Andy has been sleeping rough in Cardiff, Wales for the last three weeks. Andy’s dad is an alcoholic and he feels safer sleeping outside than at home with family.
When I first saw Andy is was sleeping. As a rule, I never wake anyone up. Andy shares about how he has been walking around at night and desperate for sleep. Sleep deprivation is common for homeless people sleeping rough. A good nights sleep is rare.
Although Andy shares about rough sleeping in the United Kingdom, the challenges of living on the streets homelessness are the same in the United States and Canada. People don’t just walk by, they spit on you and call you names. People even with good intentions give an overabundance of food yet refuse to help with money or other basics needs besides Mcdonalds or Burger King meals.
Here’s a post I wrote about panhandling and people begging for money: “Giving Money to Homeless People Is Okay https://byrslf.co/giving-money-to-homeless-people-is-okay-41361adfe2fa
Andy’s story is powerful. He’s only 21 years old and he’s experiencing more pain and suffering than any young adult should. Sadly, Andy’s story is far too common among homeless young adults. Instead of giving a sandwich we all must work together to end homelessness.
Thanks to all of your support, we got Andy inside tonight. He found me a little while after this interview with all of the change he had made from panhandling in his hand and said “I am going to give this to a charity box.” Just by helping him get inside tonight it changed everything.
Special thanks to Crisis https://www.crisis.org.uk
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Since its launch in November 2008, Invisible People has leveraged the power of video and the massive reach of social media to share the compelling, gritty, and unfiltered stories of homeless people from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C. The vlog (video blog) gets up close and personal with veterans, mothers, children, layoff victims and others who have been forced onto the streets by a variety of circumstances. Each week, they’re on InvisiblePeople.tv, and high traffic sites such as YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, proving to a global audience that while they may often be ignored, they are far from invisible.
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A homeless friend once shared a story about when he needed a toothbrush. He stood in front of a grocery store displaying a sign asking for money to buy the toothbrush. It wasn’t long before people started to give him food. He gratefully accepted multiple bags of fast food meals as he tried to collect money to buy a toothbrush. He set the bags next to him. Although it was clear he had already been given food, people continued to give him more. He never was able to purchase the toothbrush he needed.
Jeffery is homeless in Toronto, Canada. “You’re cold. You get soaking wet. You never know where you’re going to sleep,” Jeffery said about homelessness. He also went on to say that the one thing you don’t have to worry about is food when you are homeless. https://youtu.be/0RPnZkL-6H8
People like to give food. Nonprofits have programmed the public the homeless people need food because they know people will donate money for food programs. For those of you having an issue with Andy talking about throwing away Burger King the point Andy is trying to make is he already gets plenty of food – too much food even – yet people still keep giving him food and more food. What would you do with 15 hamburgers?
The public needs to be educated about homelessness and real needs. The simple solution is to ask and listen – then help when you can.
You can never go wrong giving out socks – How to Give Socks to Homeless People. https://youtu.be/RVHaf4FtsfE
I wish I could take you home, shower, eat, rest for few days and find you a job!!! And no, kids arent always ready at this age , life can happen at any age. I dont blame people for giving food and not money because people take advantage and buy a hit. What if this were YOUR child?? When is the last time you so called Christians asked someone what their story was, stayed on the side of the road, waitied for help, fed them or took them to a shelter? When was the last time you hosted a shower.- even an outside pool shower was offered to someone asking on facebook. I brought a stranded trucker home once, and even snuck someone into my gym to shower. When was the last time you gave a bottle of water out, even broke , and broken down while traveling FAR, I still gave out my half frozen water and drink bottles to homeless people in 106 degree heat. Have you stopped to help a stranded person, or gave a ride or let someone in desperation use your phone- so simple?? This week I was stranded with a major car fail, no rentals available, as I sat , so many people walking around all night, no place to rest, many people around me merely needed a phone call to rest their mind, or pick up a check, or a 5 mile ride which I googled things for him- he even had money but still unable to spend it as he needed. One man had no way to use an address to use for obtaining an ID or a ride to get papersto get the other papers., couldnt rent a hotel room. Lately no place will even let yhou come in for a minute of air conditioning, if you have no mask- you get NO drink or food or help or a phone. Some places will not even accept cash with this covid bullcrap going on, so a vagrant teen couldnt buy a sandwich because he had no credit card. Even if you have cash, this guy couldnt rent a car or book an uber because he had no phone or card- so I booked him an uber on my phone. Some people are one piece of paper away from a resume, one haircut or bath away from a job. When is the last time you dressed someone for success or helped with a resumee, or printed something out or mailed a letter for someone in need?? At 16 I was employed, but nowadays, you may not be stable at 21 or 41 or 61. Shame on this pos father., even worse are people who spit on him. WTF is wrong with people????
wow that this video tense i am blasileiro feel a huge pity for this guy, i am a drug user when watching the video i went straight to brush my tooth.
Andy, please don’t give up. I hope your situation get better.
Is there an update on what happened to him?
Simon Unge, wenn Youtube nicht mehr läuft
Andy, all the best to you, be happy , you are a beautiful and smart guy. Someone create an account number for Andy's donations!Hello from Russia!
In reality, people who wouldn't want to talk for even 1 minute watch this video for 10 minutes.People are really weird
He can go to some church, mosque, temple or gurudwara. They will keep him fed. Probably, they will provide him with some shelter. If somebody finds him, please help him or pass on the advice.
The government needs to set-up a program where people who find themselves in this sort of temporary situations. Will be able to better themselves by providing temporary housing, food and help them find work.
Now if some people choose to leave on the streets that’s different but some people just need an opportunity.
It could be worse bro. Atleast you ate a homeless in a first world country. Try tô do that here in Brazil or Yemen. You would be already dead.
I have a son that age. I would not choose man over my kids.Shame on his mother.
This is deep
people are mean i know i been threw it all 🙁
I dont want fast food and im homeless.. i need a mobile phone… noted
Is it three weeks or three days ?
This is so sad. At least people try to help with food. Personally I've only given money, for the reason s they mention. God bless the homeless.
If you spit on a homeless person or say "get a job"etc you are a lowlife, not the homeless person.
Why don't you people help him .. instead of just making a video
use toy card to get wellfare
How you can be home less in 5 biggest economy of the world in 21 century in Europe how come why or you lazy or so stupid that no one want him or disable ? 0:10 aaaaa ok understand bad luck don't kill your self I will need you in future soon enough
This broke my heart… I now will buy toothbrushes and toothpaste and some babywipes and money to comfort them instead of food…
I want to see him but how….
If only I were rich, I would gladly give him a home. This makes me so sad. The government should do something for the homeless people.
I have never understand the world. The word human is used as a synonymous of compassion, fraternity, affection. But humanity is evil, conflictive, selfish, negative. Just watch how humans built the world as we know, with deep differences, racism, clacism, violence. 6 millenniums of human history have passed and mankind is still the same or worst. Humans don't even worth a try ?
EVERYTIME! Everytime you have an oportunity to get a job, then jacket instead of blanket and also whatever you want, if you are healthy and got all your limbs! So no excuse, you are just lazy or giving up. You need to realize you are healthy before thinking of essentials. So get up your ass and start to live… And I mean it from warmth of my heart
Unge war Obdachlos?
Cardiff is a city that houses thousands of migrants who travel though safe countries to get here they actually have shut 4 star hotels all over the country to house these economic migrants people who have not contributed nothing to are country and are just coming here for a better life an yet they leave there own on the streets to die this is what identity politics does and the labour party who run these cites tell the world there is room for refugees while there are hundreds of homeless on our streets same here in Liverpool the politicians only care about looking like they are not racist and virtue signalling
Do anyone know how he's doing now?
Have a nice house, Have a nice job and have a family? That moment when you realise that you have everything this guy wished for
this guys a frickin bum, single male and cant provide for himself, whata loser.
Aww, I'd put him in a hotel for a bath/shave and comfy night's sleep. Bless him, I hope he's doing better.
I hate this world, people are so fucking evil and don’t care about anyone else but themselves
❤?
Nobody asked his consent when they re about to create him.
I hope that you are donating to these people you interview as they are paying your way!
What did I just hear? He's upset because people give him food instead of money? Christ dude some people don't want an OD on their conscious. Take the charity or piss off.
Bless this man
Have a family he said
Que ha sido de el ? What happend to him?
Is he okay now?? I feel really sorry for him. Did he get what he wanted? I'm like in tears watching him in this condition
Where is the money that you tube pay for this video. The boy also need help psychological.