How to solve homelessness: Finland: Give them all homes Germany: We'll pay your rent and help you get a job America: Make everything they do illegal

When I was the assistant manager of the local KFC, on nights when I'd have the closing shift, I'd keep the store open for an extra couple of hours, after the rest of the staff had finished up and gone home. Why? Because there were homeless people who were digging through our trash, looking for food that was perfectly edible but had been thrown away for different reasons (it needed to be sold or discarded by the end of the day, it needed to be sold or discarded for so long after it was cooked and held at temp, etc.). Before I'd started working there, they were coming into the area where we stored our garbage bins outside and rummaging around inside of them, looking for something -- anything -- to eat. So what did I do? On nights that I'd close the store, I'd finish everything like normal, put away all the money, make sure the restaurant was clean, the staff had finished their jobs and cleaned their stations properly, and then send the staff home. And instead of locking up the store, I'd let the 20-or-so homeless people in the town (it's a pretty small town comparatively speaking to Seattle and Tacoma, which are only a few dozen miles away) come inside the store. I'd have set aside the food that we hadn't sold or were supposed to have thrown away for the length of my shift, and I'd pass that out to them, along with cups to get something to drink from the fountain. I'd let them sit in the dining area and rest for a little while, so they could relax and charge their phones. I'd leave the bathrooms open so they could relieve themselves. And when they were finished, and after they'd had a good meal, I'd tell them they had to be out of the store by midnight, and every single one of them would be out of the store by midnight; no complaints, no fighting, no arguing. Just people grateful to have been treated like people. I've told people this before. And the first question most people ask is, "Weren't you worried about being robbed?" And the truth of the matter is, I wasn't. All of the money had been put away in the safe and was untouchable. All of the food that was there was being given freely. There was no reason for any of them to want to rob the store or me. And after they'd leave the store, I'd go back over the areas where they'd been sitting, clean the surfaces again, clean the bathrooms again, make sure there wasn't a trace they'd ever been there, and lock up the store properly. Before I started working there, there had been a couple of break-ins at night in the months prior to my hiring, one person had been robbed at gunpoint, and our trash cans were being raided almost every night. After I was hired, there was nothing; no attempted break-ins, no violence towards the staff, and the trash cans were kept clean. Hell, most days, we wouldn't even need to clean the parking lot of the detritus that normally accumulates. It would be spotless every morning after I'd finished my shift. I gave up about two hours of my life every night, five nights a week. In return, a couple dozen people or so were happier, they were more able to get back onto their feet with a hot meal in their bellies, and our store was safer and cleaner than ever. There's no downside to helping those who are less fortunate than yourself. After all, you're here to make the world a better place for those unborn and yet to come. That starts with at least a little decency and respect for your fellow human. Good luck out there, people. [EDIT 11/18/2021] Wow, this is getting a lot more attention that I expected a comment on KZfaq would get. Since I wrote this, there've been new comments virtually every single day, so I feel like it's a good time to address some of them (feel free to let me know if there is anything in this addendum that wasn't covered or you'd like answered; I'll take the time to respond when I can). - I didn't get fired for this, and the owner of the franchise never addressed what I was doing while I was working there. I eventually left this job because the owner (who is also the manager of the KFC) had unreasonable expectations of staff when it came to coming in to work on days off, when other people had called out, because there was a snow storm and the store should have been closed for the safety of staff and patrons. If he ever discovered what I was doing, he never mentioned it directly to me, and there was never any inquest done that I'm aware of. - If there had been any official investigation about what I was doing, I would have happily fought like hell against any sort of reprimand or punishment for not only doing what was right, but also doing what made sense. Our garbage bill was based on weight; if less food is being disposed of needlessly, then there is less garbage to be thrown away. Quod erat demonstrandum: Whatever was spent on additional detergent, soap, paper towels, and toilet paper used in excess of normal business operations was offset by the additional savings from giving away literal hundreds of pounds less of "garbage" (i.e. perfectly edible food that was otherwise set to be disposed of because it couldn't be sold to the public). - What I did doesn't actually cross any legal lines when it comes to food safety. If you're unsure about this, there is a program on Food Waste by Last Week Tonight that covers "Good Samaritan" laws in accordance with food. It's actually not illegal to give people food that has passed its mandated expiration (in accordance with food safety / ServSafe guidelines); it's only illegal to make people PAY for food that has passed its mandated expiration, because that is then false advertising (as in, selling an inferior product for the normal price despite the product being inferior in some way to what is expected by the customer). - I've tried to go through and make sure that everyone who spoke in agreement or support of what I did received a like for their comment, just so you know that I see you, I respect you, and I appreciate that you took the time to respond. That's important in today's world. It's a lot easier to voice concerns and criticism, but stay silent when you approve of something. It's worth remembering that, if you want to foster good, encouragement goes a long way. Never be afraid to let yourself be heard. Still wishing you all nothing but the best. Stay safe out there!

Playing "it's raining tacos" to annoy and harass sleeping homeless people is an especially cruel song to play to people who very probably do not have access to daily food sources.

I was a caregiver to my father for 5 years until he passed away due to Parkinson's disease and related dementia. I suffer from childhood ptsd as well. Since my father's house was sold, I've been sleeping in my car with my dogs at rest stops and inexpensive federal campgrounds, the latter with a half-price discount access card. To enter a shelter, I've been told I must give up my dogs-who are often the only thing keeping me going. I wouldn't give up on my Dad and I won't give up on my dogs. I made a commitment to them, and I won't break it. I don't do drugs, I don't smoke or drink. I live this way because I'm on disability and can't afford to rent anywhere that allows dogs, and I have no rental history and at the time of my Dad's death, I was credit invisible. Homelessness isn't a choice-you become homeless due to a lack of choices.

"Walking around with Machete" Fox News: Alarming. "Walking around with an assault rifle" Fox News: Freedom.

My mom and I were homeless when I was a child. It was genuinely one of the most traumatic things that ever happened to me, she had to fight tooth and nail to get housing, and I almost ended up in foster care. We’re all closer to being homeless than we are to being millionaires.

As a formally homeless woman, I can also add the complication of just being female. Period products can be very difficult to come across and a lot of shelters and programs are run by religious organizations that aren’t really all that interested in helping homeless women. Thank you for shining such a bright light on serious topics.

"You wear your bias like a badge of honor when you see my history. You judge me for having children, for needing assistance. You hate me for wanting the stability you take for granted and why, because you didn't like looking the other way when you saw me on the street or is it simply because I make you uncomfortable and your discomfort is enough to disqualify a person from the American dream." -kiana Scott Powerful words. Excuse my terrible grammar i was just disappointed I didn't see anyone else mention her.

"despite Tyra's best efforts, homelessness is still a huge problem in this country" almost got me killed...

One thing John didn't get into, but could have mentioned: How we treat those of us without homes also affects domestic violence in a big way. If you don't have a way to leave a situation without risking freezing to death on the streets, you'll stay, even if that involves getting beaten regularly.

“Far too often stories focusing on homelessness only talk about how it affect people with homes when it is the people without the homes who need help” That absolutely blew my mind, spot on with the accuracy

My wife was homeless at one point. She worked 3 jobs and put herself through law school while couch surfing and depending on the kindness of strangers. People desperately misunderstand the state of homelessness in this country.

"Housing costs are rising faster than wages." Say it louder for the people in the back.

As a veteran myself, it really grinds my gears that we have those in government, who don’t dare increase spending on social programs but have ZERO hesitancy to increase spending on the military, police, and jails/prison. Their excuse to not supporting social programs seems to always be “we cannot afford it.” Problem is we can afford it. We just have our priorities out of whack.

Fun fact: raccoon turds can look like they came from a human. When a tent city springs up, the amount of animal-accessible food goes up, making a trash panda population boom possible. People don't generally poop on your lawn, homeless or not, but I swear raccoons do it just to screw with you.

The concept of "homeless veterans" really tells a thing. If they do not respect enough their so-called heroes to grant them decent living conditions, I can't even imagine how rthey think of the rest of people that, for one reason or another, find themselves in a situation of indebtedness or just not making enough money to pay rent

To all of the team at Last Week Tonight THANK YOU! This is the first time a national show has addressed how public perceptions influence policy change. The show also hit every talking point those of us working in the sector try to communicate. We are grateful. YOU ARE AWESOME!

"A man was walking around with a machete" oh no, imagine people walking around with weapons in Texas

I just left an abusive marriage and am now living in my parents' basement. I never even considered that I am homeless due to domestic abuse. What an eye-opening moment for me. Thank you, John Oliver. And I know that I am lucky enough to have a soft place to lay my head being with my parents, but it is not where I want to be, and I am not in a position to afford my own home at this time.

"Far too often, stories focusing on homelessness are presented solely through the lens of how it affects those with homes, when, in reality, it is obviously the people without them who need the real help." ~John Oliver

When I was a young child, I thought that we could solve homelessness and poverty by just giving homes to the homeless and money to the poor. As I grew up, I learned how the world was more complex than I realized as a child, and that problems like homelessness and poverty don't get solved in spite of our efforts to fix them. Then, as an adult, after learning about the preliminary successes of testing programs like Housing First and UBI, I realized that we could solve homelessness and poverty by just giving homes to the homeless and money to the poor.

Screaming "go home" at homeless people might be the single most idiotic thing I've ever heard about.

My rent went from $500 a month to $350 a week (was living and working in a hotel, new owners came in with no warning). Now I live in a tent behind my job trying to save up enough to get a place. But people don't realize how expensive being homeless can be (yes there are different levels of homelessness), and how hard sometimes seemingly impossible it is to find a place.

I just watched this sitting in a tent, in a very affluent county in Virginia..i have been homeless since the start of the pandemic.. I have a job making more than minimum wage and still can't even afford a room here.. I don't spend money on drugs..and still can barely afford food.. I can't afford to simply move somewhere less expensive..i don't have a job there.. Even a couple months of housing would probably allow me to get ahead of this problem.. Just time to take a deep breath, feel like a person again..just a little break is a some people need.. Thank you so much for shining a realistic light on this problem..its never going to get better until more people see it this way...

Playing “It’s Raining Tacos” to hungry, starving homeless people trying to sleep is just cruel and unusual punishment

My wife and I were homeless and addicted to meth and heroin for 5+ years. Then we finally got a housing voucher through Boulder Housing Partners in Colorado in jan 2019 with this same exact housing first model. Now on Christmas of 2021 we have had our apartment for almost 3 whole years! I'm working. We have 2 vehicles and our drivers licenses (something I had never had until now). We have been sober for 2+ years and my wife's 2 daughters (my step daughters) just moved in on the 6th permanently and we just had our first Christmas as a real family. The housing first model absolutely works! Especially if you want to better your situation. I do understand from being on the streets for so long that some people just aren't ready to start healing yet but one of the main reasons for that is because your still experiencing hardship on a daily basis. Once that is eliminated (as much as it can be) it can give people the motivation and hope and resources they need to want to get better.

I'm a 16 year old when I was 11 me and my family lost our home because we were renting and it was sold out from under us with little warning we slept in a motel and it was one of the worst experiences of my life but we still had enough food and had a warm place to sleep at night these people who don't have either of those deserve much better

My son & I lived in an old house (1940s) we rented for 15 years, in a neighborhood of 17 homes. Right before Covid shutdown, we were told the property under 17 homes had been sold and we had to move. I thought we would be living in our cars. His employer had shut their doors due to Covid but he was able to get a temp job in a nearby town. I am a disabled vet and get a pension. We looked everywhere for a place we could afford. Finally found something less than a thousand $ a month. It's an old mobile home. I drive 100 miles to go to the V.A. to see my Dr. and I am 70. My son drives 50miles to get to work. Our furnace broke, so we bought small space heaters. Now our older cars need more upkeep. I drive 30 miles to Safeway or Wal-Mart for fresh vegetables, when we have the money for gas. Lack of affordable housing & community gardens is the problem.

I’m currently living in my car. I have a job at Wendy’s working as much as I can. I want to get a second job but my driver’s license is listed as my previous apartment where I was evicted from. I can’t update my license because of the real i.d act which requires me to have a physical address. I have a P.O. Box that I thought I could use, but that doesn’t count anymore (at least in Florida). Without that drivers license I’m stuck in the single job making enough money to eat fast food and live in my car barely. If I ever have a medical emergency or a car accident/theft I’m screwed. My town has 3 shelters, two of which are women or family’s only and the last one has such a big problem with theft and vandalism that I won’t touch it with a ten foot pole. Hell I just got the vaccine because I needed to have a valid i.d just to get it till recently. Thank you for shining a light on this John

I love how outraged FOX is about the guy carrying a machete, while it's perfectly legal to openly walk around with a gun. I wonder which of the two is more dangerous. Oh sweet irony.

living here in portland oregon, i’ve had my fair share of experiences with the houseless, and i can say without a doubt the overwhelming majority of them have been positive. i’ve bought them dinner, i’ve talked and laughed with them, hell i even helped one move by shoving their stuff into my car. it’s been an incredibly humbling experience for me and done nothing but motivate me further to fight for equity in this disgusting system of oppression we call the US. i myself am fortunate enough to have housing with great roommates, a full time job, and a family that would take me in in a heartbeat if that was ever to happen to me, but even still i live very much paycheck to paycheck and it’s not any less stressful

When I visited the US a few years ago, and traveled the west coast, it just blew my mind how many homeless people are living like this, and frankly, made me rethink of the US as a first world country. Something about the economical structure is wrong when you let the sick and the weak rot to death on the side of your street every morning as if it is nothing. I say this not coming from a perfect place, every country has it's own crap going on, but man, the US has a deep problem.

I've been homeless for the better part of 10 years. In all those years, I've never taken a dump on a street, committed a crime (except failing to pay child support), or stolen anything. I smoke weed when I can get it, but do not drink or do any other drugs... I'm exhausted. Each season brings new challenges, whether it be the frigid cold of winter or the blistering heat of summer, and food is ALWAYS hard to come by. There are places that feed, but to be near those places you have to risk sleeping in very violent camps and alleys where even the housed will attack you for no reason. Everyone hates me without knowing anything about me. They scream at me, throw things at me...and I've done nothing to them except share their air space. For someone to say "he chose this life", I say this: Why the fuck would ANYONE want to be hated this much?

As someone who was homeless a few different times when I was younger, the first time being when I was 13, so many people don't realize exactly how EASY it is to one day lose everything and become homeless. How traumatic it is, how it changes your entire life, and how hard it is to get out of it. So many people in the U.S. are just one hospital visit away from homelessness, or even just one paycheck away from it.

It’s sobering to think how many people delude themselves into thinking they are a couple weeks from being a billionaire and not a couple weeks from being homeless. It informs their viewpoints.

My fiancé and I currently have two roommates who would be homeless if it wasn’t for us moving heaven and earth to give them a home. Both suffer from mental health problems, but we do everything we can to make sure they are taken care of. It bothers me when people don’t want housing for homeless in their area. They are the kindest people and they sometimes have break downs think they are unworthy of our kindness. They are far more worthy in my eyes then most people.

I remember in Florida when it was passed to make it illegal to feed the homeless, and a priest who refused to cooperate (he and his church regularly gave food services and donations on a frequent basis) was arrested. I'm not a Christian, but damn. This man was doing right.

"Your discomfort is enough to disqualify a person from the American Dream" wow, nail on the head.

I literally almost choked to death laughing at the grandparents in bed bit. Totally worth it. I've been homeless so yeah you're right about everything, but I'm waiting to hear more about Charlie's twisted grandparents.

This is the only reporting I can ever remember willingly rewatching. Flawless coverage of an issue so frequently misunderstood.

As someone who was homeless its absolutely the most dehumanizing I've ever experienced. I was beat multiple times while sleeping, sometimes from police sometimes just random people, had food and drinks thrown on me, had the police cut my sleeping bag into pieces, and even now that I own my own company work every day and support my family and in fact own a house I've been mocked or shamed by people who found out. I am just as human now as I was then and yet stray dogs are treated with more kindness than I ever was

As someone who has worked with those experiencing homelessness, I want to point out that experiencing homelessness in itself can create mental illness. Everyone goes through trauma differently, but constantly being in a fight or flight state because you don’t have your basic needs met changes your neuropathways and can lead to illnesses such as PTSD and anxiety.

I have been homeless 3 times in my past it’s never easy . The hardest part is when people say get a job bump but don’t realize you can’t fill out a job application with no phone number or address for them to contact you for a interview and even if your phone does still have service and you get a interview you’re appearance and hygiene will keep you from moving past the interview process. It’s extremely easy to become homeless and extremely hard to get out of. Thank you for explaining this to people it’s a very big problem that definitely needs fixing #Johnoliverforpresident

I've worked with persons experiencing homelessness for over 10 years now... thank you for shedding light on this very serious issue that affects us all.

'Get these homeless off our streets!' 'Ok, we'll build accomodation & services in the area' 'Not in my backyard!' People like that don't want to see the less-fortunate given opportunities, they just don't want to see them at all.

Don't forget, you have more in common with a homeless person than a CEO. Many of us are one or two bad circumstances away from living on the streets, even if we don't realize it or think so Also-- I had completely wiped all memories of "raining tacos" from my mind, I had completely forgotten that song and video existed until watching this episode. It filled me with an indescribable emotion something akin to nostalgia and rage

This is one of John's best segments ever. I'd like to see a follow-up.

I asked my mother once why so many charities would come into our building looking for donations, when so many of us barely survived on a pay check. She told me because those little are more likely to help because they know what it's like to be without.

Playing "It's raining tacos /in the street/ it's raining tacos /all you can eat" to someone hungry and homeless could be considered torture. I would want to cease to exist.

"It's raining tacos," is an absolutely vile song to play specifically to taunt hungry people... I almost cried, and was just as shocked that this fact was never mentioned.

seeing that formerly homeless veteran man tell his story of walking around singing to himself comfortably brought actual tears to my eyes! to all the crew at last week tonight god bless you!

Thanks for doing this story John. My friend was orphaned as a child, lost his life savings and home twice due to Katrina and Harvey. He died of conjestive heart failure in his encampment 2 weeks before I could get him housing via the nonprofit I was working with. RIP William. My other friend Drew was more fortunate (in a way), he had terminal cancer, but we did find him housing. I made half a dozen multiple mile long treks out to his encampment to help him get out of the encampment and into a hotel. We still had to deal with a hotel kicking him out and move him to another hotel until we could help him get transported to hospice.

literally watching this behind a church wearing a rain coat in the middle of the night using shitty free wifi. Homeless people represent.

I was hoping John would point out how cruel it is to play a song about all you can eat tacos at homeless people.

My heart goes out to all the homeless out there. I wish more people would think logically about this and have more compassion but I think that would force people to look at their wages and living situation and realize they’re about a stones throw away from homeless and that’s an uncomfortable thought.

I really agree that being homeless impacts your mental health. I had a mental breakdown that lead me to being homeless. Being alone for hours on end with nothing to do in a tent can send you a little loopy. I started having conversations with myself because at least it was someone to interact with.

"Far too often, stories focusing on homelessness are presented solely thru the lens of how it affects those with homes, when in reality it is obviously the people without them who need the real help." This is always my reaction to these stories, but he said it way better than I could have!

Thank you for this piece. I was chronically homeless since a teen, now 49 and housed for the past 2+ years through the VA; They've helped a great deal with my mental health care. Now I work as a peer/musician; performing at the shelters...it's wonderful!

I am struggling with homelessness. This segment is on point in every way it did raise the underlining issues. Appreciate from the bottom of my heart to the team and everyone else who can understand these issues to raise them as policy remedies in future that are very much a solution in this masterpiece as always behind the facade of stigma ❤️✌️

It's ironic that people don't want homeless on the streets, but push hard against any solutions to solve that exact issue

"Homeless by choice." I was homeless once. In a way it was my choice. I either lived with a husband who, when I arrived home from work one day, he and his buddies had left 5 spoons of melted speed on the coffee table which my 2-year-old daughter was walking around or I lived in my car. I'm sorry. I took the car. That's probably the only reason my daughter is now 40 years old and not buried in a graveyard.

In regards to the intersection of homelessness, mental illness, and addiction… two decades of EMT and law enforcement experience has shown me that mental illness and addiction occurs EVERYWHERE. On the streets, in the trailer parks, in the suburban bilevels, even in the big fancy McMansions. The big difference is who has adequate support networks and access to evidence-based therapies and treatment.

I'm watching and rewatching a bunch of these. So good! Glad he's saying what some of us have been for *so long* !! Some of these things are basic common sense.

We have all seen and heard about homelessness over the years, and in the years subsequent to this video it has become worse - criminalizing homelessness is nationwide. Ironically, and sadly, the cost of incarcerating them (in the already overcrowded county jails) cost Far more than providing basic shelter and even porta toilets. John is an incredible entertainer, and comedian, but at the end of the day he is the Best. Most Professional, Credible, Investigative Journalist - that sheds important insights that are ignored by the so called media. I am educated, and well read, but John delivered this well documented journalism, and it has greatly increased my understanding of this ongoing, and growing, humanitarian crisis.

"As your safety declines, so does your compassion." I think that is the most important sentence in this piece. That is why conservatives love to make people feel unsafe. If they can get me to feel scared for myself and my loved ones (which more often than not isn't even justified) I have less compassion and fewer emotional resources to care about other people.

This one hit REALLY hard. I just got out of homelessness, living on my friends’ couch for about 5 months, then back in a toxic household. I got lucky in finding a place, with a LOT of help from outside groups (no organizations, just peers and friends) and I’m LUCKY. I HATE that this has to be said, but homeless people are fucking people too.

It's wild that people feel like people don't have a right to exist while being homeless but we still don't pay a living wage like anywhere. Proportional minimum wage should be $25.00 and we had to fight to get it to half the amount.

I live in Clairemont (San Diego), am disabled, and would probably be homeless if I didn't have my parents' support. We are all struggling. I feel disappointed in my community; I don't know when that committee meeting but I am sad that I missed it and wasn't able to voice my opinion. We have so many homeless in this area that need help and kindness.

"But despite Tyra's best efforts homelessness is still a huge problem in this country"

How cruel to play “it’s raining tacos” to someone who is likely experiencing hunger pains, on top of nowhere to sleep.

I was made homeless by an ex in the summer of 2020. Thankfully I have friends who's couches I could crash on to help get back on my feet. It was scary to be suffering at the beginning of a pandemic with no defenses and find myself without a home. It can happen to anyone

That gag about Ellen aged way better than we could have expected.

I was homeless as a kid. I can say it wasn't a choice. It wasn't from addiction. I was lucky and got rehoused. Thanks John Oliver bringing this up. So many people live this horror in their lives, it doesn't have to be this way.

I work at a convenience store down the block from a newly-designated homeless housing unit in a very liberal Seattle suburb. The residents all try to complain about the unhoused people without sounding judgmental or bigoted (I never let them get away with it). The unhoused folks, on the other hand, make a point of being courteous, friendly, and paying for their purchases even when they have very little money or I offer to let them have food or coffee for free. You need to treat people like people if you want them to get back on their feet.

As a homeless person watching this 2 years later, it is a shame that nothing was learned from it

I lost my job because my work permit expired and my Lawyers fucked me with my money and didn’t begin processing my renewal in time and I lost my job and home and am currently looking for any way of sustenance in LA. I was a fulltime student working fulltime when I suddenly lost everything. Still haven’t used a day in my life but everyday that goes on and I wonder why I cant have a home despite me wanting to work and study in the country I have resided on since I was 6 months old. Being treated as an outcast while doing nothing wrong but being born too far south has surely changed my perspective on homelessness.

I would also like to add that funding libraries can do some serious serious good for unhoused people. When my brother and I were living out of my van we would go to the libraries from the time they opened to the time they closed applying for jobs, charging our stuff, using the bathrooms, filling up on water, etc. Idk where I would be without the libraries and the people who helped us

I was homeless for 4 months in my early 20s. I have never felt so much hate. I worked 50 hours a week and I was so frustrated on why I couldn't afford a place to live. Edit: Where i was working: - Publix (Grocery Store) - Some Fast Food Job ( I dont remember what one, i worked for so many food industry jobs) I lived in Florida and Delaware homeless time to time. In Delaware I was paid $7.25 an hour and i think my take home pay was $900 or something a month after tax. Florida was not much better, made $1200 a month but rent was $1400 - $1750 No, im no longer poor or homeless. Im a Software Engineer now. No, hard work didn't get me where i am. It was knowing people

I would imagine a fair portion of homeless people have suffered abuse as well. My father was abusive and stole all of my mums money so we couldnt move out and when we finally did we were homeless and had to access housing services. My dad had a job that paid fairly well, he just refused to pay for anything. People in abusive relationships or family situations can often end up homeless, either from their confidence and lives being ruined or because their money/property is literally stolen

I must be one strong woman!!! My son is obsessed with this song and he makes me listen to it all day!!!

"When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why they are poor, they call me a communist." Dom Helder Pessoa Camara, Bishop of Brazilian Catholic Church

I’ve been homeless for all 3 of those reasons. Kicked out for being gay, Being released from jail, Escaping Domestic violence In exactly that order

I've spent about ten years homeless since getting hurt in the Army. It's almost impossible to climb upwards in the "Land of Opportunity".

It's so good of you to bring this up and advocate for the homeless.

Bizarre that you didn't reference that the "It's raining Tacos" may fuck with the people sleeping because they are hungry as fuck. Messing with them on that level is out right evil on a different level.

The definition of pure evil is playing "It's raining tacos" in a park where homeless people who have no money to eat are just trying to sleep. I am sure they would love to have a taco or anything to eat.

I don't always agree with John Oliver but as a homeless man I couldn't appreciate trying to get this message out there more

How did you get to be this caring?

I'm always kind to the homeless because I'm acutely aware that in this country I'm only 1 or 2 bad choices or circumstances away from being right there with them.

There are cities that have also gotten rid of benches (mainly in subways and parks) all together to stop the houseless from sleeping on them. Not only inconveniencing EVERYONE (especially the disabled and pregnant) but going out of the way to try and hide the fact that the city has a homeless problem. These are people, not pests.

Good show, John. I hope that you continue to advocate for the homeless by supporting housing for the homeless in YOUR neighborhood. That would be a great example.

Keep speaking the truth, Mr Oliver. We need it badly.

It is so incredibly cruel to blast "it's raining tacos in the streets" to tired hungry homeless PEOPLE

I was homeless at 18 and would have been homeless many times since then if I did not have a support system of loving friends and family. I have no addictions, minimal health issues, and live in a relatively affordable place. I am educated, hard working, and never without a job or 2. Stability is ridiculously fragile and more than half the people I ever met struggling with homelessness have lost their stability due to something 100% out of their control. I hope this mentality catches traction. Be kind💙💚

I was homeless for about 2 years. Trying to exist in areas that I used to as a homeless person is now impossible because people assume I'm still homeless and will try to chase me off.

If you liked this episode I highly recommend the podcast You're Wrong About. Specifically, they have an episode on Homelessness that dives in to a lot of these issues. Really, all the back catalogue of YWA is awesome, very well researched and presented in an interesting way.

I will always remember when my mom was kicked out of Starbucks because someone thought she was homeless and the sight of her was bothering them. My mom was low income older landy. She was always frugal and so was her clothing. She worked long hours and would wait for my father to pick her up from work because she rather wait then spend money on a car or even public transportation. Everything she did was for us. Anyways, while she waited for my father to get off work , she would often go to Starbucks or some other place buy coffee and read. Well one day she was very tired and dosed off. Someone complained and she was asked to leave. They even threatened to call the cops. She felt humiliated and hurt. This is what homeless people deal with on the daily basis.

I find myself judging homeless people as lazy, especially since I see so many people begging in front of stores that have help wanted signs… but I never really thought about how hard it would be to get a job or even start to get of homelessness without a home, or address, much less with mental health problems on top. This was a good eye opener for me.

I think the sad part about this is that providing homes is not as easy or as rosy as John Oliver is saying here. My hometown of Victoria BC, Canada turned handsprings to house the homeless during Covid- buying hotels to provide homes, giving out cell phones for the homeless, a ton of stuff. It was all well-meaning, and it was a disaster. Hotels got lit on fire, they turned into drug dens, and it really was non-stop criminality with people shooting up in the parkinglots. Just providing people with homes doesn't solve the problem. This is the same thing with the shelters and the rules. They have to have rules, or it is chaos. The city needs to put systems in place to provide security. There needs to be a structure. People need to want to change their lives, or the homes you provide them with will become scary places. There needs to be counseling to help people get off drugs. It doesn't start and end with homes. It's a much much bigger problem.

I want to personally thank John Oliver and his team for covering this topic. It is something that needs to be addressed more and steps need to be taken to help those in need. I have been homeless more than once in my life and I can foresee it may be a possibility again in the future at some point. The government doesn't care. If they did, nobody would be homeless. It makes me sick when I see these rich celebrities spending so much money on frivolous things for themselves and doing nothing to help those in need. I always tell people that if I had the money, I would use it to fix up abandoned buildings or build shelters for the homeless or anyone in need and they would be able to stay as long as they need without having to pay for it. Also, it really ticks me off when people say it's a choice to be homeless. I agree that some do actually choose to stay on the streets in order to stay out of the system and I can relate to that and I sympathize, but most do not have a choice and that's that sad part. Another thing is with getting a job, that isn't always possible even if you do have a place to live. I remember when I was on the streets thinking about how impossible it would be to get a job because you need an address to put on applications, but you need a job to have a place to live. It's a catch-22 situation. Even if you wanted to get a job, no employer is going to hire someone that is unable to clean themselves. Many cities have shelters, but they aren't always the best places to stay. They have a lot of restrictions and they aren't always very clean or very safe. I always preferred to take my chances on the streets than in some shelter that isn't any safer.