A moment that changed me: I lost my home, moved into a van – and found freedom
theguardian.com
theguardian.com
The feces claim, I've noticed, is popular when people are trying to demonize a group of people - usually people without traditional homes, like the author - evoke a disgust response so great that their awfulness is undeniable. "human feces", is the term I hear.
It's so commonly heard that it's a joke to me now. Having spent much time in cities, seeing people who lack housing, seeing where they live, and interacting occasionally, I've never seen it. I'm sure it's there someplace - everything is - but I'm sure it can't be so common.
I always want to ask, how do they know it's human feces? Are they feceologists? Did they collect a sample and study it? How closely did they examine it? If anyone here has identified human feces, please share the process with us!
Initially it seems freeing but when you lose the motivation to maintain a roof over your head you stop planning for the future and eventually it becomes impossible as you age and you find it harder to get a job.
I wish the author well but I hope she fights to get out of the life ASAP.
> People are in a never ending cycle hoping to get out.
That doesn't describe the author, who seems to favor it.
We have two vans that have used one of the streets around me as a home on and off for years. One of them has a permanent sign asking for money. The vans are there for a few weeks then they move on and come back after a while. Nothing changes year after year.
I also go by a street that's full of people living in vans that have ruined the neighborhood. The mess is so bad that the local sanitation department has to clean the area on a regular basis. It's ugly. There's nothing freeing about it.
>That doesn't describe the author, who seems to favor it.
Yes, now but give it time. It's a tough existence and it never gets easier.
> I also go by a street that's full of people living in vans that have ruined the neighborhood. The mess is so bad that the local sanitation department has to clean the area on a regular basis.
I hear things like this all the time about unhoused people, and yet having seen living conditions many times, I've never seen these problems. It may be what you see on that street, but I doubt it's representative.