@@8corymix8 If you aren't lazy and your luck holds up. You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone. This was nearly me, 32 years ago, and I was anything but lazy.
Nick Johnson has outdone every mainstream reporter covering the homeless problem in the US. This footage is moving and unfortunately very real. It’s obvious we have an untreated drug & psychiatric catastrophe occurring in this country. Thank you Nick for showing everyone the truth.
he should win a media award. this is what real news looks like. getting out there and interviewing , gaining perspective, approaching it unbiased just to get what others have to say.
@@bigt2731 No, if there is no jobs for you then you need to move to another area. These people are obviously on drugs and have issues. Normal people move and don't turn to the streets. This is also the disconnected families and friends with a single mother supporting system (I bring that up because of the statistics of the people raised by single mothers and where they end up).
he should win a media award. this is what real news looks like. getting out there and interviewing , gaining perspective, approaching it unbiased just to get what others have to say.
I had a Rwandan driver taking me to the hospital when i asked him if he was enjoying the U.S. and he started crying stating he wished he would have stayed because the US was the hardest place he ever saw to survive in.
He was a " driver" in Rwanda...there's not as many vehicles..or drivers..And if you're a driver..you are held in esteem..It's a much sought after job..here..everyone is a driver..
wtf am I paying taxes for if we don't have services to help these people and give them the medical services and housing they need to live with dignity.
I know right? It’s sad they don’t give a dime. I hope someone can take a lead and help protect them and stand up for them for the services they need. I hope everyone in this video healthy and safe.
I can't believe how many people are homeless after becoming a widow or having an illness or injury. Our system is broken. Thanks for helping these people tell their stories Nick Johnson.
В каком то смысле народ в США стал заложником американской мечты.В России в одном многоквартирном доме живет 1000 человек, бок о бок учителя, врачи, продавец, кассир, предприниматель, алкоголик, пенсионер.Дом на общем балансе, квартиры выкуплены
Clearly! Why do you think they turn to drugs? To try and cope as normally as they can until they become addicted. It’s heartbreaking. They have finally made it “okay to have mental illness “ yet when you’re living alone , mental illness and addiction how can we help them? I don’t think of places to plop them and walk away. Real solutions.
Money doesnt help. Most of these people refuse housing. Here in Ca we spent 24 billion on the homeless with nothing to show for it. The money just vanished. 24 BILLION in taxes.
That’s a budgeting issue, balancing a budget should be taught early on in school. Every time I travel to the USA I’m amazed at how cheap everything is.
@@2200-au Americans don't hate Russians by the way that is another lie. Our government wants us to hate Russia but we know it's all to gain power over us.
Meanwhile we send tens of billions of dollars to other countries all kinds of reasons. We need help here at home and need it now! Is this Build Back Better?
You think because there is a War in another Country that's how we keep our military industry going strong? You watch way too much news. We've NEVER had a problem with building a healthy stockpile of weapons for our military. If providing jobs to build more weapons is your focus then you've got mixed priorities. Those millions of jobs could be doing something constructive. Don't justify why War is so great for the economy. Sending weapons is only a small portion of those billions. If we wanted to spend money outside of America to benefit US I'd think there would be a better solution than paying for another Country's problems. Build a better idea.
As a Californian, please, please, please, everyone outside of CA please do some research about Newsom. Our country is already sinking rapidly, but if Newsom becomes POTUS, the United States is doomed. I'm not a right wing nut. I'm a man raising his children, trying to stay afloat. I can't leave CA unless my children's mother gives me permission. Even though I have full custody.
Great reporting Nick! A sickening look at the crisis going on in America. It’s humiliating knowing many of my family members fought and died for this country. Expenses for people to have a simple home outweighs the money they can make to pay for it. Many of us are a paycheck away from homelessness.
what a video! our society is broken both morally, spiritually and for many, financially. not every homeless person is lazy or on drugs - some folks just can't fend for themselves.
I work as a helper for an old lady in Germany. She has her pension ( retirement income ) and she can afford to pay me decently. She is in a wheel chair since 1996 year, as post polio patient. All this years she had her monthly income and all of her medical needs are covered by the state. This is SOCIAL SECURITY at its best. In America - she will be dead in a few months.
If you had made $500K on BTC as that one guy claimed, then why would you sleep in a tent with your pregnant girlfriend, next to a sketchy encampment with drugs etc going on. Sounds like an unbelievable story.
Every time I see someone on the side of the road I give money and drive away crying. I was almost homeless and scared to death. I got a better job. Bless your heart and God help the USA.🇺🇸
Don't give money or drive away crying. I knew a man that was homeless pretty well. He received SSI benefits. Every day, he would go to a freeway exit and spend about 2 hours with a sign. He would come back with $60 on average. Then he would go to local restaurants at closing time and they'd sell him cheap plates. For example, the Mexican food place would give him a huge plate of rice and beans and a protein for $2. He had plenty of money. Just enjoyed being "homeless" and not having any responsibility. You have a beautiful heart and soul. At the same time, you are being taken advantage of.
I've been screamed at for doing the same thing. Been told the same story about people faking poverty while living like kings. I hope I never lose my humanity for others.
@@DinoCon No, it's not. Illegal immigrants bring value to this country unlike these drug addicts. I don't see them doing farm work or contributing in any other way.
Just don't understand why we can't emulate countries like Finland that have mostly solved the problem. Oh yeah, the US is somehow morally opposed to providing any sort of social safety net.
I'm sorry- the first guy with the "injury" that he claimed he got at work? Nope... That is an abscess from IV drug use. He's so full of crap. Don't give ANY money to these people!!!!
Most are severe addicts. They try to cover it up or act as if their situation was just bad luck. Calling them homeless just obfuscates the real issue of addiction.
I see it this way, if I was homeless I could be tempted to use some kind of drug to ease my misery. But what they need is some kind of hope to motivate them to get some help and kick the addiction.
I concur as an ex IV drug user (over 4 years narcotic free),I had 2 of those abscesses in 5 years but I knew how to take care of it and I did. I have a scar in both spots. If he is STILL insisting on hanging around helping his friends; feeding them & letting them sleep in his little camper? I would bet my life that his real problem is drugs and he's CLEARLY in denial!!
Got billions to give to wars and other countries (Ukraine)...but BIG F to our own. Even if the homeless citizen is lazy and on drugs, I'd rather take care of them than the political interests around the globe. Politian crooks would love us all to be down and out.
He’s right - being a homeless drug addict is a full time job - stealing everything not bolted down and looking over your shoulder nonstop is hard work.
We’ve all had tragedy, stress, mental health issues but we keep going. We don’t sit around in the dirt taking drugs blaming the government, lying, and acting feral.
I agree about the drug addictions however I think our govt is responsible for creating the conditions that led us to the crisis we’re in right now. People are working full time jobs and living in their cars.
Our country is in very very deep trouble… we send billions of dollars overseas to people that probably wish we didn’t… and a Few that do. We have American citizens living like wild raccoons. This is the new world order playing out. God Bless our country and peace to the people
USA government should construct tiny houses for poor and homeless people because they do have rights to live as human beings. Who will voice for these helpless people. US government is responsible for this miserable living conditions.
Can you think of other causes of homelessness besides addiction, mental illness, criminal record, lack of family support, lack of education, low employment rate, trauma?
Can't stop addiction or mental illness and they need records for there crimes. There family has given up for a good reason most likely it's why they have no friends to help them to or they came from a single mother and the statistics they produce. You really don't have a educational excuse in America because the availability is there for all children they just have to Want to work at it. All my family has work and my aunts kids in there 20's all 7 have jobs, Are you saying they can't get the Exact job they want? Trama is sad but to let it stop you from going on with life is crazy.
I read through many of the comments from Nick’s videos-and, one MAJOR thing that sticks out when people from other countries comment is that this does not happen in many modernized countries outside the US. What are we doing wrong????
Plenty of poverty and homelessness in the world. The people who comment are immature, sheltered, and ill informed. US does plenty for the needy, but some people are beyond helping. Surely you will find some bad cases in a country with 325 million population. Don't be too quick to judge the state and the government. Some of the blame belongs to the homeless themselves.
My man @Nick Johnson, the thing that blows my mind is most of these people use to be like you and myself. Unfortunately due to life decisions most of these people will never be like us again. But they are they're still trying to share their stories knowing how bad it looks. Knowing they likely will never know anything different again. . It's up to people like us to educate and stop this cycle. Keep doing what you do. Just remember they didn't start life like this. . If they did even . . Respect the fact that they reached back to you for an interview.. Be safe nick and thank you for the things you bring to the light.
My 21yr old granddaughter wants t work in medical as a social worker.Low salary range of $54,000 She ask me grandma, can I have my own apt. on that salary. NOPE 😮😢😢😢
@@jmiller3579 this is precisely why I returned to school at 43. law school is the only thing that makes sense if I want to support myself and my kids in this economy
I respect You Nick! You are doing good work. People need to see this, and understand we need to stop helping the world when we are bad shape here at home.🙏
This is sad, I never thought there were places like this in America, what we see on TV is totally different. I thought it's only us here in Africa who experience this kind of poverty.
No way that 90% of homeless plan on personally earning their own way out of their situation!! It’s “Societies fault”!! If most of them saved up $100, where would they spend it!!? Let’s cut the BS.
I was homeless 3 times in my life but I didn't get help from anyone. I wasn't homeless due to drugs, alcohol, or money I was homeless because there were no Apts available. Imagine that 😂😂😂😂 Being American in America 🇺🇸 the only place where our people live on the streets and give everything to the undocumented
What the heck is wrong with this country. I keep hearing the stories of the homeless, and after hearing them talk about their situation I discover that many of them, are smart and did everything right. That could be any of us. No politician is even talking about the 2 things that most people worry about. Housing and transportation.
I lived a good life. Lost it all because of drinking. Spent two nights on the streets at Myrtle Beach in February and it was miserable. No resources, no friends. By the grace of God, i was accepted back by my family. But being out there, i was hopeless and couldn't stop drinking because of the stress. These people live very difficult lives. I don't know why anyone would choose to live on the streets. My experience was brief but it nearly drove me to suicide. Life is much better three months later. But i know i am so close to ending up back in Hell
Herein lies part of the problem; if you are a landlord who gets paid by the government, you can get exorbitant amounts of rent, and that in turn helps you keep up with regulations. A landlord who gets paid by private citizens often falls behind on upkeep especially to 'code' (gov standards) and end up folding. The fewer private pay landlords there are, the higher the rent for gov regulated housing - even if their tenants aren't gov subsidized, and more people are pushed into homelessness - waiting for the gov to help. It's a vicious cycle. My heart goes out to all these people. Please note i'm only highlighting part of the problem, we all know it's much more complex than that. Thanks Nick
Wrong! Open up the psych wards back in the last 70 plus years, so you don’t have to feel bad about this people. Love and patience. Take a step back and think if this was you! You have been born with mental illness…seriously think about it before tossing out a flip post.❤️🙏
This is a consequence of freedom bozo. People have the freedom to make their own decisions . People have the freedom to do drugs , have the freedom to ignore family wishes . Ignore societal standards . In Afghanistan there are no homeless because the Taliban will beat you and force you into a mosque to be a monk . You can’t have freedom and then be upset at poor choices
Everyone says what we need is free public housing , we did that before in the 70s . Was called the projects and it was a disaster . What these people need is forced rehab
@ci6516 its not freedom. it's laws not being enforced. freedom doesn't mean what you think it does. we have a govermwnt that's supposed to enforce laws. but they don't enforce anything. the border is wide the F open and drugs pouring across the border. drugs ruin lives. drugs lead to homelessness. if we want to help these ppl....build the wall. stop the pouring of drugs. death sentence for all drug dealers deal hard narcotics. that is what Trump will do once elected. this mess will get cleaned up by the government enforcing the law. You're truly homeless ppl... ive met vets. that want to be homeless and not have the responsibility ...I'm fine with that. but that's not most homeless. most homeless are homeless because of drugs
I love how you talk to these folks. A few clearly are mentally unstable; you just skip on through and ask another question. And then the ones who you can tell are intelligent. And how about a vet, homeless, now wtf is up with that! Sad.
Nick, thank you so very much for this in depth video on our homeless people. The problems are very individual, and if we do not approach each situation one-on-one, we will never find a solution. I do not believe that everyone will eventually have a home because many of the drug addicts have a home, and they remain on the street "living the life." But, for the people who are mentally ill: they need care, and the state of mental health care in the US is terrible even for those who have insurance, a job, and loving support from friends and family. The people who want to work: they need to be hired. Hiring the homeless is also a challenge. As that gentleman in Oakland by the freeway stated, if they get hired, they will need showers, clean clothing, and transportation to and from work. Gee, instead of hiring 87,000 IRS workers, perhaps the President should have hired an army of social workers, counselors, and volunteers. Having said that, let me also say that the federal and state governments are the worst administrators of programs and normally make things worse. Look at the ridiculous wait times some of these folks told us they had. What the feds and states can do is fund local organizations that have proven programs that work. Like any grant program, the recipient organizations should submit a full account of the budget expenditures, their failures/success to the granting agency in order to receive further funding. Honestly, the best help for these people should come from local grassroots organizations such as churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc. Soup kitchens are OK, but all they do is keep people alive without getting them out of their circumstances.
The programs encourage the homeless to do nothing to improve their lot in life since they get everything they need for free from them. They live on the streets because the shelters stay full. Those that can and do work tend to have their own safe areas for their tents and parked vehicles. The police don't mind them if they keep their location free of trash and stay sober. Most of them are saving up as much money as possible to relocate elsewhere to work where the cost of living is much less.
They didn’t help, they drugged them up and left them inside (so you couldn’t see them and sadly 50 years later some are fine with that broken system. That’s not the answer. We have so many more resources today yet they don’t have the answers other than drug them and forget them. ❤️🙏🇺🇸. If you had a family of mental illness that’s where you would slam them and walk away. Love and patience.
They just need a lot more actual oversight than they did back then. And better hiring procedures so the folks that are supposed to be helping the insane are not ones who should be patients themselves. All of that is easier to pull off now with advances in technology.
Why we spending money, wars? We need money for people in our country. "according to their calculations, the United States spent $916 billion on national defense in 2023"
Your brave putting yourself out there like you did. I hope all get help as well, and even for those of us that are not homeless, knowing how close it could be now days is unsettling to say the least.
What would really help in this situation.. is to get the cost of rent down.. the rental industry has lost its mind.. and is completely out of touch with reality in our current economic situation.. also the real estate companies.. everything and I mean everything is overpriced and overvalued,.
I will admit I haven’t watched all your videos, yet all the ones you posted on this one, I remember watching. I guess they really are memorable. 👍🏼 👍🏼👍🏼
I live in Albuquerque and right in the middle of downtown I deal with homeless people on a daily basis and some have drug problems but most are good people that life situations be it of their making or situations beyond their control have put them on the streets. Here rents doubled after covid in some places and me and my wife pay more rent for a one bedroom duplex than our kids pay for a three bedroom house or our other daughter pays for a two bedroom apartment so if you had a place before COVID than likely you are much better off . Some of the elderly homeless simply can not afford rent , utilities , food etc By the grace of god although retired and disabled we manage to keep a roof over our heads.
"COVID" it's government policy that causes all the inflation.. they are the only onew that can print money and the politicians closed all the business .. thousands of restaurants closed during thier power trips im in Santa Fe new Mexico
Good video thank you for documenting this I hope all these people the best of luck its emotionally draining just seeing it I cant imagine being out there.
You're watching from a country with a tiny population. You might not have too many homeless, but Russia can invade your entire country within a few days and that will be very sad too.
@@tonnymiller123 no one cares where you're watching from. If you're so sad maybe send them some money. Otherwise keep your empty sentiments to yourself.
FENTANYL IS A PAIN REDUCER. j have a homeowner in my neighborhood that had fentanyl patches for his back...prescribed by his doctor. Obviously a slippery slope leading towards addiction.
I like to consume alcohol once in a while. I wasted time at a private college and paid my loans off. I served in the U.S. Air Force. I retired from one career with great pension. I now work in another profession that pays very good. I also live in one of the highest taxed states in the country. I feel no sorrow for these people. Reap what you sow.
@@fightingtosurvive6527 nothing. I'm not sick, crazy or addicted and smart enough to know I can't save the world. The one thing I can do is vote to get democrats out of political office who's policies got us into this mess.
The states ought to put these people to work. There is reason for most of modern history being a vagrant was illegal. There needs to be negative consequences to being on the streets, like the former British workhouse model, that could turn into a positive, if they learned a skill and contributed to society.
Punish people who suffer from mental illness and becoming addicted to cope with their mental health problems. Grow a heart and while you’re doing that perhaps a lot of common sense and compassion!❤
Thanks for covering this what MSM doesn't touch, even though this is the worst result in the entire western world. And as a German, I'm shocked, not by this topic alone, the other topics you present to us are shocking too, because we don't have this in Germany at all because we care about the community.
This country is so corrupt it’s sickening, the middle class will be joining these poor souls sooner than you think
Yep
No they won't. If you aren't lazy you won't end up like these losers
@@8corymix8 If you aren't lazy and your luck holds up. You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone. This was nearly me, 32 years ago, and I was anything but lazy.
There is no middle class anymore.
If Joe Biden get's back in, yes !
Nick Johnson has outdone every mainstream reporter covering the homeless problem in the US. This footage is moving and unfortunately very real. It’s obvious we have an untreated drug & psychiatric catastrophe occurring in this country. Thank you Nick for showing everyone the truth.
There’s no jobs therefore THIS HAPPENS
he should win a media award. this is what real news looks like. getting out there and interviewing , gaining perspective, approaching it unbiased just to get what others have to say.
@TruthPerspecive
👍🏾 TRUE THAT! 😁
Job well done, Nick! You have certainly opened many minds.
@@bigt2731 No, if there is no jobs for you then you need to move to another area. These people are obviously on drugs and have issues. Normal people move and don't turn to the streets. This is also the disconnected families and friends with a single mother supporting system (I bring that up because of the statistics of the people raised by single mothers and where they end up).
he should win a media award. this is what real news looks like. getting out there and interviewing , gaining perspective, approaching it unbiased just to get what others have to say.
i agree. A lot of people seem to think Nick has an easy job - but he really does his research and gets in the 'grit' of things.
Literally every content creator is doing this farming views off homeless people. They've been doing this for over a decade now
I had a Rwandan driver taking me to the hospital when i asked him if he was enjoying the U.S. and he started crying stating he wished he would have stayed because the US was the hardest place he ever saw to survive in.
I will gladly pay for his one way ticket back. Rest assured this is a made up story.
I believe him.
He was a " driver" in Rwanda...there's not as many vehicles..or drivers..And if you're a driver..you are held in esteem..It's a much sought after job..here..everyone is a driver..
Then he should go back!
Then he should go back!
wtf am I paying taxes for if we don't have services to help these people and give them the medical services and housing they need to live with dignity.
Absolutely ❤️
Unchecked military spending rules this country
💯percent
I know right? It’s sad they don’t give a dime. I hope someone can take a lead and help protect them and stand up for them for the services they need. I hope everyone in this video healthy and safe.
Let them into your house.
I can't believe how many people are homeless after becoming a widow or having an illness or injury. Our system is broken. Thanks for helping these people tell their stories Nick Johnson.
Joe will fix that.
@@ichsachjanurmalsoyes he will.. eventually he will make laws so we can't share the things we see..
YOU WILL OWN NOTHING, AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY... 😊
Klaus Schwab
В каком то смысле народ в США стал заложником американской мечты.В России в одном многоквартирном доме живет 1000 человек, бок о бок учителя, врачи, продавец, кассир, предприниматель, алкоголик, пенсионер.Дом на общем балансе, квартиры выкуплены
None of these people look happy to me.
Nick, that's a deep dive. It's tough to swallow. The mental issues are the common thread.
Clearly! Why do you think they turn to drugs? To try and cope as normally as they can until they become addicted. It’s heartbreaking. They have finally made it “okay to have mental illness “ yet when you’re living alone , mental illness and addiction how can we help them? I don’t think of places to plop them and walk away. Real solutions.
there is no mental issues, it is only drugs, they are drug junkies plain and simple
The common thread is the cruelty and insanity of the USA
Stop sending 196 billion dollars to Ukraine and help our Citizens!
Much of the money being sent to Ukraine and Israel is being laundered - the Militiary-Industrial Complex.
Don't forget the over 60 billion spent on illegal aliens right here at home.
Russian bot.
Money doesnt help. Most of these people refuse housing. Here in Ca we spent 24 billion on the homeless with nothing to show for it. The money just vanished. 24 BILLION in taxes.
Most of these people seem to be where they are by choice and because the system supports them way to much.
I saw in the news last year that millions of Americans are one paycheck away from being homeless.
That’s a budgeting issue, balancing a budget should be taught early on in school. Every time I travel to the USA I’m amazed at how cheap everything is.
@@Karalolcowlaw No, it's a low wages issue. The United States is expensive, especially with food and housing.
blame the democrat's in office .
@@KaralolcowlawWhen rent takes half the budget, utilities, gas, food, emergencies, etc., take the other half, it is not a budgeting issue.
Yep, that me
As a person from a third-world country, this is not the America you taught us about in Hollywood movies.
Та Америка существует только в кино
@@2200-au sorry i dont speak Ukrainian
@@reaktii я тоже не спикую. Я русский
@@2200-au Americans don't hate Russians by the way that is another lie. Our government wants us to hate Russia but we know it's all to gain power over us.
That's Hollywood. You believe everything you see in movies??😂
Meanwhile we send tens of billions of dollars to other countries all kinds of reasons. We need help here at home and need it now! Is this Build Back Better?
You ignore both parties vote for unlimited military spending right? 2 million American jobs rely on making weapons.
You think because there is a War in another Country that's how we keep our military industry going strong? You watch way too much news. We've NEVER had a problem with building a healthy stockpile of weapons for our military. If providing jobs to build more weapons is your focus then you've got mixed priorities. Those millions of jobs could be doing something constructive. Don't justify why War is so great for the economy. Sending weapons is only a small portion of those billions. If we wanted to spend money outside of America to benefit US I'd think there would be a better solution than paying for another Country's problems. Build a better idea.
These people don’t want help. They just want to stay high.
Build Back Broker
Democrat's !
Breaks my heart to see beautiful people broken down to dirt. May Jesus save us with his grace.
Jesus not doing much to help
Nope, leave Jesus out of it, they didn’t care about Jesus when they started taking drugs.
So glad this world is not our home! Praying for God to look after these people.🕊️
Ironically, many Americans are now moving to Mexico for a better life…can’t say I blame them either.
I'm considering it. Much safer than America now
also many here to Europe
@@JAN70V Poland is my choice
I’m considering it as well.
@@katev7945 smart girl
Keep up the good work Nick. Show the world what's really going on.
Meanwhile, Newsom can't explain what happened to all the money that was supposed to go to these people to help them.
And the people of California get blamed for our politicians going rogue. Remind me again how voting makes a difference? And I’ll remind you of 2020
You mean Newsom "won't" explain, not "can't" explain.
Democrat's !
As a Californian, please, please, please, everyone outside of CA please do some research about Newsom. Our country is already sinking rapidly, but if Newsom becomes POTUS, the United States is doomed. I'm not a right wing nut. I'm a man raising his children, trying to stay afloat. I can't leave CA unless my children's mother gives me permission. Even though I have full custody.
@@maxhatty You live there !?
Stay and turn the State RED !
Great reporting Nick! A sickening look at the crisis going on in America. It’s humiliating knowing many of my family members fought and died for this country. Expenses for people to have a simple home outweighs the money they can make to pay for it. Many of us are a paycheck away from homelessness.
I'm not a paycheck away from being homeless because I PROJECT into the future and that way I have more control of my situation in life.
what a video! our society is broken both morally, spiritually and for many, financially. not every homeless person is lazy or on drugs - some folks just can't fend for themselves.
I work as a helper for an old lady in Germany. She has her pension ( retirement income ) and she can afford to pay me decently. She is in a wheel chair since 1996 year, as post polio patient. All this years she had her monthly income and all of her medical needs are covered by the state. This is SOCIAL SECURITY at its best.
In America - she will be dead in a few months.
US is anti-human.
Thank you for highlighting the plight of the homeless. Mental Health issues are REAL
If you had made $500K on BTC as that one guy claimed, then why would you sleep in a tent with your pregnant girlfriend, next to a sketchy encampment with drugs etc going on. Sounds like an unbelievable story.
You can't believe anything homeless people tell you.
I think drugs just scramble their brains, they can’t think properly from so much usage.
Every time I see someone on the side of the road I give money and drive away crying. I was almost homeless and scared to death. I got a better job. Bless your heart and God help the USA.🇺🇸
Any they go buy heroin with it. You're brilliant
Don't give money or drive away crying. I knew a man that was homeless pretty well. He received SSI benefits. Every day, he would go to a freeway exit and spend about 2 hours with a sign. He would come back with $60 on average. Then he would go to local restaurants at closing time and they'd sell him cheap plates. For example, the Mexican food place would give him a huge plate of rice and beans and a protein for $2. He had plenty of money. Just enjoyed being "homeless" and not having any responsibility. You have a beautiful heart and soul. At the same time, you are being taken advantage of.
I've been screamed at for doing the same thing. Been told the same story about people faking poverty while living like kings. I hope I never lose my humanity for others.
Be careful.
We need more mental health facilities for American people and no money for people who are here illegally. Tremendous work Nick
We need mandatory asylums. Open them back up. I’d rather my tax dollars went to that.
I'd rather have cheap labor than wasting money on these addicts.
@@johndong7524 Not gonna lie, dude. That's an extremely scummy thing to say.
@@DinoCon No, it's not. Illegal immigrants bring value to this country unlike these drug addicts. I don't see them doing farm work or contributing in any other way.
@@DinoCon Cry about it.
Homelessness is a real problem all over America and I don't see an end to it
Just don't understand why we can't emulate countries like Finland that have mostly solved the problem. Oh yeah, the US is somehow morally opposed to providing any sort of social safety net.
I'm sorry- the first guy with the "injury" that he claimed he got at work? Nope... That is an abscess from IV drug use. He's so full of crap. Don't give ANY money to these people!!!!
Most are severe addicts. They try to cover it up or act as if their situation was just bad luck. Calling them homeless just obfuscates the real issue of addiction.
I see it this way, if I was homeless I could be tempted to use some kind of drug to ease my misery. But what they need is some kind of hope to motivate them to get some help and kick the addiction.
@@UncommonSense-nb5owHOW ABOUT CALLING THEM VERMIN
@@damerochelle4014There is always a way out. Its called a job interview.
I concur as an ex IV drug user (over 4 years narcotic free),I had 2 of those abscesses in 5 years but I knew how to take care of it and I did. I have a scar in both spots. If he is STILL insisting on hanging around helping his friends; feeding them & letting them sleep in his little camper? I would bet my life that his real problem is drugs and he's CLEARLY in denial!!
I can't believe that they gave 60 USD BILLION TO UKRAIN
Believe it
Right
And israhell
They turn their heads the other way. 2yrs homeless living in a cheap motel now.
196 billion
Your work captures these stories with humility, honesty, and without bias.
Got billions to give to wars and other countries (Ukraine)...but BIG F to our own. Even if the homeless citizen is lazy and on drugs, I'd rather take care of them than the political interests around the globe. Politian crooks would love us all to be down and out.
I'd rather give to Ukraine. At least they are putting it to good use.
Try harder, Russian bot.
Russian bot.
The Government doesn't just support wars with our taxpayer money, but all the migrants coming here need a piece of the pie, too.
You forgot Israel
This is excellent work. This should win an award.
I can't believe Nick doesn't have 10 million subs. Top notch, real journalism. Asks all the questions, isn't afraid to go into the worst of America.
UA-cam throttle
He’s right - being a homeless drug addict is a full time job - stealing everything not bolted down and looking over your shoulder nonstop is hard work.
Fulltime absolute ly
We’ve all had tragedy, stress, mental health issues but we keep going. We don’t sit around in the dirt taking drugs blaming the government, lying, and acting feral.
I agree about the drug addictions however I think our govt is responsible for creating the conditions that led us to the crisis we’re in right now. People are working full time jobs and living in their cars.
Our country is in very very deep trouble… we send billions of dollars overseas to people that probably wish we didn’t… and a Few that do.
We have American citizens living like wild raccoons. This is the new world order playing out.
God Bless our country and peace to the people
Thanks for the video Nick. Among other things, your videos help me realize all the good things in my life that I take for granted everyday.
Me too
Absolutely 💯percent!
Anyone working hard won't end up like this
It’s not red vs blue it’s the uni-party vs you. Abolish the uni-party and start over.
“It’s not drug addiction”
“Well how’d you get here?”
“…drug addiction “
Whenever I get homesick, I use your videos as motivation to stay away from America
Most of these people are Cookoo for Cocoa Puffs.
cookoo from fentanyl you mean
Who isn't these days?
Yo Nick, you deserve ALL the views for this content..... respect
USA government should construct tiny houses for poor and homeless people because they do have rights to live as human beings. Who will voice for these helpless people. US government is responsible for this miserable living conditions.
Some local governments have tried it but, being a government project, very little is built for a lot of money.
Lots of BS from some of these homeless.
They still deserve government handouts.
Amen !
@BigSCTVfan Are you serious, please tell me your not serious.
@@galegrazutis964 I think they're saying this tongue and cheek....at least I hope so too.
Yeah sure.
They all just get homeless for fun right?
Stop doing drugs, develop your skill, live a life of personal responsibility, discipline your mind
It's not that easy for some people.
Who said it was easy?
Can you think of other causes of homelessness besides addiction, mental illness, criminal record, lack of family support, lack of education, low employment rate, trauma?
Absolutely not, that’s the reasons why we are here.❤️🙏
Laziness.
@@johndong7524exactly. People who work hard will never end up like these goofs
Can't stop addiction or mental illness and they need records for there crimes. There family has given up for a good reason most likely it's why they have no friends to help them to or they came from a single mother and the statistics they produce. You really don't have a educational excuse in America because the availability is there for all children they just have to Want to work at it. All my family has work and my aunts kids in there 20's all 7 have jobs, Are you saying they can't get the Exact job they want? Trama is sad but to let it stop you from going on with life is crazy.
Dv and divorce or losing your spouse is a big one.
1:16 i would take that woman to the bus station and pay for her bus ticket and some lodging. some of these people are angels in disguise.
None of them are angels in disguise. This problem will never get better if we face it as children instead of as adults.
@@williamwilson6499 dont be so sure.
I read through many of the comments from Nick’s videos-and, one MAJOR thing that sticks out when people from other countries comment is that this does not happen in many modernized countries outside the US. What are we doing wrong????
GREED is our number one problem
Plenty of poverty and homelessness in the world. The people who comment are immature, sheltered, and ill informed. US does plenty for the needy, but some people are beyond helping. Surely you will find some bad cases in a country with 325 million population. Don't be too quick to judge the state and the government. Some of the blame belongs to the homeless themselves.
We are more divided than other peer countries
That's right manager!
@@johndong7524
Yuh cant hide from the truth...this sht is going on all over America...
Now that´s a noble move: Helping those people and giving them a voice!
This is what happen when you promote drug
My man @Nick Johnson, the thing that blows my mind is most of these people use to be like you and myself. Unfortunately due to life decisions most of these people will never be like us again.
But they are they're still trying to share their stories knowing how bad it looks. Knowing they likely will never know anything different again. . It's up to people like us to educate and stop this cycle. Keep doing what you do.
Just remember they didn't start life like this. . If they did even . . Respect the fact that they reached back to you for an interview..
Be safe nick and thank you for the things you bring to the light.
But no problem with sending money to Ukraine.
Disgusting
Blame Biden's voter's for that !
And how about Israel
My 21yr old granddaughter wants t work in medical as a social worker.Low salary range of $54,000 She ask me grandma, can I have my own apt. on that salary. NOPE 😮😢😢😢
She can use the experience to take her to law school
@@jmiller3579Law school is a scam. Too many "extra" lawyers (no legal work available). I'm a licensed attorney.
@@jmiller3579 this is precisely why I returned to school at 43. law school is the only thing that makes sense if I want to support myself and my kids in this economy
Yes, she can. I make less than that and I bought a house 2 years ago.
I respect You Nick! You are doing good work. People need to see this, and understand we need to stop helping the world when we are bad shape here at home.🙏
This is sad, I never thought there were places like this in America, what we see on TV is totally different. I thought it's only us here in Africa who experience this kind of poverty.
They can work out of it. It's hard, but they can get their lives back.
No way that 90% of homeless plan on personally earning their own way out of their situation!! It’s “Societies fault”!! If most of them saved up $100, where would they spend it!!? Let’s cut the BS.
Yeeh😊
On dope or junk
I was homeless 3 times in my life but I didn't get help from anyone. I wasn't homeless due to drugs, alcohol, or money I was homeless because there were no Apts available. Imagine that 😂😂😂😂 Being American in America 🇺🇸 the only place where our people live on the streets and give everything to the undocumented
I'm curious.. what would you do with $100 if you were homeless?
@@ChrisBCards $100 given to me as as a homeless individual? Get high! Drink alcohol! Ignore what tomorrow COULD BE!!!
That simple.
Nick! Wow, this is an awesome version of your usual footage! Keep it up and keep safe! Love this!!!!
What the heck is wrong with this country. I keep hearing the stories of the homeless, and after hearing them talk about their situation I discover that many of them, are smart and did everything right. That could be any of us. No politician is even talking about the 2 things that most people worry about. Housing and transportation.
The majority are lazy junkies
Mappy would know what to do with those people 😅
Mappy has been getting kinda sassy lately! 🗺️ 😂
Love mappy😅😅😅😅❤❤❤❤
I lived a good life. Lost it all because of drinking. Spent two nights on the streets at Myrtle Beach in February and it was miserable. No resources, no friends. By the grace of God, i was accepted back by my family. But being out there, i was hopeless and couldn't stop drinking because of the stress. These people live very difficult lives. I don't know why anyone would choose to live on the streets. My experience was brief but it nearly drove me to suicide. Life is much better three months later. But i know i am so close to ending up back in Hell
I think of these people because they don't have the family resources I do
It’s sad. God please help these people 😢
If they worked hard like the rest of us, they could help themselves
@@8corymix8
Boy there's a lot of incels on this comment thread who think that they're above the rest of us. You're too dumb 2 live.
they have to want help .
Hes asking good questions and the folk are responding as best they can because hes repectful and genuine. It really is award worthy
Herein lies part of the problem; if you are a landlord who gets paid by the government, you can get exorbitant amounts of rent, and that in turn helps you keep up with regulations. A landlord who gets paid by private citizens often falls behind on upkeep especially to 'code' (gov standards) and end up folding. The fewer private pay landlords there are, the higher the rent for gov regulated housing - even if their tenants aren't gov subsidized, and more people are pushed into homelessness - waiting for the gov to help.
It's a vicious cycle.
My heart goes out to all these people.
Please note i'm only highlighting part of the problem, we all know it's much more complex than that.
Thanks Nick
You can’t even talk to half these people because of how out of touch with reality they are. What happened to the asylums..
Wrong! Open up the psych wards back in the last 70 plus years, so you don’t have to feel bad about this people. Love and patience. Take a step back and think if this was you! You have been born with mental illness…seriously think about it before tossing out a flip post.❤️🙏
This should never ever be happening in our beautiful country 😢😢 FJB 🤬
This is a consequence of freedom bozo. People have the freedom to make their own decisions . People have the freedom to do drugs , have the freedom to ignore family wishes . Ignore societal standards .
In Afghanistan there are no homeless because the Taliban will beat you and force you into a mosque to be a monk .
You can’t have freedom and then be upset at poor choices
Everyone says what we need is free public housing , we did that before in the 70s . Was called the projects and it was a disaster . What these people need is forced rehab
DJT for Jail 20-24 years!
@ci6516 its not freedom. it's laws not being enforced. freedom doesn't mean what you think it does. we have a govermwnt that's supposed to enforce laws. but they don't enforce anything. the border is wide the F open and drugs pouring across the border. drugs ruin lives. drugs lead to homelessness. if we want to help these ppl....build the wall. stop the pouring of drugs. death sentence for all drug dealers deal hard narcotics. that is what Trump will do once elected. this mess will get cleaned up by the government enforcing the law. You're truly homeless ppl... ive met vets. that want to be homeless and not have the responsibility ...I'm fine with that. but that's not most homeless. most homeless are homeless because of drugs
Never!
Too sad to watch
Thx4share great Journalism Nick 👍
I love how you talk to these folks. A few clearly are mentally unstable; you just skip on through and ask another question. And then the ones who you can tell are intelligent. And how about a vet, homeless, now wtf is up with that! Sad.
Thanks nick. For doing this.
I have a tiny house but too many rules🙄 typical. I won’t take something free if I have to follow rules. I have no sympathy.
Rules are a good thing when there's more than one person involved.
The oppositional defiance amazes me.
@@lacrokodileshe is the problem😊
And she is going to be a Santa’s helper? With children? Lord no!
Nick, thank you so very much for this in depth video on our homeless people. The problems are very individual, and if we do not approach each situation one-on-one, we will never find a solution. I do not believe that everyone will eventually have a home because many of the drug addicts have a home, and they remain on the street "living the life." But, for the people who are mentally ill: they need care, and the state of mental health care in the US is terrible even for those who have insurance, a job, and loving support from friends and family. The people who want to work: they need to be hired. Hiring the homeless is also a challenge. As that gentleman in Oakland by the freeway stated, if they get hired, they will need showers, clean clothing, and transportation to and from work. Gee, instead of hiring 87,000 IRS workers, perhaps the President should have hired an army of social workers, counselors, and volunteers. Having said that, let me also say that the federal and state governments are the worst administrators of programs and normally make things worse. Look at the ridiculous wait times some of these folks told us they had. What the feds and states can do is fund local organizations that have proven programs that work. Like any grant program, the recipient organizations should submit a full account of the budget expenditures, their failures/success to the granting agency in order to receive further funding. Honestly, the best help for these people should come from local grassroots organizations such as churches, synagogues, mosques, temples, etc. Soup kitchens are OK, but all they do is keep people alive without getting them out of their circumstances.
well said..God Bless you !
The programs encourage the homeless to do nothing to improve their lot in life since they get everything they need for free from them. They live on the streets because the shelters stay full. Those that can and do work tend to have their own safe areas for their tents and parked vehicles. The police don't mind them if they keep their location free of trash and stay sober. Most of them are saving up as much money as possible to relocate elsewhere to work where the cost of living is much less.
Love what you do to bring the truth to us!! Thank you Nick!
Bring back asylums
They didn’t help, they drugged them up and left them inside (so you couldn’t see them and sadly 50 years later some are fine with that broken system.
That’s not the answer. We have so many more resources today yet they don’t have the answers other than drug them and forget them. ❤️🙏🇺🇸.
If you had a family of mental illness that’s where you would slam them and walk away. Love and patience.
They just need a lot more actual oversight than they did back then. And better hiring procedures so the folks that are supposed to be helping the insane are not ones who should be patients themselves. All of that is easier to pull off now with advances in technology.
And bring back all the jobs that got shipped offshore in the 70's and 80's. It turns out that we need them.
Exactly.
Hi Nick n ALL !!! ❤ 🕊 Pray ALL is Well n Fine !!! ❤ 🕊 ThankYou4Sharing!!! MuchLove
Why we spending money, wars? We need money for people in our country. "according to their calculations, the United States spent $916 billion on national defense in 2023"
That's a lot of money
So just give free money to these people while everyone else works for theirs?
Your brave putting yourself out there like you did. I hope all get help as well, and even for those of us that are not homeless, knowing how close it could be now days is unsettling to say the least.
What would really help in this situation.. is to get the cost of rent down.. the rental industry has lost its mind.. and is completely out of touch with reality in our current economic situation.. also the real estate companies.. everything and I mean everything is overpriced and overvalued,.
Its disgusting that Americans can't afford a decent place to live help the Americans before anyone else
Why should they get free housing or anything for that matter!
The big shabang!!!! Only 20 seconds in & I already know I'm in for a sweet ride, thank you Nick for the great content. Greetings from Arkansas
Hope you enjoyed.
I will admit I haven’t watched all your videos, yet all the ones you posted on this one, I remember watching. I guess they really are memorable. 👍🏼 👍🏼👍🏼
Fantastic job 👍👏❤ hearing these stories.
Thanks 🙏
Thanks for showing the world the dark end of the street. Keep em coming.
Great coverage nick. Best i have seen.
I live in Albuquerque and right in the middle of downtown I deal with homeless people on a daily basis and some have drug problems but most are good people that life situations be it of their making or situations beyond their control have put them on the streets.
Here rents doubled after covid in some places and me and my wife pay more rent for a one bedroom duplex than our kids pay for a three bedroom house or our other daughter pays for a two bedroom apartment so if you had a place before COVID than likely you are much better off .
Some of the elderly homeless simply can not afford rent , utilities , food etc
By the grace of god although retired and disabled we manage to keep a roof over our heads.
"COVID" it's government policy that causes all the inflation.. they are the only onew that can print money and the politicians closed all the business .. thousands of restaurants closed during thier power trips im in Santa Fe new Mexico
Move or apply for subsidized housing.
Good video thank you for documenting this I hope all these people the best of luck its emotionally draining just seeing it I cant imagine being out there.
Good morning Nick, good to see you, Thanks for the video, Regards Simon, Dumpster Diver in Adelaide Australia 😊
Another Gem Nick
i watch from belgium and this looks incredible sad
from Denmark myself and yes..this is sooo sad.
From Germany,
this is hard to watch.
What happend to this Country?
You're watching from a country with a tiny population. You might not have too many homeless, but Russia can invade your entire country within a few days and that will be very sad too.
@@tonnymiller123 no one cares where you're watching from. If you're so sad maybe send them some money. Otherwise keep your empty sentiments to yourself.
The ego of some americans is so inflated. Always think that they are the only on earth
This is so sad... thanks Nick. We need to be aware of how far all of this goes. This country is falling down so fast...
Planned demolition
Thank you for your excellent work!!! 👏👏👏
Been homeless before myself.
I'm currently homeless 😔
We're going to be by August
@@Northwest425 don't give up i have to got out of it but don't let your self sink in and make that your life
Why ?
Always dropping amazing content, Nick
Pregnant and homeless..very sad.
FENTANYL IS A PAIN REDUCER. j have a homeowner in my neighborhood that had fentanyl patches for his back...prescribed by his doctor. Obviously a slippery slope leading towards addiction.
I like to consume alcohol once in a while. I wasted time at a private college and paid my loans off. I served in the U.S. Air Force. I retired from one career with great pension. I now work in another profession that pays very good. I also live in one of the highest taxed states in the country. I feel no sorrow for these people. Reap what you sow.
Everyone wants to come here to "better their lives," well...good luck.
Great video as always Nick Johnson thanks again for the endless entertainment 😊😊😊😊
Thank you, Nick.
You could spend all the money in the U.S. on the homless and drug problem and still not fix it. It is not an illness that can be fixed with money.
And what are YOU doing to help??
@@fightingtosurvive6527 nothing. I'm not sick, crazy or addicted and smart enough to know I can't save the world. The one thing I can do is vote to get democrats out of political office who's policies got us into this mess.
The states ought to put these people to work. There is reason for most of modern history being a vagrant was illegal. There needs to be negative consequences to being on the streets, like the former British workhouse model, that could turn into a positive, if they learned a skill and contributed to society.
Punish people who suffer from mental illness and becoming addicted to cope with their mental health problems. Grow a heart and while you’re doing that perhaps a lot of common sense and compassion!❤
Most would not do the work. How many of these people would you let handle your equipment, your customers, your cash register?
Thanks for covering this what MSM doesn't touch, even though this is the worst result in the entire western world. And as a German, I'm shocked, not by this topic alone, the other topics you present to us are shocking too, because we don't have this in Germany at all because we care about the community.
Kids, don’t do drugs.