Young And Homeless

Have you ever walked past a homeless person on the street and wondered who they were? Where did they come from? How did they end up in this situation? Bobb is a homeless youth who lives in Berkeley, California. Here, he shares some insights about life on the streets.

Bobb is not his real name. In fact, he has two others that he regularly uses. I wonder if either of them is real. Bobb says, "A nick name is good for everybody. My orginal first nick name just stuck. Once you use it people get it."

Bobb is 21-years old. He is Anglo. He stands about 5 foot 7 and weighs about 150 pounds. He is well groomed. He speaks like a college kid which he was at one point in his life. Where does he come from? Figuring that is harder than find out his real name. There are many young people like Bobb in Berkeley, California. They wander the streets begging for loose change. They hang out in groups, sitting in front of stores playing guitars accompanied by pet dogs.. They come from all over the country. They are known as "street kids", "wandering spirits" and "travelers". What draws them to Berkeley?

Perhaps, its the temperate weather, the community, the history. The youth counterculture movement of the sixties had its roots here. In 1967, Scott McKenzie scored a top ten hit with "Are You Going To San Francisco?" It was the anthem of the "summer love" when young people from all over the United States descended on the San Francisco Bay Area. They came to northern California in search of freedom and self identity. They called themselves "hippies." Today, youth hitchhike from all over America to the same region for the same reasons. Here the sixties never ended.

Bobb came here to Berkeley in search of a family member. He said, "I actually got off a town or two away. I met this dude on the train and I got off at the wrong stop following him. I had never been to the Bay Area before and I was good and lost. I found there was no easy way to get to San Francisco from where I landed. I didn't know how to get to BART. I didn't know even know what BART was. It took two or three hours to find my way. Finally, I made it. I got to Berkeley and then I looked for my brother. That took me another day or two. I started hanging out with people for a while. I just saw people on the streets and started talking. I love a good conversation. Even if its' just small talk.

"One person introduced me to the usuals. He ended up on not so good terms with everyone on the streets. And one day, he's just gone. That's what happens out here. Someone can just show up out of no where and say, "Hi, I'm so and so from X,Y,Z place!" And then, one day they disappear without a word or a trace. I got known as the guy who was with the other guy.

"A lot of the relationship arguments and issues that you happen in a regular family, pop up in your street family. I don't get caught up in people'sbusiness. I don't help. You lose time. A lot of time, its' a lot of useless back and forth. People stay out of out other people's business out here.

"Panhandling is horrible out here. You have to look horrible to panhandle. If I'm really bad off I'll sit out somewhere where I'm tired, exhausted and not wanting to help you. People will then just give you stuff and you won't even have to ask for it. Most people who panhandle are not truthful about it at all. Giving a homeless person a dollar is not going to help. If they make $200.00 panhandling, they might spend $20 on food.

"One of the first things that you learn is that everyone wants something from you. That's why kids don't trust easily. In Afghanistan, they won't let you just buy something from them. You have to haggle. It's kind of like that out here. People do look out for each other. People will give you something if you need it. I gave my friend a brand new pair of shoes because he needed them for a job."

Why are there so many homeless young people out here? "Lot of homeless people have severe mental health issues that stop them from living inside. A lot of the younger kids were thrown out by their families and they just wound up on the streets. There are also some people who just drop out, Some just don't want to follow rules. I've met people who have been outside for 20 years. They just dropped out.

"In the homeless community, people have places where they live together. They might build tent cities in your neighborhood but at 7:00 in the morning, we leave. Sometimes that's out of respect for the people who live in the neighborhoods. Sometiimes its because the cops show up and make us leave. A lot of people don't explain what they do during the day. So, you really don't know them. There are some people will look for the best time to stab you in the back, right when it will bring you down to the lowest. They steal your back pack and they're gone. People don't care enough to stop them. I might tell dude, "I seen your back pack but I'm not going to do anything about it. I'm not going to fight someone to get it back."

I asked Bobb what the greatest problem facing homeless youth might be. He answered, "People are always hungry out on the streets. Many of the places that offer food are also located far from the people who need it. A lot of times, the homeless don't use the feeding places. They don't feel comfortable. People don't feel comfortable beause some of the places that feed people are in churches and many people are agnostic."

Bobb says, "Food Not Bombs come out to places were the people are like People's Park to feed them. There is also a church group called, Children of the Night that regularly comes out to give us food. .

There are not many people constantly giving out food. Bobb says, "If you really want to help the ones who look cold and helpless, bring food, not money."

When you see a homeless person walking down the street, you'll notice that they almost always have a back pack. Bobb says, "A person's whole life could be in that back pack. Some people have valuables; things they use for their livliehood like artist supplies. I have writing utensils, blankets and clothes in my back pack. Back packs are great for hitchhike traveling and fast getaways.

"Many of the street kids do not have a vision of life five years in the future. Its all about the time being and how we're getting through the day. I hate it when I have to think about the next four days. Tomorrow will come on its time."

#homeless #Berkeley #hippies #gentrification #mentalillness