I live in a blue collar/business casual neighborhood where we know our neighbors and, mostly, try not to bug each other without good cause. One of those neighbors is a homeless guy I first met while rousting him out of a small space behind a new neighbor's garage (neighbor was Japanese and new to the idea). Over the years the homeless guy has become part of the neighborhood, he sees himself as part of the neighborhood and acts accordingly. He's still broke but seldom actually homeless since someone or another usually has a dry place for him, sometimes a spare bedroom, sometimes just converted storage space, he's found peoples keys (mine one time) and tracked down the owner, and he's helped (gratis) in yard cleanups, lost pets, and move outs. For all intents and purposes he has been a pretty good neighbor for about fifteen years.
Sounds like a tramp, a step above bum.
I’ve noted a couple of fairly young guys who frequent a nice street corner near a local college, he first time one of them came up to my car I thought what a bum he must be, hale enough to work but begging instead. His line was selling some truly not so very good artwork done on 6X 6 board, which I declined. Second time I saw them i realized they were serious about wanting to provide something for the four bucks they asked; neither one would just take $4.00 for nothing.
I live in a blue collar/business casual neighborhood where we know our neighbors and, mostly, try not to bug each other without good cause. One of those neighbors is a homeless guy I first met while rousting him out of a small space behind a new neighbor’s garage (neighbor was Japanese and new to the idea). Over the years the homeless guy has become part of the neighborhood, he sees himself as part of the neighborhood and acts accordingly. He’s still broke but seldom actually homeless since someone or another usually has a dry place for him, sometimes a spare bedroom, sometimes just converted storage space, he’s found peoples keys (mine one time) and tracked down the owner, and he’s helped (gratis) in yard cleanups, lost pets, and move outs. For all intents and purposes he has been a pretty good neighbor for about fifteen years.
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Before entitlments there were always people avaible for small jobs in return for housing.
The man who living in my great-grand’s basement in return for shoveling coal and outdoor work.
The man who lived in the back room of my grandfathers offices and business in return for helping loading and keeping the place clean and picked up.
The almost blind woman who lived in the attic bedroom and helped with hte children for small monies and a home.
I think we will go back to these times. There are plenety of people who need small jobs and a home.