Many are ill, many are addicted, but many are there only because they don't make enough money to live on their own and may have been busted down over time to the point where they have given up but even they prove their resourcefullness regularly. Some live in their car, some couch surf, others pitch a tent and do whatever they can. Some are scammers and some addicts deal drugs in the open- I saw two guys yesterday- one walked toward the other with his "Homeless- Broke- anything helps" sign tucked under his chin while he dug into his pocket. When he reached the other guy, money & drugs changed hands and the guy with the sign went back to his corner.
Street people in my area are all addicts and homeless. It might be a mini-Kensington, but I don't see that many needles. Kensington videos I've seen there's needles everywhere. It's mostly tin foil. They use a lighter and then inhale it. Not real sure. Last year one guy had his head leaning against a fence and his body at an angle without using his arms to brace himself. I think that's meth or something. Where the brain shuts off for 10-15 minutes completely motionless. One young woman was standing in the parking lot motionless for 10-15 minutes then once came to walked away. I've heard they mix meth with fentanyl but not real sure.
The people who live inside the apartment I work at are all pretty much drug users. Some have jobs. Others don't. But many use. You can't ever trust them. One guy complained about Trump saying they should be doing more for us, but if he were given a stimulus check he'd probably blow it all on pot. Care packages are given out every once in a while to residents. I've heard stories where they sell the entire box for drugs. This includes TP lol. They give them Northern paper towels, which doesn't make sense to me you want to give them the top of the line when Angel Soft is perfectly fine and costs less. The money saved could get them an additional item. You can't leave out extra trash bags because those will be stolen. Everything has the potential to sold for drugs. They can be very manipulative too if you let them. One woman talked to me while looking high and said she either doesn't use or that people in the apartment do not use. That's crazy.
There's probably a cycle for some residents of needing basic supplies while burning what little they have on drugs.
The first two months were a culture shock. I'd say about a year before I accepted it is what it is and let it be. The Kensington videos I've seen people who look skeleton like they don't eat. Around here people look mobile and fed so I assume some of that is Catholic Charities.
It was a trip seeing people bend all the way over at the waist. Saw a kid doing that on his bike. Funny thing is they never fall over. They're so high.
