Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
1–10 of 47 posts
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#2Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job.
Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#3Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job. Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
I did it for 5.7 years (for health reasons, not to save a few bucks), though I did not camp on a sidewalk and I did freelance work instead of having a job.
I don't recommend it. I also doubt that you would save as much as you think.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#4So most Americans live in the suburbs and commute but in a semi-big cities if you are not a middle class you cannot even afford to rent (not even think about buying) an apartment ?
Why is this a big problem ? I thought in the US you guys are more liberal when it comes to building highrises. Or is it because no matter the demand it's just too unaffordable for your avg joe ?
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#5Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job. Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
Hmm, well, what kind of constraints would make this actually viable?
You'd have to be single and have relatively few possessions (because it would all have to fit in a tent, and you'd have to carry it all with you). You'd have to have some way to shower (gym membership, most likely). You probably wouldn't have a car (because otherwise, why live in a tent?), meaning you either live and work near public transportation or you camp close enough to work to walk. It would also help to be healthy.
In the Bay Area, you can accomplish all of this while living in a $1700/month East Bay studio, if you work in SF near BART, getting half the financial benefit with almost none of the down sides. The only major disadvantage over a more normal apartment lifestyle would be you have less personal space, but if you're willing to live in a tent, you probably don't care about that.
All in all, I would say it's probably not worth it. I'd consider van living before I camped in a tent.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#6Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job. Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
There are a few people living out of camper vans at Google and Yahoo HQs. I think that is easier to pull off if your office has plentiful parking and showers on campus.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#7Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job. Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
I did it for 5.7 years (for health reasons, not to save a few bucks), though I did not camp on a sidewalk and I did freelance work instead of having a job. I don't recommend it. I also doubt that you would save as much as you think.
Would I be able to ask some questions? What health reasons would cause you to sleep in a tent that doesn't involve saving money?
And where did you sleep? And why not sleep in a vehicle? And why did you not save as much as you thought?
By the way, if you want to live in a vehicle, tent or something like that while freelancing, you could always just move to Eastern Europe, India or someplace else and live well for what you'd spend living in a tent in The Bay Area. Personally, that's what I would do. Alternatively I've read online about being "net cafe homeless" in East Asia for 10-30$ a day. Or, I've wondered about buying a van in Europe and hopping between countries for a couple years, but I've never heard of a non-eu citizen doing this, has anyone?
All of that is almost definitely more effort than it is worth if your only objective is to save money, but they might be good ideas if you want to experience them as part of travelling abroad while on a budget, or just get away on a Steve Jobs-type of adventure like he did to India.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#8So most Americans live in the suburbs and commute but in a semi-big cities if you are not a middle class you cannot even afford to rent (not even think about buying) an apartment ? Why is this a big problem ? I thought in the US you guys are more liberal when it comes to building highrises. Or is it because no matter the demand it's just too unaffordable for your avg joe ?
> I thought in the US you guys are more liberal when it comes to building highrises.
That's probably not true, although it depends where you are comparing it to.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#9So most Americans live in the suburbs and commute but in a semi-big cities if you are not a middle class you cannot even afford to rent (not even think about buying) an apartment ? Why is this a big problem ? I thought in the US you guys are more liberal when it comes to building highrises. Or is it because no matter the demand it's just too unaffordable for your avg joe ?
American cities are generally restrictive about building high-rises, or any new housing for that matter.
Everyone wants their city to remain the same as it was when they moved there, and unfortunately they have the political power to obstruct new construction.
Re: Seattle has third largest homeless population in U.S.
#10Has anyone gone the rent free route of urban tent living? With an REI membership and looking at some resident sidewalk occupants, it does seem viable to have a tent and save $3,000/month while keeping a normal job. Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
> Realizing that the people that have abandoned their dignity are a tiny part of the homeless population, nobody would actually know, great way to save.
Great way to be harassed, victimized by gangs and the police, and end up with a criminal record that would make it difficult to get a job. If you're a woman, you would likely be sexually assaulted. If you have children, it would be a horrible injustice to make them live on the street.
You must have a rather privileged life, with few responsibilities to others and no experience of hardship, to think this might be a good idea.