Gutterpunks: New Orleans Homeless Street Youth - PRE Katrina
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- Опубликовано: 2 авг 2024
- Reporter Tim Estiloz visited New Orleans in this 1997 story about a group of homeless youth - dubbed by some in the city as "Gutterpunks". Estiloz spent several days with this group of disaffected and indigent young people - many of whom willingly chose to live on the hard - sometimes dangerous, streets of "Pre-Katrina" New Orleans.
Most of these kids lived "day to day" begging for food and money. Some lived in deplorable conditions near the popular French Quarter... unimaginable in the years before Katrina. Estiloz gained the trust of many of these kids... who allowed Estiloz to follow them, interview them and show their difficult life on the streets - an existence that some city administrators and business people in New Orleans frown upon. This is a uniquely candid and sad window into a homeless youth underclass in New Orleans that existed well before Katrina... and also still exists today.
This story was written and produced by Tim Estiloz - who now reports on entertainment for CN8 - The Comcast Network.
See more of Tim's videos on You Tube on his channel "FilmFanTV"... and be sure to subscribe.
Be sure to visit Tim's website: www.TimEstiloz.com
www.timestiloz.com/Site/Home.html
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the street kids here in canada are a fuckin hardy lot. i often think of them when the thermometer goes to 30 below. I guess I was just lucky enough to have been born to a good home. I often give em change, smokes, whatever. I bought a coffee yesterday for this homeless lady who's always outside talking to herself.
and no this isn't a "hooray i'm a good person" kind of thing, this is a "look out for each other" kind of thing...we're all just people, trying to survive with our lot in life.
I'm not a "gutterpunk" as described here, but I have been a homeless traveler. I think other then being a respectful, kind Human Being who harms no one, there are no "rules' on how someone;s life should be lived. For me, living a "stable" life where I worked my days away to pay for a small over priced shitty apartment, with a job that treated me like crap and didn't pay shit, I was finding myself growing VERY, very depressed, and was looking for a way out.
Wow I was there in 97-98 .. I was a runaway from AZ.. I had no idea what I was getting into lol.. This brings back some memories for sure! Shaved my head and I fit right in. For a while anyways till the New Orleans PD sent me on a plane back to AZ.. All grown up now married and three kids! Ill tell you what though I pray for the people I met out there and the ones who live like that everyday because it's a rough life. Yes they were family they took care of me that's for sure!
Hi Tim, How are you? This is Tommy Ross. WOW, talk about bringing back some wonderful memories for me. I left the center in 1998, I cherish the time I worked there! It was one of the best experiences in my life! I know our being there really did make a difference. I wish I had the chance to run across the kids again, I really miss them. It truly was a family. I live in Austin now, but I still believe the center is open, I hope so.
being a homeless teenager was not that bad. I ran away when i was 14 and never really looked back. Being 14-15-16-17 etc. is much easier than most (who have not been there) would believe, Particularly the west coast with centers in portland and san francisco (especially during the summer). Homeless never need worry about food, there always is a church close feeding, mild temperature and amazing summers.......I got a job and stopped being homeless when i was 19, im 33 now.
Sorry about the double posting error! :) Thanks for forwarding my info to Tommy. Those people at the drop in center did so much for us back then. To some people...washing your clothes...taking a shower...having a snack...it might all sound like an average thing to the average person...but when you have nothing a little is alot! Take care of you.
homless living in america while our government is bizzy sending money to other countrys? take care of your own first!
Talk about feeling like a trapped animal. When I met my husband, who was a traveler, and he talked me into taking off with him and showing me what else was out there, I seized the opportunity. The feeling of such freedom and liberation was like nothing I've ever felt.
Hey-decent piece Tim. Takes me back to MY memories of 1997.
It's great to see something thats not just a pure exploitive news story. Thanks for being a responsible Journalist. Thats rare in and of itself.
I like talking to them about their experiences traveling. I live near i10 and see them from times going to New Orleans. They come from all over. The farthest I've met was from Canada.
im 13 and i tried to get out atleast for like a day or two so i ran away and its tuff. especially when u walk so far u cant walk anymore i have mad respect for these people and someday im gonna end up like this not even trying to sound like a poser but i really would like to prove somthing and have good life experiences
Excellent video. Thanks for posting this.
They are still in NOLA going strong,across from Margaritaville they seem to congregate near the French Market. They are a sight seem happy and a little rowdy.
love stuff like this, i was actually seriously considering moving to nola from nyc right before nyc happened to live this kind of lifestyle, lookin back now i laugh at how ignorant i was about life
married at 13?! Holy shit, is that legal?
Long live the street punks,lifes hard but well get through it
they signed up for it
buy a gutter punk a cheeseburger when you see one.
Definitely reminds me of when I was a street kid, I use to prefer the term gutter kid, But yeah, I miss my traveling days. Basically you have two different groups in my opinion, one group are the real street kids, people who are wingnuts or come from dysfunctional families and their whole life is ridding trains and living on the street. Then you have the "oogle" kids who come from good families and just want to slum it to see what the life is like.
great video
hope these guys r ok
Wow does this bring back some memories! I'm the girl starting at 1:26 shown only for a few minutes. I've been living in Columbus Ga for the past year and working...although I've been on and off the road most of my life. Anyone know what happened to any of these people? Good times man. I loved the Drop In Center...that's back when Chris and Alexis were there. peace and safe travels....WINTER
great story
they are very nice people some of them
I can't help but worry about them...even if they don't worry about themselves sometimes. Most of them are kids...children......hardly old enough or wise enough to make good decisions. I think the one kid hit the nail on the head when he said once you are on the street it is hard to get off. I believe that. How can you get AND KEEP a job when you can't stay clean and have transportation and rest?
Gutter Punks are badass. Not that I'd ever be one, though.
Whats the fuck with all these gutter punk documentaries being filmed in 1997?
Emancipated at 13 ?? What State allows that? I worked in the system and in every state (all north and west) I knew of the minimum age was 16. If that is true that is seriously deranged. No kid is ready to survive on their own at 13, even with required support.
This report seems pretty fair-minded. I've lived in New Orleans for over five years and no other place have I encountered so many rude homeless people. And not to villainize a certain segment of society, but it's not just the 'homeless' in general but the so-called gutter punks.
How did you start presenting for TV?
"They find it easier" ...because if you grow up constantly worrying about yourself, being on the street gives you something to worry about and fills the void, only battling against nature is better because it won't beat you for losing the remote.
Remember when it was accepted when beggars didn't have attitude? Oh well those days are far gone.
haha i think i met the guy at 2:20 in riverside california
I'm sure there is a percentage of the kids who could get out of their predicament but they are having too much fun with the camraderie. To be young, unattatched, no responsibility, no bosses, getting to watch life from the outside and gawk at regular people...loafers.
Easy there, Manson!
"I can die and won't have to deal with this pathetic world anymore" LOL.
Reminds me of the goth kids on South Park.
shit havent changed yet out here in louisiana since that video
new orleans LA?
with parental concent in some states you can
Its very easy to cast stones at these kids, but some of them are out there because they did not want to stay trapped in abusive homes. Until you have worked with these kids and have a full understanding of their situations its best to watch and learn instead of making stupid comments.
@bradattax
I'm pretty curious what you do now. As a job I mean.
For All to have dignified living without wars, inequality and all kinds of global, local and personal problems we need a global system that supports All Life Equally. To establish an Equality-based system All humans have to continuously lose Self-Interest and live according to what is Best For All Equally. There are courses with which a person can support oneself and others in the change. I recommend all to find and read the websites of 'Equal Money System', 'Desteni I Process' and 'Desteni'.
I frequented the drop in center when i was too old to stay at covenant house down the street ... it was a really good resource during the time of my life when i was traveling the country ... - dougie in austin .
Ive squatted myself a lot,so I got nothin against these folk.But the ones that have kids theres no condoning that!
God save the King of New Orleans, Better Than Ezra told this story so well.
@MiztressWinter Wow, Youre the one with the Mirror, ur cute. Columbus,GA Im in Knoxville TN but I dot have a job at present,just play music.
venice beach is the place to be...
I have a lot of squatter friends who don't have it nearly this hard...It seemed fairly comfortable if they used their resources right. One of them volunteered at the Y in detroit so he got a place to shower and what not.
man this brings me back to when I lived on the street... scene was definitely a bit different, but still probably felt close to the same... it's fuckin family man, all the street people were... the cops were fucking douche bags for sure, and jesus fucking christ it gets cold in calgary during the winter, especially without a roof... but damn we had some good times, I wish I knew what happened to everybody... for better or for worse... anyhoo, cheers from canada!
if you live out on the streets , your gonna miss out on crust music which you can download from Soulseek , lol
@saidthemute I was in NO a year prior to this as well. We were on Phish tour and they were headlining the Jazz Fest one of the nights. There were 3 of us in the car we were in, and we decided to head up to TN for awhile. 1 of the kids that was w/ us decided to stay in NO, his name was Phern....that name ring a bell w/ you?
I was homeless for 2 years. I lived in the woods with a rifle and a knife. I hunted, fished and foraged. I never asked for a handout or ate garbage. These kids are just lazy!
man i'm glad i stopped being a "punk" when i went to college.
lol. i agree!
i know a couple of kids that its their "dream" to end up like this. they think its sooo "punk rock"
i try and tell them that the kids in these videos really cant help that they are on the streets, they have no choice. but they still think it would be "cool" to do so. its pathetic if you ask me.
I remember one gutterpunk a few years ago who was laying in a hammock tied up to the Potabla building. When merchants asked him to leave he pissed himself. Later I snuck up with a knife + cut it down.
@victimizedsociety Yeah me too. My father is a prick and thinks im a loser. I'll be out in no time.
So, why do they come here and pretend to be bums again? Do they get, like, a scout badge or something? I'm from here so I guess I don't really understand.
Is Iowa, Michigan, Boston...etc, really that bad?
I used to to go to that drop in center in 96-98...I know tommy..if u know that dude ...tell him roach says whats up!
I love how he claims that public urination, pan handleing, and sleeping in doorways. Thats just bullshit is it really hurting your rich ass life that much?
im mostly seeing young bums.
Welfare capital of America,get a job rebuilding the city?Quit waiting for a handout!
most ignorant statement ever, especially to assume whos a drug addict or not
another point made that this is NOT a Christian country.
The way we treat the poor in this country is reprehensible, and these are children!
@victimizedsociety Uhh, dude. I wouldn't do this unless yo seriously are put in that economic position.
Gutterpunx Up, Gutter COPS DOWN!!! FTP, L.O.C. R.T.40oz, it's the change that counts haha..... -I
my god, learn to spell!
Get a job....
never give these people money.
Huh, I remember Road Rat too(2:08). Yeah, I got out of being a gutter punk too, after getting a job at the Balcony Bar on Magazine st.But, I remember the Drop-In, seeing Tommy in the interview brought back memories.We used to go there after leaving the "pink fortress" squat in the morning,with that little orange store around the corner. As for the police I can remember them coming up to the moonwalk in droves and rounding us up to go to OPP.Wish I had the money to go back and help everyone else.