I understand, if you have lost your home and/or job, about the only way you will read this is at a library. Homeless folks don't have internet.

Being homeless, on the street, takes some getting used to. As they say, what don't kill you, can make you stronger.

It's a tough life on the streets. Not all will live through it
Used to be, the homeless consisted of alcoholics, drug addicts, the mentally ill and physically ill who had no resources.

Now, more homeless are extending into the, used to be, working class.

You might have to go outside the city limits to ask property owners if you and others can set up small tent communities.

If you promise to keep the property trash, drug, alcohol and crime free, they might have the heart to allow you to stay. If you are drawing unemployment or have access to other money, pay, or help pay the property owners utilities. If you get food stamps, offer food to help the property owner. That way, it will be a two way street and not just a gimme.

Here is a limited list of cities where tent cities available.
Los Angeles
St.Petersburg, Fl.
Seattle, Wa.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Columbus, Ohio
Athens, Georgia
Reno, Nevada
San Diego, California
Nashville, Tennessee

As I locate more, I will post them.

I've worked with homeless shelters....it's not a pretty sight. I feel for these people.

i know....send them all to west texas!!!!!!!!! lol

I have room for about 5 Family size tents here. If the folks were able to help out around here with providing labor to help me finish my house or some could pay part of the utilities, help maintain the garden, etc.
If I had a mechanic, I have most all the tools to do everything from small engines to big rigs. Air and all.
I also have all tools to do ceramic tile, drywall, lawns, roofing remodeling, and it can go on.
Only thing is, to do those jobs, they'd have to be able to pass bonding.
My big rules are no alcohol or drugs, no excons, or child molesters.

If more people got involved in giving a "Hand up" we wouldnt need all the "Handouts"........JMO

That's what I am offering. A small community life.

I did this same thing during Hurricane Andrew. Though I didn't expect them to finish my house or care for my garden. They couldnt have anyway, as they had to sign up for jobs and other services that took most of their time when not at my house.

They completely destroyed my property, and forget saying no to drugs, they find their way in. And getting them out was not so easy either. It took the sheriff and some of my male neighbors to run them off after several months of hell.

I don't think you have this completely thought out yet. Maybe you do, but I would never do it again, that is for sure. I was not at all equipped to handle it, I just thought I was. You really have no idea who is on your property unless you are able to check their backgrounds.

You might be better off looking for locals that need work and will work for less if you want someone to help you finish your house and to chores for you. Unless you are really close to a city where people can get their needs met, you will be their provider, if you can't do that, you will have problems.

This is why we have programs to help people, some maybe begrudge them even that, but I bet those same people would not want to trade places with them.

I would definitely make sure they were family folks with values and knew respect and honor. Not Street hardened.

I agree.

Can you offer any ideas on how it can be done without Gov. interference. Leaving it up to the communities and individuals?

I would like see communities, individuals and the "Hand-up" being used. We're all in this together.

i wonder how long it would take for people that use to be normal to turn street hardened under tent living conditions. it could be par for the course. who knows?

i know, that i just happended to get lucky that i have a friend to let me keep my fifth wheel camper on his property, not sure how i would feel if i had to live in a tent. i haven't had work in about 4 and a half months. to let you know how bad it is, there is a five guys burgers in the next town over that had over 200 applicants in one day and that was just a job to flip burgers.

About 12 years ago, I had a bus. that failed. I planned ahead because I knew it was going under.
My possession were, when I headed to the streets was a 10 year old Van, a 6'x 10" utility trailer and as much stock as I could fit to sell on the road and $2,500.00.
I stored the stock in the van and built a box on the trailer to live in.
The money I had lasted for 2 and a half years. I had a hard time selling the stock. It was specialty stuff that only a locksmith could use.
Finally found 1 buyer for all of it and invested that into Flea Market salable inventory.
Did so well at Flea Markets, I became a snow-bird. North for the winter and South for the summer. Did it for 8 years.
For the first 6 months, I stayed sick from worry. Decided I needed to overcome the worry and got well. From then on, I was content with that lifestyle.
After living in that trailer for 4 years, I found a 22' Motor home in Sacramento. Talk about fine living!

it's funny how even a camper can be luxurious compared to other situations, that's why i'm thanking God for this thing. it's a 1998 30ft tahoe with a 14 foot slide out. i got it for $2500 because a tree fell on the edge of it and the insurance had lapsed. after i bought it, i took it to my parent's house and repaired it. i got real lucky with this one.

I don't think you realize what your in for. People that are desperate will tell you anything you want to hear and they will start out with the christian rethoric first. They did with me, though they had no clue I wasn't buying the christian stuff nor did I need to hear it.

These folks were not street hardened people, just desperate, and when desperate will do things you never expected they would do to someone just trying to help.

You have legal issues if they are on your property and anything happens to them, or if they decide that being on your property is a way to make something happen that will end up your legal problem.

If you have to ask about ideas with out gov interference, you don't have the first clue all the things that could happen on your property. That is exactly why you better hope for government interference to help the very people that could end up taking you to the cleaners or worse.

I understand, insurance liability, frauds, etc.
Kinda' sad, too many homeless and the Gov. will have to open their facilities. And I don't think the homeless will enjoy the accommodations.

It's a nice thought, Willing2.

Oh ya, and other things one never thinks about in hard times. It would take a couple of days to tell you all that happened to me and others that thought we were doing good. You have a good heart, Willing2 but some times it takes more than that to actually help.

Believe me the homeless aren't going to love the accommodations of a tent either, and they will get better help with the gov, with health issues and all the other related issues of being homeless especially now.

This is what our taxes pay for and so they should. I will never complain about that because heaven forbid I should ever be in the same position.

Sure as most I wonder why some of the homeless didn't plan better, didn't save, didn't see this coming, but not all will have been irresponsible, so either way we all help pay for times like this and should in my opinion.

Oh ya, and other things one never thinks about in hard times. It would take a couple of days to tell you all that happened to me and others that thought we were doing good. You have a good heart, Willing2 but some times it takes more than that to actually help.

Believe me the homeless aren't going to love the accommodations of a tent either, and they will get better help with the gov, with health issues and all the other related issues of being homeless especially now.

This is what our taxes pay for and so they should. I will never complain about that because heaven forbid I should ever be in the same position.

Sure as most I wonder why some of the homeless didn't plan better, didn't save, didn't see this coming, but not all will have been irresponsible, so either way we all help pay for times like this and should in my opinion.

Thank you Ms Winx.

Don't know how their health issues will be addressed. Here, the Vet's Dr. will only come once a week. Cut back. He was here 3 days a week. The Vet workload has increased. Now, if a Vet needs a Dr. on any other day, we have to commute 3 hours to the nearest VA Hosp.
There is a VA rep here who transports but she can only carry 3 people. The VA won't allot a van, even though the caseload has increased.

My granddad thought alot along the lines that you do. He was all the time putting someone up in one of the trailers he had on his property. once he had a young couple and their three little ones put up in an old broken down bus, or would put someone down on their luck, welding in the shop or something like that..

everytime he did that, the people ended up stealing from him and taking off. They f***ed him everytime. often it would end up in substantial property loss for him. tools, cash, one time a guy took off with the arc-welder.

He never learned his lesson. I suppose it's something that I learned it for him.