I just found a young lady on YouTube who is currently living in her car here in California. She escaped an abusive situation across the country and is here without family or friends support. I sent her links to SafeParking LA and to the Hope Navigation Center which is a cool app that shows where a lot of resources for the homeless are, including safe parking.
This girl is funny and beautiful and seems very much like most you tubers/tick tockers. She's dealing with haters who don't even believe she is homeless. Adding insult to injury when you're in a really crappy place and people don't even believe you.
I remember decades ago at the beginning of facebook finding out that many people I know are the type to discredit homeless. I made a post about helping a family who was living in their car with gas; while I was filling up at the gas station the guy behind me asked if I could put some gas in his car. There was no money exchanged, I just gave gas to a guy who was obviously living in his car with his family (who I could see in the car). But some of my friends got up in arms. Several told me I was being scammed. I heard stories of panhandlers who became millionaires. I remember someone I won't name saying she personally knew a guy who made millions panhandling up and down highway 5. No, that never made sense to me. I was shocked at this attitude but it opened my eyes to how some people thought.
I don't see those kind of comments anymore. I hope it's because my acquaintances have wised up, but I think it may be because I confront their beliefs and I have worked enough with the homeless in the area to have data to counter their misconceptions.
I do think people can be divided into those who would rather feed a few extra people who don't need it to ensure everyone is fed and those who want to make sure only the really needy get anything even if it means a few people go hungry.
