Homeless 101.7: Internet, Hot Food, Freedom - Three Things a Homeless Person Can't Have - Aside From a Home

Yes, we have
no bananas.

And you thought missing a home was the worst of your problems. Just in case the DHS forgot to tell you, while you're down on your luck and poorly funded, there are just a few more things you can't have that even the average American 7th-grader can. INTERNET: In the homeless system, as defined by the fine city of New York, homeless people are too stupid to operate websites or too poor to have a computer. That's why there is no wifi nor internet connection of any kind at the 30th St. Men's Shelter - nor is there at any DHS or welfare office. In my case, even my Back to Work program prohibited me from using my laptop on their premises. I was informed of this by the manager at Career Education Counselors. Yes, they have computers there until 5pm, but you can't use your own and can't keep a home screen or bookmarks to aid in your job search - so every day on a computer is like starting over again. HOT FOOD: "It's a cold day out there buddy. Better get some hot soup or oat meal in yer belly today", one might imagine a friend saying. But the homeless system is not your friend - instead, it does its best to be your enemy by denying you hot food in the shelter. Additionally, with food stamps, a homeless person is prohibited from buying hot food with their EBT (Food Stamp) card. Cold food ok. Hot food, not okay. Go figure, because that doesn't figure at all. FREEDOM: In by 10pm out by 8am. Guards on every floor. Locker checks. Metal detectors. "You don't deserve any freedom if you can't pay the bills. We'd like to take your self respect too if we could", but that's up to you to loose -  if you choose.

Homeless 101.1: Is Homelessness a Crime in America?

Homeless America

At the 30th Street Men's Shelter in Manhattan one would certainly think so as truly homeless people are treated just like and along with criminals of a number of varieties. At the corner of the building hangs a sign pointing to the entrance. "Intake and Vagrancy Control", it reads. Upon entering all items must be removed from pockets, belts and watches removed and put in trays for x-ray. Then the 'clients' (as residents are duplicitously called) pass through a metal detector and are whisked with a wand if anything beeps. A combination of DHS (Department of Homeless Services) Police and rent-a cops patrol every inch of the place and one is never out of the view of security at any time, except when in a bunk room - but the bunk rooms have not locks or latches. "You watch your shit here, boy", said a guard to me. "We've got crooks and scammers and pimps and drug runners and more in here. You watch your shit all the time", he said in regard to anything I might be carrying. It applies to your behaviour as well. (Continued...)

This blog. aHBiNYC is now available as an eBook. It covers the writer's homeless experiences in New York City from September 11, 2011 through January 2013 in 245 pages and 50 chapters. To order simply use the PayPal button in the sidebar, send $10, and include your email address in the PayPal memo form. Thank you.

Homeless 101: An Education in US Social Service Agencies

In the case of an expatriate returning to America from overseas, one's first step is to the US State Department and Hilary Clinton. They will loan you the money to purchase a plane ticket to get home at an unspecified interest rate and waste no time in getting you to sign a contract at your embassy or consulate overseas that says you are required to pay the money back in 90 days from arrival in the US. This of course is impossible because you will be unemployed with little chance of getting a job that will pay well in 90 days. With a stated unemployment rate of 9% in the US, the real rate (including under-employed), as quoted by too many magazines, is closer to 16% (figure the former executive who is now a greeter at Wal-Mart). But you will sign the loan agreement anyway, because basically, you have little or no choice. America wants you in the same debt prison the entire country is in. That makes you a patriot.(Continued...)

This blog. aHBiNYC is now available as an eBook. It covers the writer's homeless experiences in New York City from September 11, 2011 through January 2013 in 245 pages and 50 chapters. To order simply use the PayPal button in the sidebar, send $10, and include your email address in the PayPal memo form. Thank you.