Becky Blanton: The year I was homeless

http://www.ted.com Becky Blanton planned to live in her van for a year and see the country, but when depression set in and her freelance job ended, her camping trip turned into homelessness. In this intimate talk, she describes her experience of becoming one of America's working homeless.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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• homeless
• homelessness
• poverty
• abuse
• money
• jobs
• depression

[safetypin00]

But sometimes it is not about better stories but real stories too. A story doesn't have to be showing something extreme to be good, you know? What I like about TED is the diversity of the topics and the stories.. it is good.

[joab1234321]

"...you're not how much money you've got in the bank. You're not your job. You're not your family, and you're not who you tell yourself.... You're not your name.... You're not your problems.... You're not your age.... You are not your hopes." ~Chuck Palahniuk, Fight Club, Chapter 18

neti, neti

~Yoga mantra

[mjordan1998]

TED rocks.

[bkershaccount]

it looks like your daily diet probably has a vass effect on your mental and physical attitude and health

[Aprilshowersss]

yeah this is not all that inspiring, she always had options, she just made emotional choices that lead her into a deep depression. Real homeless like she said, usually dont have hope. I am teetering on homelessness at the moment. It is terrifying to think that next month I may not have a place to stay and if I do land on the streets I have no idea how I would get off. I would be completely hopeless.

[IAmTheUnknownPunk]

Lessons learned:1.There's always someone who will let you use their cell.2.if you are hungry enough, you will eat it, whatever "it" may be.3. Money isn't necessary to survival(its not nutritious, nor clothing or shelter material).4. The people you choose to be around are a reflection of your heart.5.Crime, on a long enough time line, leads to 1 of 2 outcomes-death or prison. Becky, I LOVED your speech, and I admire your optimism and the courage it took to do this. You inspire me.

[IAmTheUnknownPunk]

I ate out of trash cans sometimes (you can't always get away without getting caught), We all smoked cigarettes from the ashtrays in front of stores and gas stations. none of us had cell phones, health insurance, or any legal source of income. But I wouldn't ever take any of it back. You learn alot about yourself (and your friends) when you are in a position like this. You also learn alot about life, and the difference between really living and merely surviving.

[IAmTheUnknownPunk]

I've slept in my car many times rather than go home after work, or when i was drunk after a party. But I always remember it could be worse, because I spent 1 summer squatting with some friends, none of us had jobs, or money, and i had the only car. drugs were prevalent and viewed as a source of income. Stealing was prevalent. I remember taking amphetamine salts and remembering the first 4 days, then waking up 6 days later with no memory of the last 6 days.

[vikidobe]

Amazing. Excellent talk. 

[CatpurrRobertaBobbi]

Becky your amazing. You also reminded me that while I work at a job at a grocery store at night and that I am forever a paycheck away from being homeless that life could be worse. Knowing what you went through reminds me to hang in there. THANK YOU FOR SHARING. I WONT SOON FORGET YOU.

[stuartgibb]

Good to see Penn Jillette doing a lecture, but where's Teller?

[claudiabarberis]

Lo encuentro buenisímo