Homeless Because His Parents Are Addicts

Summary

In Westchester Park near LAX, a 21-year-old homeless man from New York shares his struggles with addiction in his family and the harsh realities of living on the streets. Despite his own challenges, he remains hopeful and actively helps others, including giving a phone to a fellow homeless person to access services. He emphasizes the need for community support and better resources to combat homelessness and expresses a desire for a more inclusive and supportive Los Angeles.

Takeaways

• 🏙️ Noah is a 21-year-old homeless man from New York, currently living in Westchester Park near LAX.
• 🗽 Originally from Buffalo, Noah has lived in Niagara Falls and has visited various places in New York State.
• 📻 Noah had the opportunity to visit a radio station in Binghamton, showing his interest in media and radio.
• 🛌 Noah has been homeless for about a year and has experienced sleeping in extreme cold weather without proper shelter.
• 🌡️ He finds the climate in Los Angeles more favorable compared to other places he has been homeless.
• 📱 Despite being homeless, Noah has managed to obtain a phone which he uses to help others, showcasing his resourcefulness and altruism.
• 🏡 Noah criticizes the lack of support for homeless people in LA, highlighting the city's focus on those who are already well-off.
• 👥 Noah emphasizes the importance of community and the need for everyone to work together to address the homeless issue.
• 💔 Noah's family struggles with drug addiction, which has contributed to his homelessness.
• 🤝 Noah believes in the potential of homeless individuals and wants to see more encouragement and resources for them to improve their situations.
• 🌟 Noah's three wishes are for a girlfriend, for his friends to find homes, and for his family to overcome addiction and homelessness.

Q & A

Where is Westchester Park located?

Westchester Park is located near LAX in Los Angeles.

How old is Noah and what is his current living situation?

Noah is 21 years old and he is homeless.

Where is Noah originally from?

Noah was born in Buffalo, New York, but he lived in Niagara Falls for a very long time.

What is the significance of Binghamton in the conversation?

Binghamton is significant because the cameraman is from there, and Noah has visited a radio station in Binghamton.

How long has Noah been homeless and sleeping outside?

Noah has been homeless for about a year and sleeping outside since September.

What was Noah's experience sleeping in his car during cold weather?

Noah slept in his car during 20-degree weather without heat, which he described as not very fun.

What does Noah consider himself to be despite being homeless?

Noah considers himself the king of New York, even though he is currently in California.

What is Noah's opinion on the support system for homeless people in LA?

Noah feels that LA is not very supportive or encouraging for homeless people, especially those from other places.

Why did Noah give his phone to another homeless person?

Noah gave his phone to another homeless person because he can easily get another one with his EBT card, and he wants to help others get connected and access help.

What is the significance of having a phone according to Noah?

Having a phone is significant because it allows homeless people to call for help, apply for benefits, and stay connected without relying on others.

What are Noah's three wishes?

Noah's three wishes are: 1) To have a girlfriend, 2) For all his friends and people he knows in LA to get out of homelessness and find a home, and 3) For his family to overcome homelessness and addictions.

What is Noah's view on the role of social services in helping the homeless?

Noah believes that social services should provide more support and resources to homeless people, and that they need to actually follow through on their promises of help.

Outlines

00:00

🏙️ Life as a Homeless New Yorker in LA

Noah, a 21-year-old homeless man from New York, discusses his current situation in Westchester Park near LAX. Originally from Buffalo and having lived in Niagara Falls, he has been homeless for about a year and in LA since September. He contrasts the harsh weather conditions he experienced while sleeping in his car in upstate New York with the relatively warmer climate of LA, where he now sleeps in a tent. Noah talks about his past, including visiting Binghamton and working at a radio station, and expresses his desire for a more inclusive LA that supports everyone, not just those who are already successful. He also addresses the lack of help from everyday people and the importance of community support in tackling the homeless issue.

05:01

🤝 Acts of Kindness Amidst Hardship

Noah shares his experience of helping others despite being homeless himself, such as giving away his phone to a homeless woman from Utah. He explains how he can obtain phones through his EBT card and the significance of having a phone for accessing help and services. Noah emphasizes the importance of self-reliance in obtaining help, as misinformation from others can be detrimental. He also discusses his aspirations for a better LA that is more welcoming to everyone and acknowledges the unique struggles and stories of homeless individuals he has met in Westchester Park.

10:02

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family, Addiction, and Hopes for the Future

Noah talks about his family's struggle with drugs and alcohol, which led him to end up on the streets of LA. His parents are also homeless and dealing with addiction, and he expresses his desire to help them. He mentions his sister whom he wishes to protect from the harsh realities of homelessness. Noah shares his three wishes: to find love, to see his homeless friends improve their situation, and for his family to overcome addiction and homelessness. He hopes for a better future where everyone can find a place to call home and for his family to heal and become stronger.

Keywords

💡homeless

Homelessness refers to the condition of individuals or families without a permanent dwelling, lacking regular access to a safe and secure place to sleep. In the video, Noah, the interviewee, identifies himself as homeless, highlighting the central theme of the video which is to explore the lives and struggles of homeless individuals, particularly in Westchester Park near LAX. The script mentions Noah's experience of sleeping outside since September and his previous experiences of sleeping in a car in cold weather.

💡LAX

LAX stands for Los Angeles International Airport, which is a major airport hub in California. The video script mentions that the park where Noah is homeless is right next to LAX, emphasizing the contrast between the bustling airport and the nearby struggles of homeless individuals. This setting is used to underscore the proximity of poverty to places of wealth and travel.

💡EBT card

An EBT (Electronic Benefits Transfer) card is a debit card issued by the U.S. government to deliver benefits like food stamps to eligible recipients. Noah mentions using his EBT card to obtain phones, which are then given to other homeless individuals who need them to access services. This illustrates the video's theme of resourcefulness and community support among the homeless population.

💡Obama phone

The term 'Obama phone' refers to a colloquial name for the Lifeline Assistance program, a government benefit program that provides a free cell phone and service to eligible low-income individuals. Noah discusses how he can obtain phones through this program and then pass them on to other homeless people who need them, showcasing the video's theme of mutual aid within the homeless community.

💡DSS

DSS stands for the Department of Social Services, which provides various forms of public assistance. In the script, Noah talks about using a phone to contact DSS or similar agencies to access benefits and services, highlighting the video's focus on the bureaucratic hurdles faced by homeless individuals in seeking help.

💡Westchester Park

Westchester Park is a specific location mentioned in the video where Noah and other homeless individuals reside. The park serves as a microcosm for the broader issues of homelessness, community, and survival strategies discussed in the video. It is used as a setting to explore the lived experiences of those without permanent housing.

💡iHeartMedia

iHeartMedia is a major American media company operating as the largest owner of radio stations in the United States. Noah mentions visiting a radio station in Binghamton affiliated with iHeartMedia, which ties into the video's narrative of his past experiences and aspirations before becoming homeless, contrasting with his current situation.

💡Binghamton

Binghamton is a city in New York and is mentioned as the hometown of both Noah and the cameraman. This shared connection serves to humanize Noah and establish a common ground between the two, which is a narrative device used in the video to build rapport and trust, allowing for a more candid discussion about Noah's life as a homeless individual.

💡drugs

Drugs are mentioned as a factor contributing to Noah's family's homelessness. The script discusses his parents' drug use, including black tar heroin and crystal meth, which is a common issue among homeless populations. This keyword is integral to the video's exploration of the complex and intertwined causes of homelessness, including addiction.

💡vulnerability list

A vulnerability list likely refers to a system used by social services to prioritize assistance based on the level of need or risk. The cameraman mentions such a list, indicating that young, healthy individuals like Noah might be lower on the list, which is a critique of how social services operate and the video's theme of the systemic challenges faced by homeless individuals.

💡three wishes

The concept of 'three wishes' is a recurring theme in storytelling where characters are granted a limited number of wishes. Noah is asked about his wishes, which include finding love, helping his friends escape homelessness, and overcoming his family's addictions. This keyword encapsulates the personal desires and broader aspirations discussed in the video, adding a layer of emotional depth to Noah's story.

Highlights

Noah is a 21-year-old homeless man from New York currently living in Westchester Park near LAX.

Noah has been homeless for about a year, having been outside since September.

Noah has experienced homelessness in various climates, including extremely cold weather without proper shelter.

He believes LA is difficult for homeless people due to a lack of support and resources.

Noah has been to various places in New York and considers himself the 'king of New York' despite now living in California.

Noah has a history with iHeartMedia radio station in Binghamton, showing his past engagement with media.

He has slept in a car in 20-degree weather without heat, illustrating the harsh conditions he's faced.

Noah currently sleeps in a tent, finding LA's climate warmer than other places he's been.

He discusses the importance of community among homeless individuals in Westchester Park.

Noah emphasizes the need for more support and resources for the homeless in LA.

He shares his experience of giving his phone to a homeless woman, showing his acts of kindness despite his situation.

Noah explains how he can obtain phones through his EBT card and the importance of phones for accessing help.

He talks about the challenges of being homeless and the need for self-reliance in finding help.

Noah wishes for a better LA that is more welcoming and supportive of everyone, not just those who are already successful.

He expresses his desire to see other homeless individuals succeed and get off the streets.

Noah discusses the fear and challenges of change for homeless individuals when it comes to housing and services.

He shares his three wishes: finding love, helping his friends and other homeless individuals find homes, and healing his family from addiction.

Noah's story highlights the struggles and aspirations of a young homeless man with dreams and a desire to help others.

Transcripts

- [Cameraman] Noah.

- Yeah.

- [Cameraman] We're in a park. Westchester, right?

- Yes, Westchester Park.

- [Cameraman] And it is near LAX.

- Right next to LAX, yes.

- [Cameraman] And you're homeless and you're 21.

- Yes, 21 years old, homeless. From New York.

- [Cameraman] Whereabouts in New York?

- Well, I was born in Buffalo,

but I lived in Niagara Falls for very long time.

- [Cameraman] Okay, got it. Got it.

I'm from Binghamton.

- Oh. Nice.

- [Cameraman] So that's why I asked.

- Yeah Binghamton is...

I have been Binghamton few times.

- [Cameraman] Yeah.

- So it's a smaller city but it's very nice there.

- [Cameraman] I hate it.

- Well, they had a very nice,

I got a chance to go to the radio station there.

- [Cameraman] Oh, really?

- Yeah, I got to go to the radio station,

iHeartMedia, at Binghamton.

- [Cameraman] Oh, wow.

- Mhm. So, yeah. I've gotten to do ...

I like to consider myself the king of New York

even though I'm in California now.

(cameraman laughs)

I've gotten to go to a lot of different places in New York.

I'm in LA now, but I've been

in New York City before

and all over upstate New York two years ago.

- [Cameraman] How long have you been sleeping outside?

- I've been outside since September.

Well, that's how long I've been in LA for,

but I've been homeless for about a year now.

But other the places, some places not so nice as,

not so warm as here.

Some places were cold.

- [Cameraman] Yeah.

But I slept in my, I have slept in my car.

I had a car at one point and I slept in my car.

20 degree weather, no heat in the car out.

That wasn't very fun. So.

- [Cameraman] Yeah.

And now you sleep in a tent.

- Yeah, a tent.

That could be cold too, but you know,

it's a lot warmer in LA than it is in other places.

- [Cameraman] Right.

But people still, I've been everywhere from Anchorage

to Tampa and, you know,

where people feel comfortable, that's where

they learn to survive.

- Right, right. There's a place for everybody.

LA is a very difficult place to live,

especially with the homeless problem.

There's not a lot of help

from normal everyday people, as well.

I want to make that known,

that, you know, a lot of people

you know, even right here in this park could care less

that there's homeless people struggling.

So, you know, it really takes all of us to come together

and fight this homeless problem because, you know,

the LA is a place catered very much

towards the people that are already kind of doing good and

and have everything they need and have been here

for most of their lives or all their lives.

And it's not really, I feel, I don't feel

like there's a lot of support and a lot of, you know,

encouragement for people that may have come here

from other places that want to get a piece of what LA is all

about and the culture here and the industries here.

You know, the film, the television, the radio, the media.

You know, there's a lot of jobs out here,

but it's not for everybody.

Came out here thinking I was going to be a superstar.

I was going to be a movie star as soon

as I stepped foot in LA, but it's not like that.

You know, it's, you got to get up to that point.

But I'm just hoping for a better LA,

an LA that's a little bit more welcoming for everybody.

Because everybody's different. Nobody's the same.

And you know, some people really need that, you know,

that kind of encouragement and, you know,

everybody has a story.

Some of the nicest people I've met

are right here in Westchester park.

Everybody has a story of how they ended up here and,

you know, everyone is kind of unique

in their own special way, and it really takes

some strong people, some intelligent, kind people

to see how great these homeless people really are.

And know we deserve to be endorsed just like everybody else.

You know, we deserve to be able to take a shower.

Plug our phones in, you know.

I've seen so many people out here in this park that ...

We're right next to LAX airport.

Some people don't have phones.

People have nothing but the clothes on their back.

- [Cameraman] Well, you just gave

a homeless woman your phone.

Yes, yes.

She has said she has been in this park.

She's from Utah.

- [Cameraman] But you're homeless.

- Yeah, yeah. I just -

- [Cameraman] And you're giving

another homeless person a phone.

- Yeah. You know, some people can't,

you know, I can go get phones fairly easily,

you know, with my EBT card.

And some people don't even have their EBT card.

Some people don't have anything.

- [Cameraman] You can buy a phone with your EBT card?

- Well, they give you free ones for,

if you get your benefits, they give you a free Obama phone.

- [Cameraman] Yeah, yeah. There's ways of getting phones.

- I have a phone service on it now

so I don't need an Obama phone.

So when I get them, you know,

since I get them so easy with my stuff that I have,

I can just give them to somebody else.

And I'm hoping that, you know,

they can use that phone and get ahold

of DSS or whoever, get their ID, get their food stamps.

They can do it.

They can continue the cycle, give other people phones.

- [Cameraman] I've given phones to homeless people

and they've used it to get the help they need.

- Yeah, it's such a necessity.

If you have a phone, you can pretty much do anything.

You can call the caseworker.

You can call anywhere that you can get help.

You know what I'm saying?

If you don't have a phone,

you have to rely on somebody else.

And some people, you know, will mislead you

and they won't give you the right information.

I've had that happen to me a couple times.

Somebody will say, "Oh, write this number down.

Call this number."

I call that number. It's a dead line.

Nobody answers.

So, you know, you'll get misled.

Some people will mislead you.

So it's good for everybody to have their own phone

so they can stay connected in their own way.

And get the help they need.

Because it's a lot, it's partially,

you know, you can lead somebody in the right direction

and lead them to the help they need,

but they also need to want it.

You know what I'm saying?

Some homeless people have been

in this situation so long.

They haven't had any TLC, any love,

compassion from any other humans.

So they don't know how to -

- [Cameraman] What about you about you?

- Take it.

- [Cameraman] What about you?

Why, what are you going

to do to get out of here?

- Well, right now I just, you know,

it makes me feel good to be able

to help somebody out and give them a phone,

but also I just want to,

I'm homeless myself and I have, you know, offers

and resources to use to get me endorsed and stuff.

However, I really just want to see the people that have been

on the streets with me and people that have maybe

been struggling with it longer than I have.

Because I haven't been homeless forever.

I've had, you know, I've had a car, a job, money, you know.

I've had everything I wanted

at one point and then became homeless.

And I see people that have been like this

their whole lives.

Say, "Oh, this is what you need to do.

You need to do X, Y, and Z,

And then you'll be all set."

So for me, I just really want

to see everybody in a better place.

- [Cameraman] Well, there's also, there's a lot of fear.

Whenever, you know, life change, people don't understand.

I mean, even if it's, you know,

moving to a new job, a new apartment, a new home,

even going from your, because your life becomes this park.

- Right. Absolutely.

- [Cameraman] Then the homeless services

wants to take you out and put you

in some apartment that's not close to your friends.

- Right. Right.

And that's another thing, you know,

all of us in this park, you know, I split my time up here

in Westchester Park and another park, Echo Park.

Downtown Los Angeles, they're about to get swept.

So, you know, they were going

to sweep everybody out of here

when I first came here,

and now look at it.

We got a team of about how many people you think, Matt?

Maybe 10, 15, 20 of us in this park now.

Just not very,

just a small group of us.

You know what I'm saying?

We all care about each other deeply,

you know what I'm saying?

- [Cameraman] So how do we help you?

How do we, you're a young kid, Noah.

- What we need most is, you know, there's people -

- [Cameraman] You're smart.

- There's, we've got people over here

on the basketball court.

We got people on tennis courts.

You know, there's people zipping

by us and cars over there, over there, right behind me.

They have money.

You know what I'm saying?

All it takes is, you know, one small act

of kindness, you know, one person to open up their heart.

- [Cameraman] But how do we,

how does social services help Noah get out of homelessness?

- Well, they need to be supporting us more.

You know, I see too many

of these homeless programs out here that just

come take our information down, you know,

say they're going to get us housing and don't

do us any good, you know, beyond that.

You know, all this talk, talk, talk, talk.

"Oh, we're going to get you indoors."

This and that. Give us time.

- [Cameraman] Well, you're young, you're healthy.

You're probably, we're just talking

to somebody about the vulnerability list.

You're probably low on any list, but without housing

it's hard to, you know, take a shower to go look for work.

- Yeah. Yeah.

That's my thing.

I gave my GR my food stamps.

I'm getting, you know,

growing myself and taking care of myself and hopefully

within a little while, I'll be able to get a job.

You know what I'm saying?

But I'm farther along in this process

than what most other people are.

You know, I have my documents to work.

Some people don't have anything.

This is, I gave somebody a phone.

That's all they have.

That's their lifeline right now.

They don't have anything else, you know?

So that that's just step one.

And then, you know, hopefully a couple of months from now,

then that person will be able to get a job

and get the things they need.

So they don't, because a lot of people, when you're homeless

they get down so bad they get

all their stuff stolen from them.

They wouldn't have nothing but the clothes on their back.

And then you don't got anyone.

You don't got people just out here helping us out

and you know, saying, "Oh, you're homeless.

You're stuck. You need some help."

No, it's kind of like you kind of have to,

you know, ask around and get the help you need,

because it doesn't just always come to you.

You know?

But I just hope that the homeless people eventually,

you know, will get the help they need, get the stuff

they need to get off the streets.

And then in the meantime, we have people

that are doing the housing and those programs also,

whoever else, you know, start actually

doing their jobs and giving us resources.

Because we have street watch out here.

They help us.

But they're volunteers, right?

We got organization nonprofits that are supposedly

getting money per homeless person

to help us with services and they don't do anything.

So we really need,

it's a problem that we all have to tackle together

and give each person the best, give each homeless person

the best opportunity that they can

because each homeless person is unique.

I'm not going to have the same needs

as somebody else that's homeless, you know.

Everyone has specific needs.

- [Cameraman] Yeah.

- So we really need-

- [Cameraman] Now you were telling me the reason you ended

up on the streets was it's hard to live with your parents.

- Yeah. My parents really, you know,

coming out to Los Angeles, they ...

They like to get into the drugs.

You know, my mom likes to do like black tar heroin.

- [Cameraman] I'm sorry.

- Yeah. It's all right.

My father, you know, he gets, I believe he gets more

into the crystal meth and things like that.

So there is drug use in my family.

The rest of my family, they like to drink.

A lot of people in this park like to drink.

I don't drink very much.

But I just want to see the people that really, you know,

you know, I'm doing it for my parents.

- [Cameraman] No, I get it. I get it.

- You know, helping my parents.

You know, being on the street

and struggling with them to know that I care about them.

You know what I'm saying?

And I've come out.

I've been in LA about half the time

that my parents have been.

They've been out here, six months.

They were out here about six months homeless

before I came out here.

And I've already accomplished a lot

since I've gotten out here, you know what I'm saying?

And my parents, you know,

they are accomplishing things,

but, you know, again, they're, you know.

They go out and they'll make their money every single day

part of it goes towards their drugs

and then part of it might go towards their housing.

But, you know, I just have another sister who I care deeply

about who I want to, who I don't want to have to come

out to California and see this homeless problem.

I want her to be able to be on set when she, you know,

if she ever decides to start her life out here

in California, because we're all originally from New York.

- [Cameraman] Right.

So if you had three wishes, what would they be?

- My three wishes.

Well, I would like a girlfriend.

(Noah laughs)

It's hard to tell you.

It's hard to get some love when you're on the street.

You know, you don't, you don't get no love.

And it's hard, you know,

because I'm really on my own sometimes.

And I really can't do much, but suck it up

and just deal with it until I'm in a better situation.

You know, I wish for all my friends here

in the park and all the people I've gotten to know

out here in LA, because I'm new to all of this

and all of these people, I just pray for each and every one

of them that they will get in a better situation.

They will get out of homelessness.

They will find their home.

Because we're all homeless.

We just don't have a home, but everyone has a home

somewhere out there in the world.

But, you know, just wait until they find that place

that they can lay their head down and say,

"Yep, this is my home."

So everybody would get there sooner.

My other wish is just for my family.

You know, that, you know my family can overcome homelessness

because we're all technically homeless

and overcome our addictions.

That we can be a better family.

You know what I'm saying?

Since we've been a very, we're a very broken family

and we need, you know, yeah, we need the healing.

And part of it is having a home.

You know what I'm saying?

If I'm on the streets or something

and it starts to go, it's hard to, you know, say,

"Okay, I'm on the streets.

Then I need to go find my parents for help."

They're on the streets, too.

They need to be able to have a place to stay

so that way we can all help each other out in that way.

So.

- [Cameraman] Well, thank you very much for talking to me.

- You're welcome.

(upbeat music)