A homeless Christmas

I spent a week homeless in Vancouver Downtown's Eastside (DTES) during Christmas 2010. The Downtown Eastside is known as one of North America's poorest communities. I started with $0 Cash, a sleeping bag, and enough clothes to keep me warm. I slept in alleys, on sidewalks, and spent a night in a shelter.

During the 7 days, all of my experiences (120 pages) were documented in my notebook, which can be read on my blog.

A homeless Christmas: http://godspeasant.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/a-homeless-christmas/

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• a homeless christmas
• DTES
• Downtown Eastside
• godspeasant
• homeless
• poor
• impoverished
• beggar
• unfortunate
• interview
• no money
• panhandling
• christmas
• poor community
• North America
• Vancouver
• Nima Farzaneh

[Vancouverjason1]

@godspeasant I came out an extremely abusive environment and below the poverty line. Thankfully i was never sexual abused.I see allot of people down there constantly feeling sorry for themselves and whining about how shitty their life is or was and take almost zero steps to better their situation.Most use their sob stories as an excuse to justify why they do drugs, how many do you see that take responsibility for their own actions down there?u seem like a good person, but you cant save the world

[godspeasant]

@Vancouverjason1 What about children who have been sexually abused for many years? What about children raised in abusive homes? What about children raised below the poverty line? These people may see the world differently than you do. If I was raped, or abused for many years while growing up, then the world would not be a welcoming or trusting place to live in. So I don't agree with having "no compassion for them", because I don't know how it would feel to be in their shoes.

[Vancouverjason1]

@godspeasant Drug addicted people made their bed and they can lie in it,I have no compassion for them. As for the mentally ill they need the most help, but i have no clue what to do with em.

[godspeasant]

@Vancouverjason1 Yes many homeless Canadians travel to Vancouver, because of its climate. I did talk to one individual who had been homeless throughout North America, and he said that New York is the toughest, while Vancouver was the best. So I guess what you are trying to say is that we should give them support, but only for a limited time, so that they can get back on their feet, like you did. What about physical/mentally ill, physically/sexually abused or drug addicted people living there?

[Vancouverjason1]

@godspeasant Yes, i did use their services. If it wasn't for shelters,showers and free laundry i wouldn't be too presentable going to work. Not once did i say cut any of the programs I just notice alot of the same people still down there continuously leeching and not helping themselves. I have talked to a few of the homeless that came from different cities and said Vancouver is the place to be if you want to be homeless.

[godspeasant]

@Vancouverjason1 So when you were homeless, did you use any of their services? Or are you saying that we should cut down their support programs? But if you needed this support when you were going through tough times, then why would you want to cut them now? I realize that homeless programs are not only meant for the homeless. There is no need for insults, and don't worry I am not that smart. I sometimes hang out in that area, so if you see me, stop me and say hello, if you want to of course.

[Vancouverjason1]

P.S. I ate at flowers cafe.. Sometimes when I'm in the neighborhood i walk down to that dingy place to get a 5$ burger and fries.

[Vancouverjason1]

@godspeasant When my apartment burnt down I was homeless in the downtown eastside hotshot,it was more It was more than a week and it was for Christmas too.There are alot  of support programs for the homeless in the dtes, free food,free shelters,showers and free clothing To tell you the truth they make it easier to stay homeless.People who choose to sleep near urine soaked dumpsters are probably not the sharpest tools in the shed but "tools" none the less... Good luck putting on your next show.

[godspeasant]

@Vancouverjason1 To be honest, sleeping near urine and dumpsters in back alleys did not make me feel like much of a king. The public did not respect me all too much either. Most of the respect I got was from the community itself. If you do not believe me, then maybe you should try being homeless for a couple of days to see for yourself. Although I guess if you consider them to be kings, then your life must be a million times better than royalty, which is good for you.

[Vancouverjason1]

The homeless live like kings out here.