The terrible devolution of my favorite homeless encampment

Murrmurr

Murrmurr

SF VIP
Location
Sacramento, California
I’ve posted a few places about how I visit homeless encampments in my area at least once a month and take stuff like toiletries, fruit, trash bags, blankets and etc. It’s been a few months since I stopped doing that because of a conversation I had with a long-timer named Irma.

Last time I was at her encampment, Irma came up to me and cautiously told me we needed to talk, so I took her and her partner to a fast-food place and we ate outside. Irma said most of the stuff I take to the homeless gets traded for drugs or taken back to the store for a refund to buy drugs. Sometimes it’s stolen from the person I gave it to, and the thief uses it to get drugs, sometimes the person I gave it to uses it to get drugs.

Her main point was that homeless communities have become nothing more than huge drug markets, and instead of the population fluctuating as people whose luck improves leave and new down on their luck people come in, the communities are just getting larger. Fewer and fewer are looking to improve their lot, more and more are coming for the drugs, completely disinterested in changing their lives.

Irma said she’s going back to Ohio to stay with her sister. I asked her if she needed help that ($$) but she said her sister’s going to pay for her air fare. Meanwhile, she and her partner are moving to a small camp on some abandoned farmland where they’ll be safer.

Best of luck to Irma. I'll be staying away from the homeless encampments; they're on their own.
 

Recently when out running an errand we saw a huge amount of homeless ( about 30) with shopping carts or loads of belongings that looked as if the were dropped off ....
as the major city south trucks them ... yes, pays to truck them up to nearby smaller cities..... that is how they are handling their homeless problem ... most will make their way back after the other municipalities run them off...

Although i have always been polite and friendly as i try to remember some are really trying.....
Nope this new group has set up some camps along an urban trail used for exercise and now I can not walk there as these are aggressive and scary.....
If you still feel giving items is helpful you can mark items so stores will not take back ..... a vertical line through a upc code making it unreadable or putting QC on code shows many stores this is not a returnable item.
they might find people who will buy off them for a few dollars but takes the retailers out of it.
 
Jeni said:
Recently when out running an errand we saw a huge amount of homeless ( about 30) with shopping carts or loads of belongings that looked as if the were dropped off ....
as the major city south trucks them ... yes, pays to truck them up to nearby smaller cities..... that is how they are handling their homeless problem ... most will make their way back after the other municipalities run them off...

Although i have always been polite and friendly as i try to remember some are really trying.....
Nope this new group has set up some camps along an urban trail used for exercise and now I can not walk there as these are aggressive and scary.....
If you still feel giving items is helpful you can mark items so stores will not take back ..... a vertical line through a upc code making it unreadable or putting QC on code shows many stores this is not a returnable item.
they might find people who will buy off them for a few dollars but takes the retailers out of it.
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Irma told me people who get "nice stuff" are beaten until they give it up to someone else who wants it, and this mostly happens to the women.

I'm just gonna give up on it, though I might go visit Irma's new place.
 

The homeless are somewhat hidden in my area. They make a home in wooded areas usually with others in a similar situation near the interstate and restaurants.

Couple weeks ago I stopped at the grocery store and noticed a guy sleeping on the grass next to the curb near where I parked. Understand, that's not the norm here, as said, the homeless here are mostly out of sight and not in a suburb type area.

Anyway, I bought a few bananas and a couple of apples and put them in a bag at checkout. He was still there on the curb with his cart of belongings.

I just put the bag of fruit in his cart and left in my truck. I hope he ate the fruit and didn't trade it for drugs.
 
Murrmurr said:
I’ve posted a few places about how I visit homeless encampments in my area at least once a month and take stuff like toiletries, fruit, trash bags, blankets and etc. It’s been a few months since I stopped doing that because of a conversation I had with a long-timer named Irma.

Last time I was at her encampment, Irma came up to me and cautiously told me we needed to talk, so I took her and her partner to a fast-food place and we ate outside. Irma said most of the stuff I take to the homeless gets traded for drugs or taken back to the store for a refund to buy drugs. Sometimes it’s stolen from the person I gave it to, and the thief uses it to get drugs, sometimes the person I gave it to uses it to get drugs.

Her main point was that homeless communities have become nothing more than huge drug markets, and instead of the population fluctuating as people whose luck improves leave and new down on their luck people come in, the communities are just getting larger. Fewer and fewer are looking to improve their lot, more and more are coming for the drugs, completely disinterested in changing their lives.

Irma said she’s going back to Ohio to stay with her sister. I asked her if she needed help that ($$) but she said her sister’s going to pay for her air fare. Meanwhile, she and her partner are moving to a small camp on some abandoned farmland where they’ll be safer.

Best of luck to Irma. I'll be staying away from the homeless encampments; they're on their own.
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That was so thoughtful of you though! All of you guys, Gary O and old particular, Jeni; that was so sweet of all of you!
 
Murrmurr said:
I’ve posted a few places about how I visit homeless encampments in my area at least once a month and take stuff like toiletries, fruit, trash bags, blankets and etc. It’s been a few months since I stopped doing that because of a conversation I had with a long-timer named Irma.

Last time I was at her encampment, Irma came up to me and cautiously told me we needed to talk, so I took her and her partner to a fast-food place and we ate outside. Irma said most of the stuff I take to the homeless gets traded for drugs or taken back to the store for a refund to buy drugs. Sometimes it’s stolen from the person I gave it to, and the thief uses it to get drugs, sometimes the person I gave it to uses it to get drugs.

Her main point was that homeless communities have become nothing more than huge drug markets, and instead of the population fluctuating as people whose luck improves leave and new down on their luck people come in, the communities are just getting larger. Fewer and fewer are looking to improve their lot, more and more are coming for the drugs, completely disinterested in changing their lives.

Irma said she’s going back to Ohio to stay with her sister. I asked her if she needed help that ($$) but she said her sister’s going to pay for her air fare. Meanwhile, she and her partner are moving to a small camp on some abandoned farmland where they’ll be safer.

Best of luck to Irma. I'll be staying away from the homeless encampments; they're on their own.
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I'm glad Irma wised you up. I learned what you learned many years ago. Much the same with panhandlers.
If they were honest & said, "I want money for alcohol & drugs," no one would give them anything.

In my 20's I had a date. Before the movie, we decided to get snacks from a market. When I parked, a guy approached my car & asked for "Spare Change" because him & his girlfriend were hungry. I noted they both looked strung out. I said, "I don't have any money."
My date said, "How can you be so negative; can't you see they're starving?"
I said, "How 'bout we forget the movie & see what they buy, instead?" She said, "Fine."
After getting money from a few other customers, they went into the market, while I smiled at my girlfriend.
They came out of the market with a big bag. My girlfriend said, "See? I told you."
I followed them to the side of the building & we watched them pull out a 6-pack of beer & 2 bottles of cheap wine.
I said, "I guess they're trying to lose weight & they're on a liquid diet." :giggle:

When you give them money; you're helping them die; not helping them survive.
 
gas station recently a well dressed young man asked my spouse if he could help with a couple dollars of gas .... husband said sorry no cash ..
the person moved on to next person at gas station ......i noted because a real situation they might have asked if we could put a few dollars on our card as a young lady did that to me once... just looking for cash was a clue ..... and when they did not get any takers they Drove to station across street and started again.
 
Murrmurr said:
I’ve posted a few places about how I visit homeless encampments in my area at least once a month and take stuff like toiletries, fruit, trash bags, blankets and etc. It’s been a few months since I stopped doing that because of a conversation I had with a long-timer named Irma.

Last time I was at her encampment, Irma came up to me and cautiously told me we needed to talk, so I took her and her partner to a fast-food place and we ate outside. Irma said most of the stuff I take to the homeless gets traded for drugs or taken back to the store for a refund to buy drugs. Sometimes it’s stolen from the person I gave it to, and the thief uses it to get drugs, sometimes the person I gave it to uses it to get drugs.

Her main point was that homeless communities have become nothing more than huge drug markets, and instead of the population fluctuating as people whose luck improves leave and new down on their luck people come in, the communities are just getting larger. Fewer and fewer are looking to improve their lot, more and more are coming for the drugs, completely disinterested in changing their lives.

Irma said she’s going back to Ohio to stay with her sister. I asked her if she needed help that ($$) but she said her sister’s going to pay for her air fare. Meanwhile, she and her partner are moving to a small camp on some abandoned farmland where they’ll be safer.

Best of luck to Irma. I'll be staying away from the homeless encampments; they're on their own.
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Frank, you are such a kind soul. I can only dream of being as caring as you are. I'm sorry you had to learn this. I had no idea.

I frequently watch the Youtube channel, Soft White Underbellly. It is gritty and tragic, but it really helps me have a better understanding of why people make some of the decisions that drastically influence their lives. As they say, "there but for the grace of God go I".


 
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dseag2 said:
Frank, you are such a kind soul. I can only dream to be as caring as you are. I'm sorry you had to learn this. I had no idea.

I frequently watch the Youtube channel, Soft White Underbellly. It is gritty and tragic, but it really helps me have a better understanding of why people make some of the decisions that drastically influence their lives.


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I follow this as well. It’s a wake up call to how some people have to live. My heart goes out to them.
 
First I want to say we do not have homeless here in our small town. There are people who come into town and stay at a local homeless shelter for free. Most actually live in communities a couple of hours away in any direction, however they come to town for drugs or booze, come winter and they are gone for the most part. So friends of ours started making sandwiches for the "homeless people" down by the walking bridge. The "homeless" shelter is just across the street from the bridge. I don't think they do that anymore, the shelter makes sure they eat. The shelter is also where most of the crime downtown comes from, you can drive by the shelter and see drug deals going down all times of the day. It is also common to see the cops there regularly. Then the province in its great wisdom built a real nice apartment building right next to the place where the addicts get methadone, or whatever, it is in the worst part of town.
 
Usually, I kept change (1 dollar bills) in my car to give if I stopped at the light and someone was standing there with a sign. As I gave it, inside of me I said a prayer so God could help them. Whether they were drug or alcohol addicts, I never knew. One time, in Florida, about a year ago, I handed a dollar to this guy who stood in the middle of the street. His whole arm was bloody and infected from needle shots. I almost puked. I doubt if he's alive now. But after that, I stopped doing it because I also wondered where the money was going to. God be with them!
 
Murrmurr said:
I’ve posted a few places about how I visit homeless encampments in my area at least once a month and take stuff like toiletries, fruit, trash bags, blankets and etc. It’s been a few months since I stopped doing that because of a conversation I had with a long-timer named Irma.

Last time I was at her encampment, Irma came up to me and cautiously told me we needed to talk, so I took her and her partner to a fast-food place and we ate outside. Irma said most of the stuff I take to the homeless gets traded for drugs or taken back to the store for a refund to buy drugs. Sometimes it’s stolen from the person I gave it to, and the thief uses it to get drugs, sometimes the person I gave it to uses it to get drugs.

Her main point was that homeless communities have become nothing more than huge drug markets, and instead of the population fluctuating as people whose luck improves leave and new down on their luck people come in, the communities are just getting larger. Fewer and fewer are looking to improve their lot, more and more are coming for the drugs, completely disinterested in changing their lives.

Irma said she’s going back to Ohio to stay with her sister. I asked her if she needed help that ($$) but she said her sister’s going to pay for her air fare. Meanwhile, she and her partner are moving to a small camp on some abandoned farmland where they’ll be safer.

Best of luck to Irma. I'll be staying away from the homeless encampments; they're on their own.
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She's right.
I know too as I became homeless 2005.
In these places are more people addicted than people from divorces, loss of jobs, evicted, or had a medical disability that they ended up losing all they owned and turned to a Shelter to live in for their safety reasons.
I had to constantly hide my belongings so not to be stolen from me while I slept.
The young girls would probably sleep at the local park and pretend to sleep at night while you fell asleep. There were lockers for a backpack.
Yet your coat was very high on their list in the winter cold.
Yes, they want to stay there and camping too. They do not want to find housing and put there money on rent. Three meals a day and a place for the criminals to be released to. Along with mentally ill too.
Finding out the hard way after all I am the oldest of nine.
Murmur is speaking the truth. Just in case you ever fall down the rabbit's hole info kindness I send along to anyone concern.
 
I wouldn't let Irma's personal observations put me off.

Especially while Irma is sitting there munching on a hamburger that I paid for.

It has been my experience that the hardcore homeless rarely ask for assistance.

Sometimes it's best to donate to a local outreach program or soup kitchen and not make judgment calls about the person who actually receives the assistance.

In the end, I suppose that all any of us can do is trust our gut and do what feels right at any given moment.
 
The homeless here in Perth are becoming more prevalent.
As I drive home from work, stopped at traffic lights, there would be homeless people standing there, all holding pieces of cardboard with "Homeless...spare a few dollars.." etc.
This is happening at more and more intersections now.
I once gave some coins to a guy outside the supermarket, then I watched what he done.
Straight to the betting shop for a dollar each way on the horses.
There are genuinely needy people but with so many conning the public, one stops giving.
 

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