California Homeless Camps Are Getting Desperate
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- Опубликовано: 2 окт 2024
- 250 homeless squatters square off with the city of Oakland for rights to land.
I spent time at this Oakland camp and met many of its residents. Their story was told in a 41 minute video that has been viewed by more than three million people. After the video went viral, many news agencies reached out to this settlement, including a reporter with the New York Times who actually lived here for a while.
Seems like people couldn’t get enough of this saga. So, I felt it was time for an update. A lot has happened here since I left in October of 2021.
First, a little background. This Oakland settlement is about a 200 by 500 foot long piece of land that’s only about a 5 minute drive from the heart of downtown. The area has been a place for homeless squatters for perhaps 20 years. It’s in a forgotten part of downtown on the fringe of development where former warehouses are shuttered and where people have been dumping trash for years.
The current residents are quite different from previous squatters. You could call where they live an encampment. They call it a settlement.
This settlement isn't permitted. It’s not authorized. But for the time being, it’s tolerated by the city of Oakland.
For the past 7 or so years, a group of about 250 people have made this piece of land their home. Here, they’ve built makeshift structures out of plywood, pallets and tarps, and have hauled in vans, buses, trailers and RVs. For now they squat in shanty's and live in lean tos. It's dirty and muddy and damp and sad. It looks like something you’d see in a third world country. But this is their home - where they gather to eat and sing and can regroup while trying to find a long term solution. It’s a community. But many of the people here aren’t the type of homeless you’d find strung out on drugs or panhandling at intersections. Some of these people have regular jobs, and others hustle for their daily needs.
However, they might not be here very much longer. This group is currently in a standoff with the city of Oakland. Right now, the city is letting them stay on the land. But there are rumors that the city will sell the land to Habitat for Humanity, which wants to build a handful of affordable housing units for OTHER homeless people. Not for them.
So, the group is in a dispute with the city. Instead of the city of Oakland turning the land over to Habitat for Humanity, they’d rather Oakland deed the land to THEM. But in order for that to happen, this group would need to overcome a series of hurdles. First, they would have to form a 501c3 and then form an entity which would be able to accept funds to build their OWN community. One that they want to design and manage.
The pathway to get the non profit formed, and the amount of money needed to build their permanent community hasn’t been decided. In fact, the plans are more of a rough draft. Sort of a pipe dream. And they’d need to get the Oakland City council on their side too. So far, only 1 of 8 Oakland City council members has their support - a woman named Carol Fife. I actually emailed her office to get her perspective, and she never answered.
It's an in limbo standoff between squatters and a city that either doesn't have the time or the interest in helping them.
So for now they remain here - 250 vagabonds and squatters. The disenfranchised, the castaways the system quitters. They don't really know WHAT they need, but they know they need more. Support from the city. Counseling, perhaps some cash. Maybe a receptive ear, perhaps some hope. They don’t expect dream homes. They just want a place that’s their own, on land they believe is rightfully theirs.
The odds are against them. So for now, this group of society shunners plots on how they can win their battle against a giant city and a wealthy nonprofit… so they can create a community where they can make their own rules. In a way, it’s very dystopian.
I sat down with the group leaders on a video call and gave them a camera so they could share their story in a followup interview. I’ll also show excerpts from the previous interview I did to lend perspective. Here is that conversation.
#oakland #homeless
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This channel is about America!
The best video on this topic!
Here's my entire California playlist: ruclips.net/p/PLq-_cmf3H6yomU5rB6yOC5C9hr0Qnkf1l
Those dirty hands are indicative of heavy glass pipe use.
You need more of this. Exposing the shitty governments in California, Chicago, Washington, Baltimore, Atlanta, and so many other area...Thanks @Nick Johnson
@Marcco What are you drinking? These local governments are so corrupt. Just look at Beetlejuice in Chicago
That's all he does. He's basically trashed his channel doing it.
@Marcco that makes no sense. as someone who is older and lived on the west coast, it has gotten awful and does not have to be, it IS because of bad gov't. study and learn, you have dunnig - krueger here, you have confidence in city gov't because you have not done your research, and it shows.
Governments aren't their to help people, they do as little as possible to justify their existence.
..guy at start is delusional
Crack'll do that to ya.
Great job, Nick! It's refreshing to see RUclipsr's that I follow feeling a need to break from the usual format to address issues that will affect us all. More light needs to be shone on these things. It will eventually bear fruit. People just want to survive and then thrive. Government has lost sight that they are supposed to serve us. What do they expect these people to do?
Do exactly what they are doing so the government can filch more money
The sense of entitlement from these people is crazy … is anyone paying attention to the nonsense ?? They think people should just hand them money and resources without being productive members of society?
Did you not hear the man talk about some of them actually having 9 to 5 iobs? Are you listening? Let me refresh your memory, some are doctors, dentists, engineers, mechanics, and more that I might of missed.....
@@jorgeflores9421 lol 😂 😂😂
I know right the AUDACITY they pay not an ounce of tax but demand anything smh if they get what they want then that means that so can ANYONE else
@@jorgeflores9421 ya but how many of them like 5 out of 500??? let’s be realistic 🙄
@@vidaacheampong2563 are you being serious, right now? Why don't you go and ask them yourself, let's be realistic here; you want to be mad about these people who are suffering from lack of proper food, clothing, and housing but you wont go and protest or raise awareness of the evilness from the extreme rich, the monopoly owners of this world who have enough wealth that they can distribute it and still be highly rich than those who they distribute their wealth to.....the ones who banned hemp in favor of oil and other non renewable resources that is killing our planets just to help us keep this system going? Be realistic here person, you wont give the what's becoming common man here in america some essential needs but wont raise your finger against the ones who made this situation possible? Get a grip, the owners here got us fighting each other over scraps but you wont want to tear a new asshole to ones who putting us this situation....go read about the history of the monopoly owners in the country, albeit I may not know much, but I know enough to know that these aren't the real enemies here....the rich monopoly owners are and the ones who protect them....
What are these people doing to help themselves? I mean if you wait around for someone else to come around and rescue you, you're going to be in for long wait.
Sounds like they were there to long now. They are feeling privileged. If the city would have kicked them out on the first day there would not be a problem.
What a bunch of bums.
i live close by here ... the smell here is mind boggling
Get a toothbrush,
Get a bar of soap,
Get off drugs,
Get off your ass ,&
GET A JOB !!!
The 5 gets
Why doesn't BLM come in with their millions and help these people out?
The root issues is self accountability. Like you need to get a skill to get more money like a trade or something . Wtf are they contributing to the local economy
@A 1 @A 1
Straight up misinformation. There's hardly any job that'll hire you for your age(excluding m(inors. Most, if not all of them only requires you to have certain skills. Anyway, a homeless person can first get a job at a fast food restaurant or a package company like FEDEX/UPS. Then, the company they work for will offer them assistance in college tuition. Homeless people could take advantage of what is being offered to them and go to college, obtain a college degree for whatever skill they want, and find a higher paying job.
If I saw a group of people cleaning up an area and making it better, perhaps solutions would come forward. Residents get out there with shovels, dumpsters, rakes and get rid of trash as a start. How difficult is that? One excuse after another.
Hi Alan Pinho, in my 64 earth years I learned if people are going to be together, they must love and respect each other that is the number one thing in any group of people. No matter gov. churches, community or a few people all on the same page otherwise it seems as it goes nowhere. It is rough to do anything if nobody comes together and agree work together there something about having the same vision on the same wave link some call it harmony, I call it unity. I came from family of 12 siblings and I learn working together life sail smoothly pulling and fighting cause chaos and brokenness. I totally agree with you it should be simple to get all 250 people and the Oakland gov city people work together peacefully and help all involved. If millions of people work together it can save nations yet get some out of harmony fighting it can ruin nations up top of nations we are all born so why not work together.
I was thinking the same thing. They should have the garbage truck come once a week. But then in again It was a man in a part of California that let the homeless use his land.He had dumpsters and running water. The homeless people will not put their trash in the dumpsters that he had for them. The city would call this man and tell him he had to clean the garbage up or he would be fined. He cleaned that land up numerous of times. They kept putting trash on the ground instead of putting it in the dumpsters that he provided. He had to evict everybody off.
@@tamolynmckinzie8963 "They kept putting trash on the ground instead of putting it in the dumpsters that he provided."
Very true, and that is a national problem also. I don't care where you go in this country, even out in the boonies, you will find trash that people have just tossed on the ground. If you walk down the streets of any major city, trash is everywhere even though the city provides cans and dumpsters. I guess it's just too hard to change some folks being lazy.
@@mrbr549 yes they did. I'm going to try and look the story up. He had to clean up several times.
@Lady Macbeth They want things by their warped rules that does not make sense.They want to do their thing when we can see their thing doesn’t work.
This is not their property. End of story. If they think they're capable of building a safe, functioning community, why can't they use that same energy to join the existing community around them? Hell, if they've been squatting there for 7 years I'd think that's more than enough time to get your life together. These folks are delusional.
For those who never been poor and or homeless have no idea what it takes to dig themselves out of a hole. They have no else place to go and what employer will hire a homeless person with few job skills. They need a hand up with drug, alcohol, mental health treatment and job retraining.
You are the delusional one. You have no idea what these people go through, or why they are in this situation. If you would listen you would have heard that the reason they don't join existing communities is they can not afford it. You are obviously one of the fortunate people who has a job that pays enough to afford the high cost of living in California. I was homeless for more than 3 years and I was an RN. I had a hiking accident and with no family to rely on I found myself in an impossible situation. I lost everything I worked my entire life to acquire and was stuck in a system that does not want your situation to change because if it did, they would lose money. Homelessness is a business. Pull some of the 990 tax returns from some of these "Non-Profit" shelters and you will understand why these folks are stuck. I'll give you some numbers. Take Reverand Andy Bales, the CEO of the Union Rescue Mission on skid row in DTLA. This guy pulls 40 to 50 million dollars a year, every year in "faith-based donations". He is paid two salaries. One is his base pay which is taxed he is paid over $135000, he also gets a stipend that is non-taxable for ministering to the masses and, in 2020 that stipend was over $94000. He claims on his tax returns that he donates clothing and personal hygiene products to other shelters that total thousands of dollars, yet those in his shelter are denied these items. I know this because I was there and it was hell. There was a time from 2012 to 2017 that his taxable income went down and his non-taxable income increased, yearly. In 2017 he received a $43000 increase in income. It is a racket that depends on those unfortunate enough to land in that situation, remain homeless. Do your homework before you start judging others. For the record in the 3 months, I was at the Union I never once saw Andy Bales ministering to anyone, I never saw him period.
@@carolynnmontgomery9860 that doesn’t change the fact that these people feel a false sense of entitlement. They feel entitled to live in California, the most expensive State in the Union. YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO!!! It blows my mind that these grown adults are so childish as to think they’re entitled to squat cuz they couldn’t run their own lives!!!
@@Lurch685 The wealth and pay is denser in coastal cities. Those areas tend to be more walkable.
Because I have money I can do something to move to a cheaper land, and work remotely, or drive long distance to work.
Also, these people were probably born in the state that they are in. It seems pretty logical that if you don't have money for a fallback plan, you would stay put and focus on work the job you already have.
Yes, they can try and research better places to live in a library or something, but I'm pretty sure most places want an address for a library card.
Yes they could organize and pool their resources. Maybe solicit donations to buy a vacant lot and build a community on it.
When you start a sentence with, "Give us..." I'm out
There's a difference between homeless and freeloaders. Which ones are they?
"Without us You Don't Git No Money. Without the Poor People You Can't Survive." Really?
It sounds like what they truly want is community and a sense of belonging, acceptance...basic building blocks of resilience and self esteem.
What they say about their plight and what they do about it might be quite different. Also, what does self esteem have to do with anything? It’s such a hollow and meaningless concept leftover from the 60s and is not related to success and self sufficiency. Many people from different backgrounds had what some would consider poor self esteem and became self reliant. However, I do feel for these people and hopefully they can get their lives back on track.
@@DENVEROUTDOORMAN work for it ? How can they possibly work for it now ? Would you hire them ? Think before u speak … they unfortunately will not have the best hygiene they are not walking in to many jobs and getting hired now
Thanks, Nick, for your documentaries on the homeless and homelessness.
There are a lot of good people that are homeless and want to help themselves. They just need a helping hand to get them started.
Thanks again. 🧡
Give a bunch of addicts free land in Cali. I don't think so.
Homeless in California are richer than some youtubers I think.
The homeless people in America are richer than half the world. We forget how much we have in comparison. Food alone is plentiful for the homeless to find. There are programs that provide them with cell phones, tents, clothing etc.
@Jackie LEE Chan bad enough prices going up on everything including the rent.
Americans are starting to become so entitled. I'm sure they are all receiving government benefits too. All this wouldn't be tolerated in other countries. There are no government benefits in majority of the world.
No government benefits in the MAJORITY??
This is very informative and so sad. I'm from bay area too and was homeless for 9 years. I roommated with family and friends it was the most traumatic experience of my life. I also worked to cover my share of rents. I was on many waiting lists and nothing never came through for me. Theres no more section 8 and to this day I'm still on waiting lists!! Thank God I've kept my job, saved my stimulus money, and a family member matched it! I now have have been in my place a year and I pay normal rent. It's hard but god has provided. The bay area is horrible now with renting. I'm praying for all of us....💕💕💕🙏🙏🙏 keep trying never give up!
Gentrification, god bless so happy the light has shined for you and you have finally been housed
Go to any soup kitchen and you'll find it's like a reunion place for the people who cycle in and out of the jail. All the arguments that happen on the streets continue into the jail and then back at the soup kitchen and back to the the jail and back to the streets and back to the soup kitchen and back to the ...
then soup, then jail, then street, then soup, then......
you forgot to mention AA re-hab group home
then to friends’/families’ couch or garage or gifted apartment …
under the bridge …
jail for a night …
legal make shift shelter
and not happy anywhere
THERES BEEN HOMELESS SINCE THE BEGINING OF TIME. YOU HAVE TO WANT TO HELP YOURSELF..... PEOPLE ARE RICH, BECAUSE THEY DON'T WASTE MONEY ON PEOPLE WHO JUST WANT HAND OUTS........ NONE OF THESE HOMELESS HAVE FAMILIES??? EVER WONDER WHY? THEY BURNED THE RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY, OR THEY HAVE MENTAL DISORDERS AND SHOULD NOT BE OUT OF PROFFESSIONAL HELP. TAKE THEM INTO YOUR HOUSE. I HAD TO PAY FOR MY LAND, AND PAY TAXES EVERY YEAR..... WHY SHOULD MY TAXES FUND YOU??????????
6:57 wanting free land is the opposite of "not asking for much"
theres free land in the mojave desert.
I love matching your videos nick, they never fail to entertain. Keep grinding.
Yes Nick's videos are always well done👍
Dude wants the land given to them so they can have "control" and set up foot patrols and have gate codes and such and have rules established......lol, he wants what he's complaining about! He just wants to be the guy in charge.
Seems like the people want the city to sign ownership of the land to them. Well that would never happen because those few people do not represent the whole of the homeless community. They could easily sell it off or do whatever they wanted with the land not letting any other homeless on the land. That's why the city will never just give away the land like that. also the city looks at how they currently live with the land. Maybe they should show the city how nice it would look instead of pile high tires everywhere and trash everywhere. Even when I was homeless I never left my trash everywhere like this. I only had enough stuff that I could move in one go. None of this owning more then homeowners own. That's just dumb.
Listen . Everything you say I agree as if it came out of my mouth. It’s like co-signing for someone who has messed up their own credit. Why give them control of yours. The Bible says not to take in other people’s debt. Even when some people co-sign for people I’ve seen on court tv where they will say things like they didn’t pay the bill because it’s not in their name. I’ve also seen where they would say that they didn’t ask the person who co-signed for them to do it. The city must remain a city. It can’t do that by giving land to people who don’t know how to keep a roof over their head. They didn’t even know how to utilize what the government already has. If they had done that on time they wouldn’t been homeless. I used to manage an apartment building and when people would get behind on their rent I would say to them clean up the apartment and leave so that we wouldn’t have to do the eviction process. If they listened, when a prospective landlord called I would give an excellent report by doing that they were able to get another place when they got straightened out. It is rules to everything if you break or go against them the problems will start.
They should move to slab city if they don’t want to be a part of society. You can’t just move in to a plot of land in a city, say you don’t want to be part of society, and expect that city/society you don’t want to integrate into to just give up the land and dump a bunch of taxpayers money on your “settlement”.
They have a way to justify it
Slab City!!! Yes!!!
You know,Nick,I've lived in 29 states and 5 countries..And I've NEVER seen a level of entitlement and lack of responsibility as this in my life...wow...(And YOU know what a "Bleeding heart liberal " I am...)
A level of entitlement and lack of responsibility in the part of the government and not this people. I used to be critical to the homeless but not anymore. After being there for years and done that and what not just to be successful in America and lost it in a matter of no time at all, change my perspective of America. This people and me and many out there are a victim of government entitlement and lack of government responsibility. The government and the 1% treated the 99% as "just a number." How would you like to be told "you are just a number."
Today, I'm in the side of the homeless, the people in foodstamps and the people who robbed big stores like Wal-Mart. I will defend them anytime. The government and the 1% put people in this situation.
"Bleeding heart liberal " it's interesting that people associate themselves with a political side rather than as an individual. I can't attach myself to politics and sides as a lot of people such as yourself do. If you step back and take a look, you'll see that all political sides are drifting further into their own hole and it's separating people even more. It's very destructive imo, what do you think? Do you think it's destructive?
Why don't we retrofit vacant properties owned by the city or the soon to be empty office buildings to house the homeless? There are tons of these spaces available. Create homeless jobs working in the shelters.
Keep making excuses guys
Becky Sue is nodding out while dude with the glasses is rambling on about who knows what. HOT MESS !!!! 🔥
Oh so they want to be funded to build their own community?
Well so the hell do I!
Who doesn’t?
I’m one paycheck away from the gutter all the time. Maybe we should all be funded to build communities. I wouldn’t even need 7.5 million I could probably do it for 5.
Root issue ? Catastrophic drug use.
Everyone I’ve known who was homeless was ‘unemployable’ especially if they were on SSI/Disability and didn’t want to work if they couldn’t get paid more than their disability, which most can’t, and while they can seem polite and cogent while discussing issues, they often don’t have stamina …it’s fits and starts
Poor people my arse, my dad was a share cropper, built a construction business with his back and two hands. Rich ? Showed me the door after HS where I had to sleep on one sofa after another while I flipped burgers to get through school. You haven't done a thing for me Ohio !
There is a similar group just outside of Honolulu that is mostly native and has been at a park, they have actually cleaned it up and have a government, plus a play area for kids, don't allow drugs in and such. They have a plan to make their encampment like traditional native communities with a communal space in the middle, but are probably having the same blocks as this one. I think they have a Go Fund Me...at least a couple years ago they did.
Are you referring to Waianae? If so, relatives of mine work for the state, they are committed to not sweeping the area and clearing it out...but that can change quickly.
It’s a difficult situation there because of the various laws and insurances and sanitation regarding criminal trespass and beach ownership and beach access
That's why robots are starting to do the work. They are reliable and don't make up excuses.
Yeah I’m sure it has nothing to do with eliminating labor costs. Why do you think jobs get shipped overseas? What an economist you are 🙄
@@PatricenotPatrick I'm actually a hard worker American that has worked for 35 years and I see how things are going.
Facts lol
@@PatricenotPatrick @⭐️ Patrice 👄 Nope. It has a lot to do with people complaining. There's no point in keeping jobs at one particular area where most of its people are unappreciative.
@@IIII...... And can do whatever they want, or make any kind of life for themselves with hard work and dedication, but chose to blame everyone else for their misfortune in life.
I live just south of this mess. We are constantly dealing with the theft, gun shots, fires, trash, mentally ill, etc from this encampment.
Yeah we have them in San Diego. I'm not sure what the answer is.
@@waydebaker33 a Bulldozer 😁
@@timwarcloud whenever they move them, they just come back. Almost over night.
I should also add, there was yet another fire there today.
@@waydebaker33 eventually internment camps?
Stop blaming other people for your own short comings...
Nick,you Can't Cure extreme Laziness !!
After seeing what these fools are doing to the land, all of a sudden an internment camp behind barbed wire, doesn't seem like such a horrible idea 😃
There’s so much entitlement from the people in the video. How many of us watching had help getting where we are today? Not me. Yes things are hard and we all have struggles, no one owes you anything. That land belongs to someone, it’s not theirs. They’ll always be victims with this mentality.
The government will never fix this issue - not in CA. In CA - no matter what it is, from the top to the bottom everyone that gets involved is taking their cut. There will be a fee for an assessment, a permit, a license, a review, a permit, a consult, a contract, another permit…you get the idea. And by the end of all that, there’s nothing left for the project it was all started for. Rinse, repeat. For everything! As insane as it sounds, the system has to be completely torn down and rebuilt. CA is too much government, too much regulation and too much corruption. It’s an unfortunate situation for these folks absolutely, but the government doesn’t, and never will, care about them.
"Government itself is not the problem, the people and their parties that are in government are. Government itself is the only body that is powerful enough to solve massive problems like these. No private enterprise will do it if there is no prospect of big profit, and if so they will always maximize profit over solutions. That's intrinsic to the business model and that's what got you in this mess in the first place.
As a matter of fact a good government can do great things for its people. Look at Western Europe for example, homelessness is not an issue there and the few that do exist are wanderers by choice.
Same goes for regulation. Good regulation is meant to limit the power of people who want to rig and exploit the system and its people. Deregulation only leads to more inequality, more disempowerment, more injustice and more power (and money) for those who are already powerful.
"The system has to be completely torn down and rebuilt". Absolutely true. But it can only be rebuilt when the corrupting power of money in politics is gone.
There is no governmental solution to this. People need to go back to self reliance, pride and morality. I know some people are in a bad situation through no fault of their own, but not THAT many. Charitable programs are great as a temporary assistance to get back on your feet. Not a lifelong lifestyle.
@@jpjp3873 With your promoting self reliance, pride and morality you're basically saying you consider homeless people to be shamelessly lazy parasites. It that were true the only possible solution is to kill them.
The anarchism you propose is what caused the problem in the first place. Not everyone can profess self reliance, particularly not in a dog eat dog world where you are beying preyed upon financially.
Charity just perpetuates the problem and doesn't solve anything.
The city is responsible for picking up trash within in limits, yes? No excuse for the filth. The Taxes pay to clean streets.
The city should sweep this human garbage into the bay!
I just got robbed in Oakland, they destroyed me.
There are a few reasons I can think of for why homeless folk like California. 1. the weather is great pretty much year round, in the East bay we only get rain between oct-Jan and it’s usually only a handful of weather systems. 2. There are Lots of programs that give free food, clothes, cell phones, needles, even drugs and alcohol. 3. Cops don’t shut down encampments like these and if they do they just move them down the road. No fines or jail time for public intoxication,defecation, littering/polluting. 4. A lot of homeless don’t care if the state is expensive because they don’t plan on renting housing or buying anything instead they want to live in old rvs or in tents homesteading as one of the people in the video called it and living off donations. A lot of homeless people don’t want the structure of normal life as stated in this video they feel that it’s part of living in a rat race.
The whole situation is very sad, not only for these individuals living in horrible squaller but also for normal hardworking people who have to pay higher taxes to clean up after and support the folks who choose to live in this unproductive way. Not to mention the pollution and dangerous unhinged people who tend to live this way.
The only way I can see to help these people is to break them up into categories, for the mentally ill they need a safe assisted living type scenario that they can leave once they heal their mental health issues and get jobs, for the drug addicted they need forced rehab until they can get clean and get a job if they relapse they can get another chance or two but after that jail may be the only way to handle chronic drug abusers , for the working homeless they need housing be it tiny home villages or something of the sort. This will cost tax dollars but will actually make an impact. Like the people said in the video I think the government makes a lot of money through this problem and I don’t think they want to fix this issue it’s a great talking point for re-election to say you are fighting homelessness.
There are obviously more categories that these people fit into that could be delved into but that is a start. Grouping all these people with different problems as “homeless” and enabling their addictions is obviously not working. I wrote a lot about this because I live in the east bay and the policies we have in place are just allowing this issue to grow and get worse, I have seen this epidemic get worse and worse every year there has been very little progress.
I have all the sympathy in the world for these folks, but I'm so tired of the trash they dump all over Oakland. I live about a mile from this place. Every day I see people living in their cars dump all kinds of disgusting things on the sidewalk. Oakland needs a massive clean up crew to drive around picking this crap up daily.
I know. The homeless keep on grabbing more and more carts from stores. At least keep track of what they have taken instead of grabbing another one. It almost seems like they're angry and are carrying a DGAF attitude.
One big problem in our country is we have mega churches who don’t pay any taxes & don’t even want to help the homeless.
Mega churches were only supposed to help us spiritually. They're not homeless shelters.
in the south pacific kids are growing up wanting to be reverend pimp daddies because they live large because they network with construction businesses etc
there’s one in Hawaii who drives his Harley into church saying “You could have this too if you praise God” sort of thing
so they all ask “How can I start a church and can I have church on the beach?”
"I don't believe in landlords". Wow
That’s why some people milk the AA re-hab group home business because they are ‘clients’ not ‘tennants’ so the landlord tennant law doesn’t apply
They are all so well spoken spoken but something in their mind is twisted. There are types of people that make up our world and their view of life is very unique and alternative. I wish someone from government was there to offer their perspective and counter their argument.
Guys guys guys...move to cheaper areas and states...come on man...I would love to live in NYC but I can't afford it...so I live in a cheaper area...
Such a complicated problem. Even when you get homeless housing, most leave it for the freedom of the streets. Most have mental or drug problems and not sure what can be done when a man or woman does not WANT to do better for some reason. Almost all homeless want help without any rules or accountability. Most wont do day labor, or any labor and there are plenty of jobs they could do but refuse. Most of the homeless I see in CA and Venice beach just sit there happy as a clam. If you got every single homeless somewhere to live, I guarantee the majority would leave and go back to the streets for some reason.
Just the entitlement! Wow!
why these homeless people try and setup shop in one of the most expensive states to build a life in is beyond me i guess its because the heroin cheaper over there huh
Free everything + perfect weather year round = why change?
The good weather. We have homeless here on the East Coast but we also have shelters for them so they you know don’t freeze.
You will never be free until you are responsible for yourself and have something to offer society,
Imagine if, instead of "settling" in the most expensive state in the country, they tried to set up in a state like MT, ND, SD, AR, or MS -- tremendously less expensive! That's why I'm never super privy to these endeavors: IMO it's clear they're not doing *everything* in their power to better themselves.
back to the states the came from. OHIO
You're not entirely wrong
Why changing location would be a better solution? That’s their home. Why don’t they stay and find resources to build their own community? The lack of communication between those people and the Oakland government causes bigger problems. Nobody listens and cares them, only Nick. Relocating to a cheaper area in the country changes nothing. They need resources and support to build no matter where they go.
They will be difficult no matter the zip code they squat in.
@@Lildizzle420 Cali has all that and sunshine. Why is their homelessness only getting worse?
Our country is deeply in debt and on the verge of an economic collapse snd is not responsible to take care of these people. Even though I have empathy for these people I dont want my tax dollars to give them a private community so they can just continue to live off of others who are willing to work hard and pay their taxes. They say they r not looking for a handout; but that is exactly what they are asking for.
They are degenerates. Why should we fund their lifestyle choice?
Do you want your tax dollars to go to Israel?
Egypt?
How about billions and billions to fight Russia in Ukraine?
How about the many billions given to the other numerous countries we send money to annually ?
How about the fed cash given to resettle the illegals and refugees?
How about the load of cash spent on operating our hundreds of military bases all around the globe?
Look, I get where you're coming from and I'm not saying that giving these people the land is a good idea, but ffs if the USA is gonna help finance other countries, wage wars abroad and fund stuff all over the globe...than why not work to find real solutions for the problems that many broke/ homeless Americans are suffering from?
I’m sorry for these people because they blame other people for their problems. This is why we are called adults at a certain age. We have to stand on our own two feet. We have to do better. I was almost homeless but I called out to Jesus. I did all that I could do and the Lord did the rest.True story.
Is "calling out to jesus" your version of "standing on your own two feet"??"?????
@@bs4real Yes, I did all that I could then I called on the helper and the person who can do the IMPOSSIBLE.. You see I needed a miracle so I called on Jesus because He is the one who supplies all my needs. He haven’t failed me yet. They Need to call on Jesus and Not the government because Jesus is the answer. The government isn’t your answer. They should know that by now. See a person needs to get in the covenant that God gave Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s descendants. You see God in the covenant promised to take care of you and give you an abundance if you worshiped him and obey his commands. The only true covenant is with Jesus not the Government. I’m telling you something that works. See to the people who are perishing to them the Kingdom of God is a bunch of nonsense but to those who are being saved It is Power. The Kingdom of God is not just words honey, it is Power.Try it when all else fails. Then you will see Jesus is your answer to it all. If you would just read your Bible the things I’m saying to you, you can read them for yourself. See the devil came to steal, kill, and destroy. People blame their mishaps on God. Jesus came to give life and to give it abundantly. You see the devil is a liar. He has conned people to believe God is the destroyer. That’s why you must read the Truth. The Holy Bible is the Truth. Jesus Is the Truth. Most people who have a problem with God the father and Jesus the Son don’t know Him.They are as one. Listen I have COVID-19 as I write this. Am I afraid? No, because my trust is in Jesus and He said by his stripes we are healed. You see that is my faith and hope. I’m doing great. I told you this so that you can see that my life isn’t perfect but as long as I declare and decree Gods word over my life you would never know that it’s Not. The word of God gives Victory over everything. Jesus dying on that Cross took care of everything we will ever need.
@Tamolyn McKinzie Your story sounds made-up. I am 100% certain you did more than just call out to a religious character. Your type of thinking will cause people to be dependent on a fictional being rather than depending on themselves or those that exist.
@@IIII......I’m sorry for you if you feel my story Is made up. The proof is in the pudding. I’m not homeless. I just want to say this, the world’s most renowned atheist Charles Templeton was being interviewed for the last time of his career. During the interview the question was asked how he felt about Jesus. He said that Jesus was the smartest man he knew and then he began to weep and say “ I miss him”. I also want to say that during this interview he was suffering from Alzheimer’s but he still knew who Jesus was even if he forgot sometimes who he was. See the scriptures says that Jesus will never leave or forsake you. This is an example of that Truth. Why do people want to try everything but Jesus? Even when all else fails. I can tell you some supernatural stuff that was all about Jesus being glorified. Don’t knock it till you try it. Jesus is real and Alive! Your type of thinking will make people to remain helpless and hopeless when they don’t have to be . Again I say JESUS is the answer to it all.
@@tamolynmckinzie8963 Jesus has been dead for over 2000 years. Everything you achieved, you achieved yourself.
Homelessness is such a touchy subject. As someone who worked while staying at a veterans homeless shelter, it was one of the most testing times of my life. I saved and worked, now back on my feet....for now. The feeling of having to deal with your typical work BS, just to remember you don't have a place of your own to go back to. Not only that but some of the individuals you live around can be less than desirable.... it's a feeling I really hope most don't have to deal with. My view on homelessness has completely changed. It is just something you can't understand unless you have experienced. Even then the solutions for homelessness are still unknown....
Exactly. A lot of these people commenting don't understand what it's like. Hopefully they never have to.
If we look at this camp as a population,a large percentage are depending on cash aid to survive... AKA non tax payers... The question is do the city and the tax payers have an obligation to these people ,or do these people have an obligation to themselves... Job programs, and rehab etc... Are plentifully available, the fact is that many of these people except the cash aid , medical,and food stamps... But don't take advantage of the programs... Giving this land to these people would just insure that the blight continues... The city spends millions on aid ,why should they redirect that much money to this small group of 250 or so people who are camping or living in these shanty towns... They do need help but it is unlikely that giving this motley crew of people, with eclectic problems and conditions,this plot of land , will make them able to create a successful society without being mostly dependent on tax payers money.. all I am hearing from these people is give me,give me... They can rent a dumpster on their own. if they are really willing to pay for it... They could also order a potable water tank,and portable toilets ... It appears that they are unable to get the existing population to pool their monies together to accomplish this... what would they actually do if they were allotted the millions that they are asking for...
I believe that if anyone really wanted to work, they'll find a job.
Jobs don’t pay
In my country, once transmigration was carried out, it was moved to vacant land, making vacant land useful for the land owner.
The transmigration participants received 1 housing unit and its contents. 1 set of equipment to clear land. Get 1 sack of rice. Gas stove and cylinder. Sorry, just a comparison. Oh yes, I live in Indonesia.
But the U.S congress approved $13.6 billion dollars for Ukraine.First they need fix local issues.
They are just throwing good money after bad with the homeless.
Yet please donate money to Ukraine? Forget about your own homeless in your own country.
It's traumatizing, like those refugee videos about Syria, or White Replacement camps in South Africa. Just horrible 😔
It really is but I guess some people don't care or understand
@@eshadiva6600 Psychopaths make up about 1 percent of the general population. Same 1% who holding 99% wealth. They would like to see all us equally poor.
@@ugbalaarya5213 Washington DC has the higher % of psychopaths than any other city in America.
@@Dethflash what makes you think that, just asking cause not living there, no clue
@@ugbalaarya5213 Socialism/Communism; rich & poor, no middle class.
The fact that some of you think people want to live like this is the problem. This country has a problem and it starts with keeping a majority of people poor and a large percentage homeless and everybody judging anyone poorer than them. Learn to be grateful and empathetic. Once you’re homeless in America it’s hard to get out. I was homeless with my parents when I was a kid. My mother died homeless. But she never gave up. I don’t judge anyone who’s homeless. You never know what people have gone through. You never know how hard their fight is. Understand this is a systematic failure country wide.Thank you Nick for the work you do. Thank you for caring in a non biased way. It’s real it’s fair it’s ugly but it needs to be seen.
I realise the people here are not paying city taxes but providing a weekly rubbish collection is a public health priority, in addition to providing toilet blocks as you would find in a park.
Allowing any person to live in squalor on city land is not acceptable. The city has a social and health responsibility. Outreach homeless services, including vaccination nurses and addiction counsellors making regular visits, need to be established.
Why isn’t there a program that encourages / demands the homeless to work at having to clean up their own environment filth? Enforce them to do it or get thrown into the pokey for a set length of time. They’re no consequences to their bad behavior. Why would they get right if they get a way with murder … sometimes literally. Most people who are genuinely homeless don’t flaunt it. They take action to get the hell out of it.
Wow that's crazy!!!
So many FN excuses, God dam. No free rides but these clowns wanna free B.
It is like this in Stockton. I'm a Oakland 1954. I moved in 2004. Reagan was a great Governor. When Brown became Governor and Clinton became President starting NAFTA jobs left and folks became unemployed.Folks need skills training jobs and housing. Mayor Brown screwed Oakland Libby is terrible. Folks lost homes when Brown was Mayor..then he became Governor again. He became Governor Steve first time in 75..his goal help Latinos and Gays and that is what he did..do research I was there. These folks need to leave Cali.
they need to help those homeless who have jobs and want to get out of their situation, but if they refuse to work/be a functioning member of society, they should not be able to get generous benefits as these people have gotten very comfortable in their environment.
Rich people have investments and stocks this guy is dreaming rich people do not need the poor to move on...
If you think employers "NEED" you; it's time to do a self-assessment of the value you bring to the bargaining table.
There are people who by no fault of their own wind up in horrible situations and have a hard time recovering their life and losses. I'm not sure after listening to these people that they fit in that group. The type of lifestyle they appear to want is usually "off grid" and even then it takes some amount of self sufficiency to jump start and sustain. Nomad lifestyle isn't usually lived in the middle of a city under freeways. Vicki
I feel like the National Guard could get involved.
Everyday people might not for reasons upon reasons.
The Guards have skills and teamwork.
Maybe this does qualify for a National crisis. I don't know.
They can not survive or live without volunteers?? -That's when their comfort level went too low.
Honestly, with the number of addictions the homeless brings along, they don't want to take chances on it to house them to these "Low Income" homes. These homeless people will need to sacrifice going through programs and get them off drugs in order to be accepted into these homes. Giving them fundings to build their OWN communities, how will that work? It just supports them to continue on with their addictions while living the same way they're living now.
Well she probably didn't answer because she thinks it's a set up lol anyway thanks for the good info re. Forming a community but let's not assume that even if they did the correct steps they wouldn't be blocked or the community later Burned down 🤷🏿♀️ I know people think it's crazy to suggest but these are real fears based on actual events.
Believe me if she's a City Council candidate she is a crook already, one in training or she will be one of the above soon. To be on the Oakland City Counci;l is to #1 above all else be an aggrandizing, scheming scamp with your nose and ear alwasys close to the ground sniffing and listening for srelf promotional opportunities and graft possibilities. I'm almost 60 nand it hads been so my whole life living here. I call them the povertyu pimp squad. Bunch of shameful scallywags.
I would be interested to see how this community would sustain itself if they got everything they asked for? I hear a lot externalizing language. I also, wonder what their families would say about their current plight? Did they burn bridges based on behaviors related to addiction.
You read from cover to cover
Drug addicts are smooth talkers
The local government should intervene as soon as possible to deal with this problem. Maybe for the problem of vacant land can be used as a temporary shelter for the homeless,
And the location of the shelter is fenced on the outside and has 2 gates. And for electricity, each homeless cottage is provided with a solar system. The cottages for the homes are neatly arranged.
Great! Great! video Nick stay ahead of the game my friend 👍🏾
I have looked at the Homeless Encampment site in 2018 and was nothing there. In 2022 It's now a real 'homelessville.'
All They Need Is Everyone To Give Them The Land And Then Give Them The Money To Develop It. And Give Them A CHECK TOO. You Can Tell They Are From CALIFORNIA With Their ENTITLED VIEW. GOD HELP US.
Auhhggg .... this has always been my question. Why group together on a SETTLEMENT but not group together in a house, car or rv... Why don't people team up to purchase a home. Ban together and buy. Stop renting buy. Own.
They have to be asleep to believe this dream is going to come true for them.
They all seem like decent people and just need to be pointed in the right direction...
BAAAHAAA 🤣
I dont get free land, I grew up in The Bay Area and can’t afford it. I had to leave. Why does OHIO, get to live where I can’t? Free?
And he's from Ohio
I know your main content are not about homeless, but it could be interesting if you could reach out to interview with Mark from the channel Invisible People. He is a former homeless, now run a none profit organization trying to help people get out of homelessness and make media to help educate people to understand that, not all homeless are bad and addicted, there's more complication than we realized. Good content by the way. 👍
We've had quite enough homeless, thank you. The longer they stay invisible the better by me.
@@theunquietdead8138 So, they're less human than you?
@@munarong Answering for myself, yes. Considerably.
@@marcusleja7133 No, expecting me to pay for their social problems. Enough is enough.
@@munarong They turn their back on humanity when they turn their back on society and their responsibility to it
Love your videos Nick great work.👍💙😊 wouldn't it be easier to get jobs and live normal then try to create there own fantasy world just saying
crazy thought. Public librarys have the information you need, and internet access.
Come see our place in San Luis Obispo. It is a fenced area behind the County Jail honor farm. Services are offered: 3 showers, barbeque area and Porta John's. A bus service stops there regularly.
I need to!!
California is doing well I see!
See! I knew what you were doing here on RUclips would turn out big. Thank you Nick Johnson!
Ohio knows the way it works!
If they spent 1/3 of their time looking for a job instead of looking for a handout. Fast food restaurants are a good start. $16/hr is alot better then squatting under an over pass.
Probably they don't hire a homeless, but I'm not american, what do I know. ✌
@@munarong i know fast food restaurant managers that give people chances to work without discriminating. Black, white, asian, criminal, homeless etc… 95 percent of the people he contacts do not want the responsibility of holding a job anymore, especially when they get food clothes shelter for “free”. And NOTHING is free in this world. The money used to provide these essentials come from the working class who are waking up everyday to maintain the ability to survive. Its called work.
@@munarong @munarong
That's strange. I don't see a fast food restaurant requiring people to be housed.
@@IIII...... yeah, if it's in my country(TH), the homeless have no chance to get a job at any fast food restaurant here. They like to hire young, light skin with pretty face, looking like a rich kid working at summer jobs, to work in their restaurants, it's still being luxury here, kinda opposite to the US counterpart.
"I don't believe in landlords"
I think that tells you everything you need to know
Hi Nick! I'm impressed with all you do to bring attention to this situation, so far you are the only person who has developed a friendship within the homeless communities trying to come up with a plan that includes their input...thank you. Not only are you handsome but you have a heart of gold. Have a blessed day friend 😊✌️🏻❤️
I must say! It hurts to see people like that having a difficult life. Where I live! I would see a homeless person camping out in their vehicle around the Apartments I live in. And I tell you Nick! It hurts just to see it! And believe it or not? I’ve heard that homelessness has grown when this COVID Pandemic began in 2020. Especially with Apartment residents getting evicted because they didn’t have enough money to pay rent. However! I believe with this pandemic slowing down slowly but surely! I think things can get better if the economy can get better & we can get tons of money throughout the nation & create jobs. And Nick! I just want to tell you what I’ve heard! I’ve heard if you believe things can get better! They likely will! What do you think? And I’m only telling you this because I’ve heard that story a lot & I just wanted to give that word out! One more thing! I love a lot of your videos! I enjoy a lot of them you film. You do great! And doing great I believe matters just as much.
I think Mr Joe Biden is better off dealing with the issue of homelessness that is so much in America, rather than dealing with the war in Ukraine.
It seems like this man had a hard time getting his point across, especially when he is using excessive Foul language 13:45🤷🏽♂️
Probably needed for slow people.
Dude is either on drugs, mentally ill, or both. Not the spokesperson they need to have.