Homeless on a Billboard
June 12, 2010 by Kathy McManus
When an Austin charity called Mobile Loaves and Fishes wanted to raise awareness about homelessness, they hoisted a homeless man named Danny 50 feet in the air to live for two days on the catwalk of a billboard towering over a Texas interstate.
The billboard featured a gigantic arrow pointing at Danny, and according to Good, “a simple series of declarations—‘I am Danny. I am homeless. I am here’—and a number to which drivers could text $10 donations.” Reaching a $12,000 goal allowed Mobile Loaves and Fishes to buy a used mobile home for Danny and his sick wife to live in.
But is there “something off,” Good asked, about putting a homeless man on such public display? “Danny was living on the streets and no one was worried about him,” said a representative of the ad agency that helped create the billboard event. “Not much has changed except he is 50 feet higher and people are taking notice.”
Not everyone liked what they saw, however. The Austin-American Statesman reported that Danny admitted being homeless for 15 years, blaming “drinking and ‘being hard-headed’” for much of his situation. “I watched this dude climb a 30 ft. ladder with no guardrails to get to the top of the billboard on TV,” one reader wrote. “He can get a friggin job.” “Why do we reward people who choose to do the wrong thing?” another said. “Most of us pay our taxes, work hard and do the right thing…never to get help.”
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35 Comments
What do you think? Leave a comment
June 12, 2010 by Christian Louboutin
Nice Information.. Thx for sharing this
information
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August 17, 2011 by Susie Hortman
You think he can get a job--when you have had trauma--you can't pretend to be normal--a job can mean to someone that you are a prisoner just like you were in a war or as a child--the stress that you and I can handle someone else can't--and if your wife is disabled--who takes care of her---judgment is not your place--don't order that cheeseburger today and feel better about yourself--judgment is just an excuse not to give to the needs of the poverty stricken and in case you don't know--to get a real job now requires there be a job and you have an address means to get there---etc. your just mad because you have the mental capacity to give--put that energy into something else like going out of your way to feed someone who is hungry----stop judging---and start being a part of a solution-----and if you haven't walked in his shoes then your opinion is worthless. "Abilene's Child"
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October 10, 2011 by Leo
I am also homeless and disabled by no choice of my own. about half of the homeless are not their by choice.
Sincerely, Freezing Under My Try in Colorado Snow
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January 17, 2012 by Liberty
I get so sick and tired of people passing judgement on whatever action must homeless do. ie " They are lazy, have drug issues, they have BO, they just want to live from the "hard working people" , no motivation and now they are doing the wrong thing to get some small pay back. Let's try to be proactive more and more let's not give a hand down but an hand up.
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July 29, 2010 by M.L.
Why is that when people bring up chronically homeless single adults, the issue of laziness or not working hard enough always comes up.
I'm so sick of people just assuming that because someone has been homeless for many years and may or may not have a drinking addiction, that that means that they're simply lazy.
Most of the hard working and successful people I know are lucky, and were blessed with good genes and lots of energy, not to mention a positive attitude and little prone-ness to mental illness. If they are mentally ill, they tend to respond well to medication.
Most chronically homeless people have had more bad luck than the general population, and some have severe mental illness, the kind that doesn't seem to respond to any medications (without severe fatigue - making work impossible) or therapy.
I do not believe that laziness causes homelessness. I believe that fatigue and bad luck/trauma cause inability to work as hard as everyone else, and this may lead to homelessness if the individual wasn't born in to wealth or a caring family. Besides, right now, there are 5 unemployed people for every 1 job.
Not everyone is well enough to work
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January 27, 2011 by Kathy
I agree with you 100%. It's very, very sad that there are so many cruel, judgmental people out there who assume that because someone is homeless they are just a lazy "good for nothing" addict. What this world needs is caring, compassionate people who actually care about one another and will HELP one another before it's too late. There are many people who have suffered some form of trauma that completely changed their lives. I know, because I am one of them. I am a 58 year old woman who began working at the age of 14, completed 3 years of college, and worked very, very hard for 38 years. I was also the only care-giver to my chronically ill husband for the last 6 years of his life. Both of us were professionals and worked diligently all our lives. Then, my husband died and my whole life was turned upside down financially. I am now living in poverty and about to lose my home, my credit, everything I've worked so hard for all my life. I do not have any family that can help me. Never in a million years did I ever think this would happen to me. I DID NOT DESERVE THIS. All I did is work, work, work, and give, give, give all my life. It's a tragedy of huge magnitude. I did not DO anything wrong to have made this happen and do not deserve to be judged by heartless, uncompassionate people.
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August 13, 2010 by Beverly VanBuren
No matter how many times people are admonished not to judge others, human nature overtakes us and we have a personal opinion about someone's behaviors. Its hard enough to keep it to ourselves without open invitations to share it. We all want to matter. This forum invites us to share but its purpose is to raise our sense of responsibility. We can't know what the driving force is behind homelessness or why some seem suited to it while others require rescuing. Rather than being angry at those who accept charity when others need it but none is available, consider the chaos in "everyone for themselves". Be grateful that when and if you are truly down and out, when family can't be bothered or may even be the instigator, there are hearts that stay open to provide what they are able. I am grateful for everything they've shared with me. I've 'been there,done that' and I am a grandmother who raised four of another woman's children along with my own two and half the latch key kids in our neighborhood. When his children were no longer living in our home, my husband no longer needed a wife and I was displaced and suffered a deep depression. It took nearly a decade to rediscover my self but I lost everything along the way except my faith in God whose faith in ME is the element that sustains me. Society owes every child born to it the reassurance that it will stand behind them especially since it demands the same from the adults those children become.
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May 15, 2011 by Beauty In The Ugly Truth
UGLY TRUTH: Time and unforeseen occurrence befall us all. Ec 9: 11 Those that feel they are above reproach, BEWARE! One day it may be you needing the help, as you now, reluctantly give. As a matter of fact one mentioned paying taxes. APPLAUSE!!! " Well we must pay taxes,the govt. requires it." they say. Of course, and its for helping little babies without parents, or you when you retire. Huh!!! Perhaps a disaster from the elements that sweeps an entire town or country. All this is fine, well and good however I want to ask the JUDGEMENTAL persons out there a question. " WHEN DID THE HOMELESS STOP BEING PEOPLE? " Think about how the govt has taken your hard earned tax dollars you loyally pay and trust the govt. put away for your social security income. Bad Investment??? No choice! You probably wont get it because, Oh, its gone!!! Govt. spent it on what they wanted. UGLY TRUTH: Each homeless person has their own personal disaster story to tell. If the self righteous people in this world would take their nose out of the air and put their ear to the ground, they would hear a lot of crying. UGLY TRUTH: The next voice you hear may be a loved one or perhaps even your own. IMAGINE THAT!! Will people help you? Will you help your family member !! PROBABLY NOT !! Why, you ask? UGLY TRUTH: We are all two weeks to two years from living under the bridge. Our flippin govt. is bankrupt, with our money. No one has the time to take and help. LET IT BE YOU ! If your friends and family don't run away faster than a terrorrist threat. Then Good for you. People just don't have the time. They say. UGLY TRUTH: There is enough time, energy, money, monetary funds, warm space, land, food, clothing, shelter, medical attention/supplies to furnish every human being alive on this planet with a reasonable lifestyle. WHAT REALLY CAUSES HOMELESSNESS???? UGLY TRUTH: THEY WERE TOLD A LIE/LIES? FROM THE HEART; The seat of motivation! All the intangibles people possess: Power, Money, Security, Fame, Fortune, Status, Self Righteousness, Pride, Greed, Politics, Advertising, Fear, Time, Commercialism, Corruption, etc............This list goes on and on. UGLY TRUTH: WE NEED MORE LOVE FOR ALL HUMAN LIFE! 1 Corinthians 13 Read it!! Even if you don't believe the Bible. Read it as poetry! There Lyes the Beauty in The Ugly Truth!!!
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August 17, 2010 by life broken
okay here is my story i am a single mom and im not a drug addict or acholic by disabled with a heart condition. I have two daughters 15 and 19 and dont even own a home been in a relationship for 10yrs and now he wants to start a new life with someone whos not sick and is in prefect health. i have three dogs that i just called a dog pound and was told that they would have to be put down because they are too old they are like my kids too so where or what do i do now. i didnt ask for this life it was dealt to me. the girls have a dead beat dad that owes 42,000.00 in back child support and refuses to pay themi only get 944.00 amonth that would not even cover a apartment. this is what happens when you are lead to believe that your love is for ever wrong they meet someone better with more money and then they leave you. so i will probably be like some of those out there begging in the streets. i have called everywhere for help and everything is a waiting game. so how do i fix my life when there are no doorsm opening.
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October 29, 2010 by Merri B
You take that dead beat Dad to court to show why he cannot or will not pay. They will likely give him a deadline to pay before jailing him. You can also get an IRS tax intercept placed on him. ALL of his tax returns will be withheld and used to pay the arrears. IF he is stupid enough to respond by asking, "well how am I going to pay if I'm sitting in jail?", the response to that is that if he's not paying anyway, what difference does it make WHERE he's sitting? Courts take a very dim view of parent's who refuse to support their children
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April 28, 2011 by mary
You must be one of those woman out their that base their existense on the mans income. You know what go ahead and through man in jail or take away their drivers license. Everyone loses, because its that taxpayer that has to pay the bill while the man sits in jail. If you take away his license than how is going to get to work and most likely will end up in jail because of being arrested for driving without a license. Recently my good friends ex lost his job and she was getting paid from his unemployment check but then his check ran out and if he can't find a job that paid him what he was making before he will most likely end up homeless or in jail because he can't pay his child support. I really for sorry for all the men out there that are out of work in these hard times we all face at the present time. Even if they do find a job it probably ain't the same pay they made before so I just have to say that hard times are coming for everyone.
August 23, 2010 by kelly
Being Homeless is not fun my family and i have been homeless before and we tried to get help and everyone had the same response no there is NO FUNDING at this time and my family and i struggled for the longest time my husband and i when without food and my family sleep in tents for months we had no gas to find a job and when we did we could barely make it there and we didnt have family around to help and the missions would make us live separtly men/wemon policies no one would help thay looked at us if they where haveing the same problems i think that the gov. can put out more than they do people just dont care like thay used to my husband and i are now working and paying our bill but with very little i feel for all those little boys and girls and families out there doing without and still supporting the goverment over there kids only because they have to bottom line is be in there shoes for a day then say that crap that your talkin.
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August 30, 2010 by jon hites
I was homeless for three years living in riverside, california. I was a constant target of the sheriffs department they took my van with all that I had owned and promised me that I would get back all of my property, big lie there, it all went to a place called hillside auto salvage where they took anything of value and sold it on the lot and then my personal belongings such as all of my personal information was thrown in the trash, tell me how hard it is to get a job much less establish identity. they would come in to my camp and ransack the place and also pour water in my medication and I was hit by a car and the lady worked for the county and they let her go. You survive on your wits out there and life is as hard as you can make but this has taught me to be humble for the smallest things that you get out there. I am now 14 months sober and living in a place near skid row in los angeles and they serve us poor food but it is a place to stay out of the elements and I am trying to go to oklahoma where my family is and unable to save the money but I have faith that something will change and I will get me a job and live a responsible, productive life
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August 31, 2010 by Jeanna Willard
God tells us who believe in what the bible says: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself." and also "what you do for the least of these you do for me (Jesus)." This is the reason why we should help those in need, no matter how they got that way. Every single person on this earth does things that God who is our Heavenly Falther doesn't like, but He never gives up on us and He has promised that He never will.
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August 31, 2010 by Kurt
I believe that some people don't get a choice like most of us think they do. We don't make a choice to be homeless we end up that way sometimes because we don't want to be a burden on people who are in a good position and can work everyday. We can work like others but since we don't have what we need to start like clothes and a place to bath it would be an imposition and awkward for us to have a host that doesn't look back on the many problems that homelessness can bring to someone. It took a long time to lose hold of my possessions and my life as it was and end up in the streets. It is a slow process recovering. I could not do so without somebody who is tolerant. Its difficult to think that at some point I may have said wait a minute. But it probably would not have mattered. It is sometimes a choice to solve problems the wrong way and alone. It takes time to think about all the things but once your out and in the streets its a different world much harder.
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September 1, 2010 by gina
im a 18 year old girl who's only dream in life is to open a homeless shelter whether or not that leaves me homeless. i know what its like to not have a place to sleep at night and i know what its like to go days at a time without eating. not all homeless people do drugs and are homeless because they WANT to be. Most are because they get fired or are disabled or have a drug problem. it truely isnt thier fault. the way i look at it is they are people who need a friend to help them out of thier situation. a friend to tell them thats not a way to live and i can help you. ya so what we pay taxes, were blessed TO pay taxes. in my eyes everyones equal and im willing to d owhat it takes to help them. they are just ordinary people like you and i, just unfortunate.
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September 3, 2010 by It's Not about YOU.....it's about US ALL
I am disabled, first physical, then mental depression, which both would be nice if I had a magic heal thyself wand. I get a check for about 800 dollars a month. I live in daily pain, can not take pain medication, due to stomach problems. If it were not for my mother, my home would be my car. Even if I had that to live in, would end up having to kill myself. I could not care for myself with this amount of income, need a bathroom due to health issues. So when I hear others say people are homeless just due to being a lazy idiot or on drugs, if you walked one week in any of these peoples lives before they ended up homeless, You might see how they got where they are. Perhaps a few percent are out there because as You say, due to being lazy, but MOST are not.
It is sad that people with any type of disablity now days are kicked to the so called curb, human curb or humanity! You would help out a sick animal much quicker then You would for another fellow human. Regardless of Skin color or what nationality. They put sick dogs, horses and other animals down, why not humans if they wish it? Everyone seems to think their idea or ways are the only ways!!!!!!!! Open Your Mind to new thoughts and ideas about others and grow UP!!!!!!
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September 3, 2010 by tammy
just becomeing homeless is really no laughing matter. i have two little dogs who are like my children i also have a 15 year old who lives with her dad who i try to hide this life from. I wasnt always like this just 3 months ago i had a house a full time job a backyard my dogs could play in food in my fridge electricity heat air yes i struggled but i had it. all it took was a little dip in the road and it was all gone from my liscense which in turn my job then my personal vehicle to nothing now i resort to flashlights and bags upon bags. What im trying to say i would sit on billboard for a week if i could even just get my liscense back then i could get my job back sure i would like it all but that is most important you got to start somewhere
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September 21, 2010 by Raylene Johnson
It is nice to see people standing up for the homeless!!! I was starting to think nobody cared anymore. I have struggled for years and have been homeless. I wish it was easier to go to school and I would be doing much better and not struggling so much!! If they made it so you could go to colleage on-line easier and cheaper alot of people could get a better education at least. I can not afford the gas to get to the colleage and back all the time and most on-line colleages cost to much as you need to pay a payment every month even after financial aid gives them lots of money. Why does the worlds information cost so much to learn when learning is the reason we are here -- I believe!!! HELP THE HOMELESS - who cares how they became homeless at least give people a dry warm place to sleep and a little food!
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