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I wanted to show the reality of homelessness in America.
So I went barefoot, and didn't shower or shave for about a week or so.
In hopes to keep the footage that I got unfiltered
I got these awesome spy glasses off the internet,
and then hooked them into a portable camera that I hid in my crotch.
To keep everything authentic, I only took the necessary charging equipment with me.
So that means no money,
no I.D.,
nada tostada.
And then I had my friend blindfold me
and drop me off somewhere random in Denver.
And this is what happened...
Within 30 minutes of being dropped off
I met some ladies who ended up giving me a Gatorade, shoes, and an extra T-shirt.
They pointed me in the direction of the nearest homeless shelter,
and on the way I met some home bums who
took me under their wing, and showed me the ropes.
For those of you who don't know what a home bum is...
I flew a sign for about 2 hours or so,
but since I'm young and healthy looking I barely made enough for a hot dog.
Later that night he showed me some of his camp spots.
The first of which was in the backyard of government sanctioned housing for crazy people.
Apparently, one of them thought she was his mom.
Just as I was about to fall asleep, the sprinklers came on.
So we quickly scurried to another one of his other camp spots behind a dumpster.
Again, just as I was about to fall asleep,
he promptly woke up at 4 AM to take some shots and go snipe hunting.
For those of you who don't know...
In order to feel safe enough to pass out, I split up with my home bum father figure
and climbed a nearby roof.
It's pretty hard to get sound sleep in a situation like that,
so after a few hours I continued my journey.
I found myself at The Triangle,
a public park with crack *** traffic round-the-clock.
It's no surprise that The Triangle attracts a lot of violent crime
and is flanked by two of the biggest homeless shelters in Denver.
♪♫♪***, please! Ya' must be smokin' rocks♪♫♪
To be honest, I was sketched out when I first walked through The Triangle,
but was quickly put at ease once I continued to experience the comradery of the streets.
I noticed this guy was throwing away food to some pigeons.
This was frustrating to see since I was realllyyyy hungry, so I investigated.
He explained they were just moldy muffins.
As I started to walk away he caught my attention...
It was just an orange, but this simple act of kindness meant a lot coming from a complete stranger.
So far, the streets had shown me nothing but love.
Even though I was technically homeless, I felt right at home.
My new buddies directed me to a nearby day shelter that gave me a whole bunch of helpful information.
From then on, it was a cake walk.
Emphasis on the cake, food was not a problem at all...
♪♫ It's burger time! ♪♫
I repeat, food was not a problem at all.
If for whatever reason you can't make it to the plethora of food banks and soup kitchens,
you can always get your EBT card.
You just gotta' fill out a bunch of paperwork.
For those of you who don't know...
I'm not saying anyone should have to do this...
but if we're talkin' starvation, there's plenty of food you can just stumble upon.
Again, not that anyone should have to do this...
but there's always the option of dumpster diving.
There's a ridiculous amount of perfectly good food that goes to waste.
Still don't believe me? You don't have to take my word for it!
I'd say starvation would be probably less than 1% in Colorado.
But bad nutrition would probably be 10-20%.
Really bad nutrition that can cause health problems later.
**Would you say food is a problem for the homeless?**
I would say no.
It's pretty available.
One thing that the city does
is that it makes sure that there are
-it allows organizations to be active in feeding.
There are a lot of churches that show up at parks where homeless people frequent,
and feed food all day.
So, I would say it's not a problem.
**Is food a problem for the homeless?**
No, not in my experience.
It's what you do when you're homeless:
you just go from different place to place and eat.
Eat food, get free meals. 'Cuz there's not much else to do.
Alright, I think I made my point: even America's homeless are fat ***.
So, woopty-doo! What about all the other *** people need?
Well, remember all the helpful info I got? Ask and you shall receive.
**Can I get deodorant?**
You can get free condoms,
free bus tickets,
free clothes,
free medical,
you can work out for free,
you can go to a temp agency for unskilled labor work,
you can check facebook,
play video games,
do laundry,
sell a newspaper to get back on your feet,
build/fix bikes,
make phone calls,
you can get free dental,
and you can get checks from a church to pay for your I.D./birth certificate.
And the list goes on and on.
So what gives? Why are there still homeless people in spite of all this assistance?
The reason I found that most people in Vancouver, in the homeless district
were in the situation they were in was because of some sort of abuse or neglect.
Basically, a lack of love in their upbringing that had caused them to be broken people.
It sounds cheesy but it's true. Check out these statistics...
With no loved ones to go to, they're kind've S.O.L. when the government doesn't take care of 'em.
We all know how much love they were shown upon return.
These are upsetting statistics, but again:
with all the help offered to get you off the streets, why are there still homeless?
Hmmm, that's a tough one!
Maybe because the only assistance you showed was temporary,
and not any programs that actually get you a job and a house! *scoff*
Good point, but actually there's plenty of those programs. There's just one small catch...
**For AA?**
**Is this permanent?**
The nicotine requirement isn't very common in these programs,
but what is is relapse.
He was in the program for about a week, and then I never saw him again.
I wanted to show the reality of homelessness.
Well, here it is...
The common denominator among nearly every homeless person I encountered was drugs.
A history with and/or a current use of.
♫♪♫ At this rate, we'll debate 'til my skin is melting! ♫♪♫
Drugs aren't always what PUT people there, but they seem to be what KEEP people there.
Trying to stay sober on the streets is like trying to keep your hair dry in the ocean.
When I first started this project I was enjoying new friends and my free time.
But it didn't take long to feel like a piece of *** after being perceived as one by everyone I came across.
You're either patronized, despised, or completely ignored. And I don't know which is the worst...
And your 'comrades' aren't much help either.
The hopelessness in the homeless community is almost palpable.
I quickly fell into the contagious drug use and depression.
I pretty much *** off the project.
I was no longer pretending; I WAS homeless.
So how do you help? Is it possible to undo the damage that's been done?
I don't see the circumstances getting you there being the circumstances that keep you there.
And it's not just cause I'm not there anymore.
It's because I've seen the attitude of those that are there who are becoming comfortable
in the routine that they build everyday.
Of waking up here at this shelter and then going to this shelter to eat and going to here...
Sooner or later you have to take control.
You have to say, 'Well, this is where I'm going to...'
First of all, you have to say, 'I don't want this.'
'This is not what I want for myself, this is not where I wanna' be.'
There are a lot of people - a large percentage of people - who actually choose that lifestyle.
I mean there are guys who get checks from the Veterans Administration,
who get checks for social security,
for disability,
retirees...
There were so many people and you would see them at the beginning of the month
like, 'Yeah, I just got my $900 check da, da, da, da, da...'
And I've got a $1.92 in my pocket and I'm like: ⊙ ▂ ⊙
That's probably the one thing that blew my mind.
That somebody would actually choose to be socially displaced like that.
I can't really say that you're socially displaced if you CHOOSE.
Like, 'Ehhh, ya know, the shopping cart and the corner cut out in the alley is OK with me.'
I can't say every day, but all the time I was tryin' to improve my situation.
I'm not sayin' that I'm better than those guys, but I know I definitely wanted more.
I spent a couple really, really, really cold nights out there, and that was more motivation than any...
**Why do you think there are still - like - homeless?**
**Why not, man?**
**So how'd you end up here, then?**
**No, I mean, like, on the streets 'n ***. 'Cuz I ran away from home, ya know? So...**
**I was curious, if you were Obama, what would you do to stop homelessness?**
No, he said, 'Don't let anybody touch his beer.' I gotta' listen to him, man.
He's helped me out a lot since I've been here. So, sorry but...
That's a good one, though. *** yeah, close the liquor stores.
**Hey, if you were a politician, what would you do to stop homelessness?**
**What do you mean? Why?**
**I mean, 'cuz I got some *** goin' on. So, if I had a place like that that'd be awesome.**
**And so she gets pissed off?**
**What do you think the #1 problem is then?**
**So, maybe do something with that?**
**Right on.**
**Props, dude.**
**What do you think about UA-ing for some of these programs?**
**Like, disability and whatever. 'Cuz you and I both know-**
Yeah, you wanna' know what? We talked about this.
Do it! Do it!
I'm not sayin' it's impossible, but it's counterproductive for ...
a person to be using drugs AND looking for a job.
I mentioned earlier that I couldn't look for a job if I was doing drugs.
So, I knew I wasn't gonna' be high, and I wasn't gonna' sleep on the street.
Those were my things so...
I would definitely sign something sayin' to UA for controlled substances.
It would be hard for VA, because disabled veterans take sooo many medications.
That have sooo many different narcotics in them.
I would say our veterans: there are programs that put them to work.
So, they're not active in our section of the work force.
Their jobs are guaranteed. They just have to get up, fill out the paperwork, be patient, and they'll get a job,
and housing, and food, and a check.
So, veterans: they're alright.
I mean, guys took bullets, bombs, and grenades.
If they want to roll up one and smoke it... They can do that; have one on me.
BUT, now, the other half...
Let's say, that are in the normal spectrum of the workforce.
I think that you definitely- you have got to start... you gotta' keep 'em accountable.
You have to say, 'If we're gonna' give you this, to help you get this,
then you're gonna' have to do this. You're gonna' have to meet this standard.'
And I totally agree with it.
OMG! That is so unconstitutional!
That's just based on stereotypes and misconceptions.
This one time, I drove up in my SUV next to this homeless person and I gave him a crystal.
And I said, 'This is good for your chakras; it'll help your luck so you can find a white board.'
And he's like, 'Whaaat?'
And I was like, 'It's better for the environment, silly!'
And when I drove away I was like, 'You're welcome, Jesus.'
Mmmkay. Cool story, bro.
Well, what about this guy selling food stamp food at a homeless shelter?
Is he a misconception? Hmmm? Yah ***' ***...
[Bo] Rarely have I ran into a person who draws food stamps and they are admirable with them.
[Bo] Ya know? They have values.
So, 'Welfare Wednesday' in Vancouver is the Wednesday - I think it's the 2nd, maybe the 3rd Wednesday of the month.
That's basically when - most of the money goes from the government to the people on welfare.
And it was basically just a huge party. That's what someone described it to me as.
They said, 'It was Mardi Gras- the biggest party of the month put on every month by the government.'
Basically, people have spent the last few weeks without money.
Or kind've getting money, a little bit of money here and there.
And they have - big drug habits.
And they get however much: $800 or something
put into their account at midnight on this 3rd Wednesday of the month.
And everyone lines up at about uh... maybe 11pm to get it out of the ATM.
Or the next day at the bank at, like, people start lining up at 7AM...
and then uh, because of the... just their addiction is so strong,
that uh... they'll just go and buy- spend it all basically, that day on drugs. A lot of them.
I was with a guy and I managed to help him, one day, to not spend all his money on drugs.
Although, he almost did spend half even when I was with him.
And he had just had $800 put into his account.
And the next day I said uh, I sawr him and said, 'Why don't you go down here and get a meal?'
And he said, 'I could, but there'd only be $2 to go and do that.'
**Shiiiit. If that's true with government assistance, what about people askin' for spare change?**
Yeah, walk with us. We're headed to St. Francis, brother.
Yeah, tryin' to get some food.
We're goin' to St. Francis. C'mon, get outta' here! Good luck.
Good luck, brother!
Talkin' to the wroooonnng people.
So, how much? What percentage of the people askin' for money, would you say, spend it on food?
There's no way to afford that habit, even when I was workin'...
'cuz it's never enough, dude.
And it's not even that good of a high!
**From your experience, let me ask you 2 questions.**
**1.) Do you suggest giving money to the people with signs? 2.) How many of them do you think use it for what they say?**
**Like when it's 'hungry,' or they have a kid there, or they're in a wheelchair, or they act like they're deaf, or whatever the...**
[Sigh] 0:27:52.799,0:27:56.400 I hate to answer that question but I'm gonna' answer it.
I think that...personally, I think that if we have, we should just give.
But if giving is gonna' put somebody in danger or somebody else in danger, then we shouldn't.
Ya know? I think that the percentage of people who are actually sincere...
Um... I think if...
I'll put it like this:
If a guy has a sign- or a lady or a family or whatever.
They have a sign and they say, uh, 'Anything helps. Just trying to get some food.'
If you give them $20 there's a very low chance that they're gonna' buy $20 worth of food.
I don't wanna' put a tag on the homeless or the socially displaced people
and say that a high number of them are alcoholics.
But alcohol is a depressant and a lot of them are depressed. And it runs rampant throughout the culture.
I mean, I definitely support this type of attitude:
A guy approaches you with a sign or you pass this guy and you feel compelled to help.
'You know what? I can't give you any money, but what can I do for you?'
'What do you need this money for?'
'I need some food.' or 'I need this or that.'
I think that is wayyy better than putting cash in somebody's hand.
Somewhere in my mind it's reminding me that, 'Ya know? This might not be exactly what it looks like.'
So, I'm cognizant. I mean, I know the area very well.
So, I'm cognizant of, ya know, if we're over here then they're probably gonna' take the money and go right over there.
**There's like a 20 mile radius of The Triangle so you're like, 'No.'**
Right, there's like an 8 block radius, and I can't give anybody money to go there.
Not to that place, not to the liquor store, not even to the guy who's honest:
'Hey, man. Can you help me with some change for some beer?'
I can't do it. I can't do it.
So, in that respect, I've come to the point where I'm not gonna' enable
because I wouldn't want anybody to enable me.
Ya know, my friend, she didn't enable me. She just, she offered HELP.
Ya know? Like, she met me at my level. She met me at my point of need.
Ya know? She asked me, 'Well, what do you need? How can I help you?'
And I knew already that I wasn't gonna' be able to stay there, to move in temporarily.
But, 'Ya know? I need somewhere where I can change my clothes and wash them and da da...'
She, okay, at my point of need- BAM - that's what I need.
I- reasonable things. If there's a guy and he's asking for $5 and I know he's gonna' take it around the corner,
it's hard to be the judge, but with wisdom we have to not able him to go around the corner.
And we have to use that opportunity to help him in that way.
**How would you say to help?**
Uh, first would be uh...
to what you think you may be helping, to not do that.
Like, if you don't want to really help.
If you wanna' just do something- have a quick thing that you can do to kind've take away your guilt,
don't do that.
Like, giving money doesn't help.
Often, providing food for someone, you might think it's helping,
but like I said, 'You can get so much food there.'
And often, giving people something for free just reinforces that, um, mentality
that's, 'I need to give you something because you can't do it for yourself.'
So, it kind've even lowers the dignity of people.
Uh, so, first of all, not doing those things helps.
In the West at least...
Like I was saying, 'The issue with homelessness isn't homelessness;
it's these issues - that people have in their lives: this brokenness of spirit.'
So, if you really wanna' help you have to diagnose what the issue is
rather than the symptom, which is homelessness.
So, you have to go back to that issue and love people.
And if you, um, really do love them, you welcome them into your homes.
And you provide this since of friendship and family.
And basically, give people a way of having a functioning relationship with someone that doesn't depend on drugs.
And just a genuine friendship. I think that's the best thing that you can do to help.
Without judging them.
Without having this mentality that, 'You are there and I am here.'
Rather, 'It's just us 2. We're 2 people on equal terms
and we both have issues, but maybe I can help you through yours.'
When I was in the Downtown Eastside there was a ministry called Servants.
-It's a Christian ministry.
They're usually in Asia- that's what their name is, 'Servants to Asia's Urban Poor.'
But the guy who started it was a New Zealand guy who moved to Cambodia first and then ended up in Vancouver.
-He saw that when he got there, there's already service providers providing everything that people need.
Providing every need for people there.
Whether it's shelter, food, whatever.
What people needed was this sense of family.
So, they had this house there and three times a week they have what they call 'community dinners.'
And people would basically come around and just have dinner.
-Like normal friends do.
And you go there and you have- and everyone has dinner together.
Maybe the, uh, the people that are homeless can help cook.
And then they eat with you and afterwards everyone does the dishes together.
And you just do whatever: play scrabble, play boardgames, sit down 'n have jokes, stuff like that...
And that was actually the most effective thing: was just people being people.
You can't really like change people, they kind've have to just change themselves.
If they want to.
**So, a lot of the homeless choose to continually *** up their lives. But it's complicated.
Not all of them are lucky enough to have a fail safe the way I did.
When things got out of control I had loving arms to go to.
A lot of the homeless are escaping home lives even more *** up than the lives they lead on the streets.**
Like, you should find out more about them before you, like, make any judgment about that.
Like, find out, ya know, why? Like, why are they homeless? Ya know?
Like, what are they facing? Like, what barriers or obstacles do they face?
Or what has lead to the situation?
Like, try to figure that out, if you can.
Like, before you make any judgments,
because like, you don't know.
Are these people who are not homeless that want to help? **Exactly.**
I would definitely say, 'Go volunteer,
and find an organization that is actually meeting people at their point of need, ya know?
That're actually... that have programs in place that keep people accountable.
Um, whether it be makin' sure that they're not just milkin' resources.
Like, they're gettin' these bus passes and they're tryin' to find a job.
Or, they're coming in to eat and they're sober, ya know?
I would hate to say that some of the organizations should turn people away because they're drunk...
but I think that they know that if they have this drink that they can come to your organization and eat,
I think that you're just feeding the beast. And the beast being:
'It's okay to be homeless because... I can get X, Y, and Z.
Whatever I need. Clean clothes, I can sit inside and be warm and dry all day.
I can get bus passes if I need to go to the other side to get some clean clothes.'
And I think that cycle is broken once people see that you can-
you can be drunk or high and still go into these places.
And why I think that is bad is because you make it unsafe for other people.
So, I would definitely say, 'Find one of these places that are safe.' Where they are...
whether they're checkin' guys' bags when they come in for weapons or...
or alcohol, or drugs,
or they are breathalyzing them to make sure they're not currently drunk.
You can't breathalyze to see if a guy is on some drugs, but you can at least make sure he's not drunk.
Um, and I would just try to connect with, uh, an organization that meets your definition of help.
-What you think is help, isn't necessarily what I think help is. But we all- we both agree that something needs to be done.
So, I would definitely say, um, 'Find a place that has your same moral standards and give. Give your time.'
Welp, there you go. For more on how to help and about my homeless experience check out my blog.
If you liked any of the music pause the video now and/or look in the description for links.
Thanks to all my Kickstarter backers, I really appreciate it.
Obviously, this video isn't about the quality, it's about the content; it's supposed to make you think.
So, let's be open minded and have some intelligent discussions in the comments section.
Leonarrrrrd...
Leonarrrrd...
Leonard, I need help with the groceries.
MOM! I'M ON THE *** COMPUTER!!! JESUS!!!
Leonard! These eggs aren't gonna' carry themselves!
GOD DAMN IT, MOM! I'M ON THE COMPUTER!!!
LEONARD!
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