HBO Documentary Films: Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County Trailer (HBO)

[sherlocksden]

Families homeless in motels are usually invisible. This is everywhere, not just Orange County. I have lived in several motels this past year. Now we are lucky enough to have found a shelter, but we spent months this way. From Austin, TX to Tigard, OR- we were never the only family. If you have a motel in your town, likely there is at least one homeless family that lives there. I'm stuck where I am now- car broke, no affordable housing. Soon as I save up, will hopefully get a home.

[teewhy1977]

CAN ANYONE PLEASE LINK ME WHERE I CAN WATCH THIS FREE

[tubbymctubsta]

i watched this and cried. earlier i was complaining about how much i hated my job and this film just made me be happy i even have clothes.

[comnppl]

Cali has outrages prices; no wonder some people have to live in hotels even though there making 18-20 an hour. That’s what I make in Omaha, NE and I have a decent sized house. Thank goodness I got out of Cali or else I would have been trapped in an apartment forever.

[botchalism]

@comnppl What's wrong with an apartment? Everyone likes to think houses are an investment but they are actually a liability. What if they open a walmart in the neighborhood? What if the housing market collapses like it did several years ago? What if the ghetto moves up to your area? What if interest rates sky rocket and you don't have a fixed rate? So many variables can turn that investment into a trap that your stuck in for a long LONG time.

[AliensexKitten000]

yet we are still donating shit for kids from other countrys yet we have our own homeless children here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[midnull]

@AliensexKitten000

Yup! And while we face this....our Cali governor has the time to go out and make another movie...

[falconfamily09]

i love the documentary but i do not like how straight forward alexandra she is way to nosey in these ppl lives askin them very personal questions!! also to the little kids why is she so bold theres certain question you can ask kids they dont completly understand.... this is such a realistic documentary my prayers are sent out to all these families and also to alexandra for exposing this to ppl so they can see how ppl struggle

[caligirl2286]

@TheStrawberry. I do have a heart for these kids.. I've donated so much stuff to charity and volunteered at Charity events. ONLY for the kids. I understand it is not they're fault. However, some of these people said they've lived like this for many years.. but some of their kids are toddlers.. SO why keep making kids in this situation? WELFARE CHECKS PERHAPS? Times are tough I know, and do feel bad, but just quit making kids if you can't provide for them.

[sexyma2187]

Does anyone know where i can watch this documentry online?

[TheLApitfighter]

@sexyma2187 im thinking about uploading it

[puraviidda]

This documentary was extremely eye opening for me, you forget how much you take the little things in life for granted. When the little boy said that he wanted to re-do his life, my heart sank. *sigh

[RawrItsMichaela]

i just watched this on my tv, and i felt so sad i wanted to go get on a plane to california and donate all my old toys and clothes to these kids :'(

[yorkpatties]

This looks real sad, but working with populations in shelters I have to wonder why these families aren't turning to shelters. Most shelters have housing workers who will assist you in finding a home of your own and will typically pay your first years rent! I haven't seen the movie, just makes me wonder since I know how the system actually works. I assume it has to be addressed, because when there are other options I can't understand why people would keep digging this hole for themselves.

[TheStrawbeery]

@yorkpatties i saw this documentary and trust me it's real sad and gut wrenching epspecially at the end

[colincoby]

Sad, sad movie. Opened my eyes to how stupid I am to fret about meaningless things-clothes, food, ugly carpets-when these poor kids have so little of their basic needs being met. As a parent myself, I can't imagine the stress the moms and dads are under living in that motel.

[caligirl2286]

most BS documentary ever! I live in the OC and you can find a descent studio for what they are paying for a motel monthly. & what's with that fucking idiot lady asking them "why does GOD want you to be homeless"? Dumbass, it's not Gods fault, it's their fucking parents who are to blame! Stop making so many kids if you can't even afford a roof to protect them!!!!

[mikem571]

@caligirl2286 Some of these people are section 8 and a lot rental properties don't like dealing with that.Some might have poor credit and some might not make enough to be able to pay utility rent and other expenses.At the hotel room they at least don't have pay for water and light.So before you go around calling the documentary BS think about the different scenarios that are preventing these people from getting into a place.

[TheStrawbeery]

@caligirl2286 sorry to tell you that's this is not bullshit were i live the economy is absolutley horrible everyone is doing bad over were i live in the documentary you can see the pain in the kids faces. sorry if you don't have a heart for the kids

[AliKey]

The comments in here are absolutely moronic. Move to another county? She lives in California where in some counties the unemployment rate is at 20%. The whole states unemployment rate is at 12%, she's lucky to even have a job! They're not homeless? THEY LIVE IN A MOTEL They have no renters rights! Look at what the motel did to those persons belongings, you can't do that when you rent an apartment or house, these people have no rights whatsoever. Open your eyes people!

[Parrfectart]

I watch this..I have also lived in the streets of a very wealthy city for 2 years.Trying my damn-est on a DAILY basis to get a job. I don't think most people understand and are compassionate towards those who struggle.. For one thing, we all know that the Gov' has made it harder and more expensive for a corporation to be in fact a business. So what did they do. So they didn't have to pay time and a half, they most of their positions: Part-time. What kind of overtime compensation do you get with-

[deeno29]

where can i watch this full movie???

[TheStrawbeery]

@deeno29 you have to check your local listing it's on hbo tv

[CartomartaKenDoll]

This is so sad

[TheVinceLyons]

Damn this shit was sad. I want to adopt of these little kids, especially the little Mexican kid who wants to buy every gun in the world.

[sEra323]

@TheVinceLyons do you mean American-Mexican kid, well Latino might be the right term, for to assume that he is Mexican is not appropriate..Why you have to generalize? Is like saying that all Whites are English or that all Asians are Chinese.

[caligirl2286]

such a bs documentary! What' with the stupid woman filming them asking them fucked up questions like "WHy does God have homeless kids". It's not GODS fault you dumb bitch!! It's their parents fault!! Move to another fucking county where it's cheaper! Think about your children!!!

[CartomartaKenDoll]

@caligirl2286 The lady asking the questions was very annoying 

[sugar3whayes]

gross.

[KawaiiDesuNekoBCSK]

How are they homeless...? They're living in a motel, aren't they?

[CartomartaKenDoll]

@KawaiiDesuNekoBCSK Yes but it's not a forever thing you know its like temporary

[elmonc420]

I know most of those families, and MY niece goes to HOPE SCHOOL. As for showing kids living on the street and shelters, THEY ALL have lived on the street, in cars and MANY different shelters ALL over OC. They all came from a shelter and with help from organizations they were able to get into MOTELS! Now about the boys Zach and Josh walking around Disneyland, the mother was working at Disneyland at the time and their older sister allowed the director to take the boys out.And she took them their!

[ExtendedStudent4Real]

This is the saddest thing I have ever seen on TV. These are families without drug problems, working and not being able to keep a steady roof over their children's heads. The little girl sums it up when asked how she feels, she says, she feels like she is in hell, under the ground, and the devil is being mean. No child should have to live like this. Working American families living in motels with children is outrageous. America, we need to take care of our own!

[TheStrawbeery]

@ExtendedStudent4Real you are so right when saw this i couldn't move at all i don't know what it was grief shock my heart just went out to these people it's sad and that's a understatement it's no more middle class it's rich and poor,and it's bad

[alwayzblu]

I saw this tonight on tv. This is so very sad :( I couldn't believe that a mother making 14 plus something an hour could not afford rent in CA! Thats just unbelievable to me here in SC its not nothing like that. My heart goes out to these children. They have no hope u can see it in their eyes. :( I wish I could do something

[struntitbby]

This was so sad!

[brycentdlopez123]

im so sad bye dis movie and if i could i would go down there and give everything i got. i live in a 2 storie house in texas.

[CAmezquita]

Very sad...hope to watch it

[72marie]

They probably do no

t have credit,or 1st and last months rent that is required for most apartments...

[akapg1908]

how powerful....unfortunately, people dont understand that you have to have reasonable credit and other documents to rent an apartment...i find the strength in them being able to find a safe place for their family although its not ideal, wish everyone else could be a bit more strength based and not so judgemental and critical, we should be asking ourselves how we as a nation can address this issue and less of blaming and pointing fingers at others,never know when the finger will be pointed at u

[cdesade]

@akapg1908 I watched this last week on HBO. My credit is ace but I don't own much, my student loans are being payed back so I don't have much extra money. To live here - $300 a week or $900 a month... I make $500 a week, at best. I could make enough if everyone would TIP AT LEAST 20%. But that's what happens when you're stuck with inflation and depend on people's generosity.

[zendelem]

i think everyone has a chance to succeed in life. if these people didn't stop screwing w/ out protection their children wouldn't be in this situation. there's no excuse for poverty.

[ChromaticEagle]

@zendelem there are people with no kids and work and still live in poverty. with that mentality, i could say there is no reason why everyone can't be rich like trump or gates if they go to college or something and learn to get connections.

[mmistycat]

@zendelem what about widowed parents? Get off your high horse or one day what goes around comes around and you will end up in a worse situation yourself.

[TheStrawbeery]

@zendelem dosen't matter poverty excist everyone can't be rich there is a gap rich and poor there are no middle class, i guess you find it easy to look down on people

[elmonc420]

I know alot of the families and my niece was in it too and its alot harder to get out of being homeless then you think!!

[gypsysinla]

Eventhough it may be cheaper or about the same price to rent an apartment one would need a deposit and a credit check.

[mpeppermint23]

what i don't get is that these people live in motels when an apartment is around the same or less rent,plus they should show families who have to live on the street or in a shelter thats even worst.

[MFpirate1]

@mpeppermint23 u sir do not live in cali or orange county for tht matter our apartments are as high as house mortgages in some states

[paperplanes12]

@mpeppermint23 no it isn't. i'm guessing you're not from orange county. apartments are freaking expensive.

[hahayerdead]

how about instead of spending hundreds and thousands of dollars making sob films and documentarys of the homeless- following them around with camera equipt. that probably costs more than what they make in a year. stop exploiting them and help them! feed them cloth them! instead of your posh community getting a new sidewalk,build a shelter. instead of buying your brats cellphones and jewelry, why not help provide a good meal for a kid who lives off bare minimum. you are all pigs!!!

[ChromaticEagle]

@hahayerdead you can't save the whole world by simply giving up your individual things. and sadly, you can't just care for random people you don't know. there are just too many people with problems. even peole who live the "good" life don't have enough to care for everyone.

[ScottJaimeM]

If you watched the documentary you would know that these people do have jobs some making 18-20/hour and they are still homeless!

[TheStrawbeery]

@ScottJaimeM wow this is scary rich and poor no more middle class

[cdesade]

@ScottJaimeM Dude, they have kids... it's not being "homeless" as much as being "transient". Some people lose a lot very quickly and never had anything to back themselves up. Being stuck in a Pay-By-The-Week thing may sound easy, but imagine being a slave to that and never being able to save for ground beneath your feet.

[kzeoli01]

milsedd: shut the hell up. you have never worked with homeless people, it is not that simple. idiot.

[nataskaos]

Great documentary. Thank you for making this film and showing it. The little blonde girl who had to shave her head because of lice made me incredibly sad. Striking images. Thank you again.

[famousgirl9x9]

I live in orange county. Glad to see that they are putting this show out on television.

[milsedd]

Instead of being on a TV show, these people should be out looking for jobs

[nataskaos]

@milsedd most of the people had a job. some of them had two. must be nice to cast judgement on the poor.

[elmonc420]

@milsedd its not a TV its a documentary

[mikembz1]

there is more Mercedes Benz and BMW in Orange County than entire Germany this is just heart breaking.

[cdesade]

@mikembz1 Is that true? I've never been to Cali but that wouldn't strike me as outrageous.

[AntiFed1791]

"If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around them will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless on the continent their Fathers conquered." - Anonymous, circa 1895

[bailey1950]

Dang! I didn't even know this comes on HBO.. Hopefully, I'll be able to catch it on demand...

[lp4ju]

woah I've been to the OC but I've never seen this side of it and honestly never imagined it

[SLYDER811220]

this is sad, that people have to live like this, while celebs all over the world with their millions upon millions can't give up a million or 2 just to help people like this. I know if I had millions, I would help out somebody I never met. Just because.

[sharkl11]

@SLYDER811220

wish everyone was like you.

[ChromaticEagle]

@SLYDER811220 there are plenty of celebs who donate and help others. it may not be publicised and they could always give more but they try

[BabyGirlGoddess]

i wish i had HBO....

this looks good. in America we only see the rich part of Orange County, but never see the poor part. , but this is something that is affecting every city/town in America.

is there a way i can watch it online?