amount of dinner invitations improves it. Sooner or later, the dinner invitee may be expected to offer up a dinner invitation so unless he has gotten into a home and bought a dinner table, he will continue to expect a free lunch from someone else.
Yeah, except socialism doesn’t work. It fails literally every time it’s tried. Nothing lifts more people out of poverty than the desire for wealth.
What on God’s green earth makes you think I support socialism? Clearly it’s a buzz word. All forms of idealism fail in reality. Capitalism, socialism, whateverism. Just because I believe we are all a part of our community, and as such are all accountable for our community, does not mean I support your ideas. Do not put words in my mouth.
Nothing creates more impoverished communities than the individual desire for wealth.
Um, because everything you spout mentions community and how community needs to lift you up with other peoples money. You attack private wealth and promote a notion it is bad and should be used for the good of the community. THAT IS SOLCIALISM. You may dislike the use of the word but you are 100% socialist. Good news though, some men want to be called women so it’s fluid for the meanings of words anymore.
Your use of the word “community” a lot. Community in your phraseology is akin to communism or the collective, thus the socialism connection. You can call it something else if it makes you feel good but it is socialism. A rose by any other name …..
You are presumably lumping in Venezuela and China, Russia, Cuba, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway all together? Done well, socialism DOES work. Done well, democracy works. Totalitarianism, from the right or left never works.
I don’t think it matters how they spend it, a need is a need and if they need a drug to stop from going into withdrawal then they will fulfill that necessity however they can because they don’t want to die. So don’t hesitate if you have extra, money is always needed.
It does matter how they spend other people’s money tho. That’s sort of the point. Spend their own money on drugs, no problem but pay your rent first. If not, voila, homelessness.
We are all homeless until we return to our abode and see if it is still there or not. None of us are that far away.
Those of us with insurance are pretty far away from homelessness…
So I own a 5th wheel camper and I also own 16.5 acres with a well and septic. County says I can only sleep in my camper on my property for 2 weeks every 90 days. WTH! So I can stay on my property for 8 of the 52 weeks in a year. The other 44 weeks I am homeless.
They want you to build a house so they can collect more taxes. But no one is going to keep track of when you’re there and when you aren’t unless you do something to draw attention to yourself.
The adaptation of man and survival to its surroundings. No matter the physical or mental impairments, people will adapt and survive by any means necessary. Poverty should never be. But a world of “me me me’s” backed through fake currency and false ego to hire “good people” to do horrendous deeds in the name of protection, safety, “freedom”, etc creates its own turmoil and rot from the inside. Rome did well producing a currency, using that currency to arm and recruit, while pillaging, raping, and slaughtering every pagan they could find. In the name of “God”. These times are just repeating itself, in new ways, as we make slow progress forward. Controlling and manipulating populaces while telling them they cant house themselves, theres not enough room or resources, “we own that not you”. Then question how they became “owners of such land”. Did they buy it? Nope, people died for it. It was stolen and taken. Also a repetitious cycle of delusional leaderships…
Prior to the 1960’s, most states and counties had a “poorhouse” where people who were homeless could go and live. In rural counties they were farms, in cities they might be workshops. The people there were expected to work as they were able to contribute to the maintenance of the facility. Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs monetized and federalized welfare, turning that “in-kind” assistance into a check from the government. The result was a plethora of unintended consequences.
Today most of those programs are means tested, with low caps for what a person can make without losing eligibility. A minimum wage job amounts to about $1100 a month, which in some places is too much to qualify, which means it is economically better to be on welfare and panhandle. In our area, apartment rents start at about $1000 a month, which means a person needs an income of about $3000 a month or $18 an hour to make that affordable. That ignores any need for health insurance, another subject.
Yes, we were so much better before Lyndon Johnson’s great society. Churchs and neighbors, friends and family. As soon as gov got involved, into the crapper it went. $20 trillion for the war on poverty since Johnson declared war and were losing every battle for our civilized society and our national dignity.
There was obviously a need. You are thinking about white communities in your effort to make America great again. During Johnsons time there were whole counties in the South that had no water, no electricity, and dirt streets. Life expectancy was 20 years less in these communities. If society was already great, why did no one help these people to keep the federal government from stepping in?
Yes, and in Thomas Jeffersons time the entire country had no electricity, water or toilets and had dirt roads and life expectancy was 40 years less. What’s your point? We sure have come a long ways together as a country in 250 years? You do understand that Biden voted against the Civil rights act in the 60s? And that he gave the eulogy for a former Grand Cyclops in the 2000s, right?
Just sayin. Don’t try and take me down some path of no return. I celebrate the fundamentals of juneteenth everyday.
I think by “we” you mean only a small part of society..We were better off before all our manufacturing jobs left. THAT is the change that matters
Bob you are right. In the 50s and 60s a man could work as a gas station attendant or janitor and just eke out a living to raise a family. Today that person’s paycheck will not even cover the lowest of rents, no less cover food and other necessities. Because of “houseflation” an honest day’s work no longer means an honest day’s pay, considering the cost of living.
A white man had that freedom. Not BIPOC or women.
Thank you for pointing out how the journey to create a “more perfect union” never ends. For pointing out that progress in that journey happens every year, and every day. “To CREATE a more perfect union”, in an imperfect world.
land is being bought up by massive corporations like Blackrock etc., drugs are flowing through our borders, nothing is being done about crime and the mental health industry collapsed in the 70s & 80s partly thanks to a movie. The vast majority are either addicts or mentally ill.. or both. the rest cannot find housing thanks to vapid inflation along with corporate land grabs. It all makes for a powder keg waiting to explode and I fear this is only the very beginning.
Here in Alberta we are experiencing the same kind of scenarios. I’m in a 24′ Class C, staying for the summer at a campground, not close to the city. It has power only and only 10 sites. Recently a man showed up to “camp” for a week while looking for affordable housing. He also had a dog in tow. It started quickly with, can you watch my dog, got a smoke, can I use your power, can I use the potable water you bought and on and on. Sadly once asked to leave he retorted with guilt intended comments to the owner/operator. There are people constantly coming in to see if they can “move in” a tent just until they find housing. The town just across the bridge pop#2735…homeless over 100. We are in a new statistic with homelessness with few avenues of promise to lessen the divide to help most anyone get back in their feet.
Thank you for this forum, the articles are addressing a lot of the concerns and issues being experienced on a giant scale by many rv’s.
Turner Valley?
The more Justin Trudeau tries to be like Gavin Newsom, the worse it will get. True Equity is when we are all equally miserable.
As a homeless folk, Id just like to correct some of the rhetoric and misinformation in some of these comments.
First, making $200 a day panhandling? This is sooo far from an accurate portrayal of reality. It’s kind of like taking a bunch of blackjack winners and using their stories to represent the average gamblers’ experience. Homelessness is inhuman. If you think anyone willingly chooses this, or can just leave at will, I invite you to trade shoes with me for a day. Or offer me that job.
It is illegal to sleep in public. It is trespassing to sleep on private property. If you don’t want us camping with you, change the laws.
And how about the “problem” of rvers in homeless camps? Some of us park at Walmart overnight. But so do RVers looking for free parking. The overuse is causing more and more Walmarts to close overnight parking, which is like losing my home again. But that’s the world – the wealthy exploit resources to pinch a penny, while justifying ignoring their neighbors.
What law would you have us change exactly?
I can’t say for sure but my guess is that 95% of the time, if I changed shoes for a year with a homeless dude, I would 100% not be homeless one week into that year and it’s also 95% likely that the dude in my shoes, would be homeless once again a year later.
Do you think everyone not homeless just got lucky?
BTW: I sure am sorry that all of us RVers that occasionally stop at a Wal-Mart to sleep and then spend $200.00 the next morning on provisions have ruined a good thing for you. Happy Opposites Day.
Perhaps the laws that are a human rights violations? Laws that criminalize sleeping outside, laws that criminalize sitting down outside, laws that essentially criminalize homelessness without the integrity to openly declare so. That would be a start.
And I call you out on your bogus bluff. Do it. If your so great, go homeless. Give up everything that you have. House, car, bank, but more importantly, your friends and family. Any human connection you might have, because human connection is the most valuable resource any of us have. And personally I don’t think words have any value without the integrity to stand behind them. So, will you stand behind your claims? Will you walk your talk? Or will you make more talk?
Already was homeless. Lived in a tent at a KOA for a month when I first started my adult life so yeah, been there, done that. I don’t know you well enough to be specific to your circumstances, however, in conjunction with the ACLU, we have already decriminalized sleeping outside and decriminalized homelessness, decriminalized theft to $950.00 and decriminalized possession of heroin in some states. It is now a human right in some states to live on the street and inject heroin. BTW, I didn’t offer to trade up with you, just made a point. Triggered you huh?
On your human connection bit… 95% of the drugged up homeless pushed family and friends out of their lives. It did not just happen, it happened a slice at a time until the loaf was gone. Sad for sure but families write off family all the time, usually with cause. People can change their lives and get family back. It starts on the front, not the back.
I worked hard for my lifestyle and have the scars and wounds to show it. You want what others have without the 40 years of work they put in. Winning a trophy without running the race.
I’m going to try again Mike. You start over with $50k and a tent tomorrow and Kevin O’leary starts over with $50k and a tent tomorrow. Ready, set, go. Who becomes a millionaire first? Who becomes homeless first? Who do you think Vegas has the over on and who do they have the under on? That’s my point.
Success is not easy but it sure is worth the fight. I wish only success on everyone. I do not wish hardship on anyone. Darwin put it together pretty well.
Give up everything except your phone apparently. Because surfing the internet and posting to random forums is obviously more important than anything else…
Walmart never intended the privilege of staying overnight to be a housing solution or entitlement, just a nice option for RVers to stop overnight on a trip. Sam Walton started it because he was a recreational RVer. Walmart only allows it as a favor, the only benefit they get is when RVers become customers. We almost always buy groceries while there, and usually only stop when traveling if we can’t find an inexpensive campground in the area (we prefer electricity and knowing that there won’t be a knock on our door if we have parked in the wrong area or if someone gave permission but didn’t pass it on). We save our moneY for the destination.
The people ruining it for everyone are those who dump waste in the lot, make it obvious they are camping (invites complaints), leave trash, or cause damage. Locally Walmart shut it down because a TRUCKER ran over a light pole and just left without mentioning it.
Anyone who thinks it is their right and/ or treats the area with disrespect is mistaken and endangering the option. I have seen this attitude from recreational RVers, truckers, and now ? The only benefit they get is goodwill from customers.
Your comment is so out there, I have to wonder if you are simply stirring the pot or are a bot of some kind. Maybe you are homeless, but also make it a point to purchase from them, I don’t know.
NONE of us are entitled to this.
Only a real victim would feel slighted when his free parking lot campground goes away and blames the people that actually shop in that Walmart the morning after a night’s stay. Holy victim class.
Walmart allows overnight parking for people who are traveling. YOU are the one ruining that for everyone, not the other way around. Obviously.
He’s a real victim of us darn Walmart SHOPPERS that spend $100 after a single night in a parking lot, isn’t he? Ruined a good thing for him. OMG.
Oh I’m sorry that my humanitarian crises is such a burden on your recreation. Would you like me to move my entire life somewhere else so you can continue to pleasure yourself?
God forbid you have to pay money to park your luxurious spare house. Oh the humanity.
Oh wait. I could just adopt your attitude. Now I don’t think I want to share parking lots with rvers anymore. After all, it’s a privilege for all of us, and I think the homeless know just how to lose privileges.
See what happens if we take stances against one another? We will all lose. But no one wants to lose. So it escalates.
Katherine, I appreciate the way you voiced your opinion on the matter. And I agree, it is the disrespect that ultimately endangers these freedoms. However, I don’t think spending money at Walmart actually gives me any more or less right to park there. At least not while parking overnight on public property is illegal. However, I do believe getting out there and picking up trash, keeping the parking lot clean and the like is a good exchange for parking.
So the business that maintains the parking lot, lights the parking lot, cleans the parking lot and owns the parking lot does not have the right to remove you from the parking lot? It is your right to trespass on privately owned property? The business that owns it can no longer be a safe rest area for customers unless it allows a certain amount of space for vagrants and hobos.
OMG. This has been so informative. You speak well and use words well but I guess if your stuck in opposites world, you are simply a victim of other peoples successes. Sorry we messed up a good thing at Walmart for you. I hope you find your utopia. Try Venezuela, where the people are equally fed, equally educated, equally employed, equally wealthy and equally happy.
If the person is such a miserable POS that the fraternal organizations, churches, food banks, shelters, etc don’t want him… why should the taxpayer(government) care about their choices… it has always been about Benjamin, always…💲🤑💲🤑💲
Absolutely! The tax payer never should be responsible or burdened for other’s peoples choices.
But the human being recognizes the common humanity within us all. The human being shares the burden with those who suffer not because it is deserved or undeserved, but out of quality of heart. A quality that is rare in a taxpaying society.
Most people who end up homeless have remedied their situation within days. People who want help are rarely homeless for more than a month or two.
Sharing the burden with those who CHOOSE to suffer only encourages them to continue “suffering”. Obviously.
A friend commented that her retirement savings ( Apple stock) was the same as a windfall inheritance another friend just received and she felt this was unfair! Life’s unfair so why compare?
Unfair? Why? Sorry, I don’t get it.
It’s the new “equity” movement, fairness. Equality is sooooo last century. With equity, it is about the end result being equal for all in the name of Fairness. In the old days, it was about equal opportunity to sink or swim. Now, the new buzz word is EQUITY. It’s such a language scam by the DEI warriors.
Neurosurgeon making the same/hour as a short order cook. EQUITY. Not making the same? OK, they each have a home in the same neighborhood, 1 subsidized w/tax money, the other not. EQUITY.
Venezuela has equity. 99.9 % are hungry and miserable, living in constant fear. An equitable outcome for all.
When you hear the word equity, do the opposite.