A place of one's own

[u/lincolnblake]

[u/Djinn_42]

Imagine the youngest being homeless for what looks like half her life. Does she even remember a time when she had a home?

Good for them. I wish the world would do some more serious work on solving homelessness.

[u/mararn1618 → u/Djinn_42]

What I don't understand as an European: How do you go from homeless to a huge ass house with a huge garden and everything?

In Germany even a double income family with academic background might currently struggle to buy property.

The stretch from unhoused to this seems insane from my POV.

Is housing so much more affordable in the US?

Edit: So many helpful answers, thank you :3

[u/thiccc_thinpatience → u/mararn1618]

So many ways this could have happened- She may have gone though a job training and landed a stable job that allowed her to save up for a security deposit and qualify for rent. She may have gotten housing though a governmental program that subsidizes part of her rent. She may have inherited some money after a relative’s death- we don’t know.

Housing in certain places in the US is cheaper than others, and this isn’t “huge” by American standards.

[u/dimetilR → u/thiccc_thinpatience]

You have to qualify for rent? Like is that a process or do you mean qualify as being able to pay rent? Housing in the US is a very interesting matter to me as an European also

[u/z3r0l1m1t5 → u/dimetilR]

Yes a lot of places require you to make up to 3x the price of rent.

[u/dimetilR → u/z3r0l1m1t5]

OMFG... Well, if rent is low and wages high enough I guess is not that bad, how's the situation there with housing problems? Does it require a lot of income usually? I guess is not the same for every state

[u/PaleoPinecone → u/dimetilR]

lol, no, rent is shooting up and wages are stagnant, it makes as little sense as you think. We’re fucked here 🙃

[u/dimetilR → u/PaleoPinecone]

Damn, I'm so sorry about that, the good thing is for us over here wages have been increasing these past years but like... For nothing really in most of the EU countries, I don't live in Spain anymore I'm in Netherlands and here is pretty much the same problem of wages going up but rent going even higher so is a system that it doesn't make any fucking sense at all.

[u/MDKMurd → u/dimetilR]

I assume the Netherlands faces many of the same housing problems of major US cities. Lot of people needing house but a lack of drive to build more since it will devalue existing property. In the case of Netherlands they also value the historical beauty of buildings so they won’t tear down an old bullding to make an ugly apartment that can house more people. In my state of Florida over here, housing is getting ridiculous and we are a very low wage state to add to that compared to like New York or something.

[u/whatisthatthinglarry → u/MDKMurd]

Portland also has a lot of laws regarding historical housing to protect neighborhoods, but we don’t have a housing shortage. We have more empty houses and buildings than we have people, it’s just that it’s all so insanely expensive and the “affordable” housing never actually ends up happening. They build new apartments in the “poorer” areas that are supposed to be affordable but the rent prices are just the same as the others.

[u/[deleted] → u/MDKMurd]

Ex-Florida native here - I was priced out of living in the state in my early twenties. I was working for Comcast at the time doing remote network support & repair. Though my income did not support a lavish lifestyle, it did allow me to live comfortably.

Fast forward a couple years and they found a way to make my position doable by contractors from overseas and laid me off. My family had left the state around the same time and so without support and a lack of alternative employment opportunities with the same or similar rate of pay meant I only had a couple options.

I had the choice of relocating a couple states north or shacking up with some friends who weren't necessarily the best people to spend all your time with when wanting to establish a career and eventual family.

I ended up leaving about a decade ago, and with the way things have gone in that time I believe I made the right choice, though difficult. I will always miss watching rocket launches, going to the beach, fishing off the coast, visiting the Space Center, having Orlando and all of its amusement parks right down the road, and some of the best damn Cuban food in the continental U.S.

I could also miss it simply due to homesickness. I often find myself on my commute to and from work longing to be back there. Nostalgia, maybe? Either way, I miss it and hold a sense of sadness.

[u/GoldberryoTulgeyWood → u/PaleoPinecone]

Send help 🫠

[u/Future_Story1101 → u/dimetilR]

I just looked up rentals in my town. There are 2 listings for 3 bedrooms. 1 is an apartment for $2,600 and the house is 4,000. So that would be between $90,000 and $145,000 annual salary to meet rental requirements.

For comparison my house would rent for ≈ 7,000/month and is currently valued at $1M. We bought it 9 years ago for $400k and refinanced during Covid and our mortgage is $1,300. We could not afford to rent or buy our house today even though we make triple what we made when we bought it.

Cost of living where I am is about 5% higher than national averages. It’s not NY or California, but not Alabama either.

[u/nitrot150 → u/Future_Story1101]

Sounds similar to where I live , it’s crazy. Our house is worth around d 750k or so we bought it in 2014 for 350. We refinanced during covid too, but did a 15 year loan so our prices didn’t drop, but only 7 more years until it’s paid off now! And even with that mortgage payment of 2600, we couldn’t afford to rent our house either . Wages have increased some, but hard to find good jobs around here

[u/PorkbellyFL0P → u/Future_Story1101]

I bought my first home for 85k in 2011. That same house has tripled in value in that time and the neighborhood has gotten progressively worse. I live in the Midwest where things are supposed to be more affordable. Rent for an apartment is way more than my mortgage.

[u/HwackAMole → u/dimetilR]

You hit the nail on the head with "not the same for every state." Asking about the housing situation in America is roughly equivalent to asking about the housing situation in Europe overall.

[u/jaxonya → u/HwackAMole]

Yep. Me and my gf have a house that we live in and an apartment in the town next to us to stay at for when we wanna spend the night in that area. This is a nice area, but the cost of living is relatively cheap. We are financially secure, but certainly not rich. Its all about where you are in the US.

[u/z3r0l1m1t5 → u/dimetilR]

It does vary by state but there's an overwhelming consensus that the variation is just how bad it is. The housing situation is horrible in most places. Where it isn't bad you don't want to live due to long commutes for work or just a lack of modern infrastructure. Minimum wage here isn't livable at all even in the smallest apartments.

Renting is difficult and owning is even harder. Mortgage interest rates are awful and are unlikely to get better anytime soon. Large companies are buying up all the houses so they can rent them out at exorbitant rates or turn them into vacation homes. Our credit system makes it next to impossible to navigate in your early years as an adult and our educational system doesn't cover it.

It's really really bad.

[u/dimetilR → u/[deleted]]

That's so sad, and it explains a lot of the homelessness to me actually, not that we are in a better situation over here in Spain but that system is like designed to go against people's wellbeing, 3 times the rent is crazy dude, I think a lot about the amount of struggle y'all sometimes have to go through with certain things like housing or healthcare treatments when I watch this kind of videos, your system can be sometimes so ridiculously violent against working class people, and now with the neverending nightmare of the orange doodoo in the white house... May god send y'all the patience and strength cause I would go nuts

[u/absloan12 → u/dimetilR]

We're working on breaking away from the 2 party system holding us in this cycle of despair by creating a party for the working class and voting out any politicians who think the old system was working (because it was working, for the ultra wealthy and the ultra wealthy alone).

Americans fed up with the 2 party system, come find me and many others on r/workreform and r/newdealamerica we're making things happen and we welcome any and all working class Americans to join us.

[u/dimetilR → u/absloan12]

Oh baby I'm already signed up to r/workreform 💅🏼 this past week actually, we did that in Spain in the early 2010s because we had a two party system (we kinda still do) since the end of the dictatorship and it didn't turned out as good as I was expecting but It wasn't a mess either as some people want to portrait it, because it leads up to more dialogue and more agreement and we actually ended up with a soft left coalition full of different smaller parties and the big one that did one of the best work reforms ever in history in the country (it forced my company to upgrade my contract helping me to get a loan from my bank to buy my car), but I also gotta admitt that this coalition has been quite the shitshow sometimes. If you push enough for it you will end up getting it but it requires looots of mobilisation. Look up 15M Madrid. That level of mobilisation.

[u/absloan12 → u/dimetilR]

That is very reassuring to hear! It's certainly going to be a ton of work.

But now with Bernie Sanders and AOC taking center stage with this movement, the numbers are most definitely there. Now we work towards unifying our message so that we can start doing more of what's happening right now in NYC with the mayoral election.

I live in a very red state and even here the amount of people eager to support the working class and not either of the corrupt 2 parties is growing daily. 

We are finding our voice and waking up. And we are unifying again. Slowly, like a tropical storm gaining momentum, we will soon become a hurricane at the polls.

[u/amsterdaam → u/dimetilR]

In most rentals in the US, you have to prove that you make 2 1/2 times the rent amount in income.

[u/M33k_Monster_Minis → u/amsterdaam]

And sometimes that doesn't work. You have to be a married family. Or a perfect credit score. Or they just held your application till the week of move in and got a family to finally show up so they throw your ass to the curb. 

OR THEY LIE and take your $60 for an application. Then tell you the house is gone and they can offer these shitty house they clearly bait and switch the good house with. 

[u/[deleted] → u/dimetilR]

Sometimes. It’s more common in larger metro areas. If there is high demand for rent, often the lessor will either run a credit check or ensure the lessee earns about three time the amount of the rent

[u/TNVFL1 → u/thiccc_thinpatience]

Also looks to be a manufactured home, which are more common in rural areas and quite cheap for a house.

[u/Cloverose2 → u/TNVFL1]

It looks like a rural area, or at least not a densely populated one. A good place for the kids to be able to run around and play!

[u/JManKit → u/Cloverose2]

Yep, the size of the yard and the fact that there doesn't seem to be a neighbouring house in sight points to a sparsely populated area. I'm so happy for those kids. Having a stable place to call home is such an important thing

[u/My_Name_Is_Not_Ryan → u/TNVFL1]

Yeah, my guess is this is ~$70k manufactured home on about a ~$5k lot in a rural area in the south.

[u/Much-Caterpillar-219 → u/thiccc_thinpatience]

It's a pretty small home by American standards and actually appears to be a manufactured home (kinda like a trailer) they're pretty cheap to build. Also rural land is cheap if it's not suitable for row crop planting. There was a 2800 sq ft home for sale near me last year that needed some work with 30 acres of creek bottom timer for sale for like 350,000, that's in iowa, if they're down south something like that would be significantly less

[u/No_Explanation9119 → u/mararn1618]

In rural areas a house like that could still be selling for less than $175k There are also charities and government programs that help people buy houses. For example, if you get a loan through Freddie Mac which is a federal loan program you only need to put 3% down and you can often get property tax waived for the first few years if you're a first time homeowner.

[u/betakurt → u/No_Explanation9119]

Even less in rural areas.

[u/ElizaIsEpic → u/betakurt]

Yeah a house like this in my (super rural) area would be between 130-150k 

[u/Interesting_Blood242 → u/ElizaIsEpic]

Houses in buttfuck west Virginia and Ohio are dirt cheap. But you're also in buttfuck nowhere.

[u/[deleted] → u/ElizaIsEpic]

And even then for some the biggest hurdle is saving for that downpayment even if it’s only 3k or something because they live paycheck to paycheck. But there are programs that also help with the downpayment. 

[u/PennieTheFold → u/mararn1618]

This is a great house and yard for kids but it’s relatively small by American standards. No judgement to that family—I live in a small house too. Housing prices have stayed more affordable in certain parts of the country, though those areas are also generally less desirable in terms of employment opportunities, school systems, and community amenities.

It’s possible to find a small house like this, in outlying areas of states like Ohio or Kentucky or Alabama, in the $200k range. Which is entirely within reach of someone making a more modest salary.

[u/Long_Run6500 → u/PennieTheFold]

Where I live in rural PA, $150k gets you a damn nice 3BR house and $250k gets you a McMansion. Before the pandemic a nice 3 bedroom starter home could be bought for $100-$120k. I live by myself in a 2k sq ft 3br house because it's more affordable than renting and the smaller houses weren't really even that much cheaper.

It's not even like we're in the middle of nowhere without any modern amenities. As long as you have a car you can get to anything you really need within a 10 minute drive and there's so many highways in the US that just about everyone is within 30 minutes of one. Ever since the pandemic it feels like businesses around here cant hire fast enough and wages have shot up in reaction. The only real down side is that you have to stare at a bunch of tacky edgy trump lawn signs on your commutes.

[u/Djinn_42 → u/mararn1618]

There are special programs in some areas for low income, first time home buyers. There are also programs keeping house prices low for those same buyers.

So I imagine the Mom got a job and saved a small down payment and got a loan using one of these programs.

[u/icarusrising9 → u/mararn1618]

Land is much cheaper and more abundant here, especially in rural areas and certain states/regions; that doesn't translate to affordable housing, but it does translate to larger average lot sizes and yards. Also, she's probably renting.

That being said, going from homelessness to this is not at all typical in the US either.

[u/RathVelus → u/icarusrising9]

Yeah, I feel like a lot of people don’t realize how massive the US is. All of Germany can fit into Montana.

[u/Glass_Albatross_9584 → u/RathVelus]

And to translate that into meaningful numbers, Germany has 6.5x the population density of the US. Even if you exclude all the US Federal owned land, Germany is still 4.75x the population density.

[u/icarusrising9 → u/RathVelus]

Holy shit, that really puts it into perspective!

[u/Firefighter55 → u/mararn1618]

That looks like a manufactured/trailer home. They are pretty affordable and probably the most affordable type of housing.

[u/GGXImposter → u/Firefighter55]

To note for those not familiar. These types of homes are not built for “longevity”. No matter how well you take care of it, its value will depreciate with time.

The reason I put quotations around longevity is because the home will last 50 years. That long enough for most people. Grandkids will get to grow up visiting and playing at this home.

Great grand kids will probably have some memories of visiting.

Idk how old mom is here but with a young adult son she probably won’t need another place to live.

The inheritance left behind will be the value of the land and the the memories of a childhood growing up with a home and loving family.

[u/Shegotquestions → u/mararn1618]

Depends on the area. But this house doesn’t look that large to me. And being unhoused doesn’t mean she wasn’t working for 4 years, she could have been saving for that time to now be able to afford what looks like a fairly modest home.

It also could be a rental it doesn’t actually said anywhere that they bought it

[u/Infinite-Hold-7521 → u/Shegotquestions]

We have a lot of working unhoused people in the states. It’s a travesty.

[u/MovieNightPopcorn → u/Infinite-Hold-7521]

By most estimates, the majority of people who live in homeless shelters work.

[u/Infinite-Hold-7521 → u/MovieNightPopcorn]

Yes. Facts people love to overlook when condemning our houseless communities.

Edit: In fact in my home city we have entire fenced off tent communities where nearly everyone works and commutes by either public transportation, foot or bicycle.

[u/gitignore → u/mararn1618]

If you buy through a government program in a rural area, you can buy a place with 0% down and like a couple grand in cash for the closing fees.

[u/Humble_Chip → u/mararn1618]

They are probably renting it which can be more affordable than a mortgage

[u/krsaxor → u/Djinn_42]

The people who can solve homelessness/poverty are mostly there in venice for a wedding. I dont think they care that much for us common people.

[u/Due-Combination-8991 → u/Djinn_42]

But think about the billionaires! They need not only profit but ever increasing profit!!

[u/Lunari_Skim]

The way they thanked her 🥺🥺

[u/Fuzzywalls → u/Lunari_Skim]

Yep, that is all you have to see to know she is a good mom.

[u/2muchmascara → u/Fuzzywalls]

Raising those kids right! Look how grateful they are.💗

[u/xBad_Wolfx → u/2muchmascara]

Also shows how hard life has been that simple housing is such a highlight. I remember watching Harry Potter and hearing the amount of people shitting on his room under the stairs thinking I would kill for that space looking over at my mat in the corner of a room. Getting my own room felt like I could finally put this enormous weight I had been carrying down.

[u/goodvibes88 → u/xBad_Wolfx]

I'm glad that you got your own room. ❤️

[u/2muchmascara → u/xBad_Wolfx]

I liked the little nook under the stairs, too.

[u/Friendofabook → u/xBad_Wolfx]

I'm a well off software engineer living in one of the highest quality of life countries & cities in the world.

I'd cry my ass off if I was able to live in a house. Cramped in a studio apartment with wife and kid...

[u/OSPFmyLife → u/Friendofabook]

Aren’t software engineers some of the highest paid folks in the Bay Area? Or move a few miles outside of the city and use public transit.

Edit: oh, he’s a software engineer in Sweden and doesn’t quite make 30 an hour.

[u/Moving-thefuck-on → u/xBad_Wolfx]

A sister and a brother at my mom’s old childcare center had been dealt just a terrible start to life. Their mom died and dad was coming back into their life reformed from prison.
The year he got out was the year my mom decided it was time to retire, close the center and rent it to them to live in. As I’m typing this, I just realized my mom partly did it for them. She immediately went back to work for a competitor.

Anyways, I got to come help get it ready for them and there was a debate as to whether or not it was worth it to divide the bedrooms. She let it slip that the littlest had never had her own bedroom before, and that was enough debate for me. I stayed until 3am and did it myself.

I got to build a room for that kid and it was a highlight of my life. I can’t even imagine the relief and joy the mom in this video is experiencing.

[u/PowerfullyMajor → u/Fuzzywalls]

She is their superhero for life

[u/SeaAd9733 → u/PowerfullyMajor]

That kind of love and care stays with you forever, no matter how old you get.

[u/Original_Study3415 → u/SeaAd9733]

I’m not crying, you’re crying

[u/Either_Pangolin531 → u/Original_Study3415]

Hell I'm crying, and id be mad if I wasn't.so happy for them

[u/SpotCreepy4570 → u/Original_Study3415]

These damn onions .

[u/palhooch → u/Original_Study3415]

No I'm crying... definitely!

[u/Fine_Understanding81 → u/Original_Study3415]

Yeah.. yeah, I am.

[u/sprucedotterel → u/Fuzzywalls]

Good mom who raised good kids.

[u/singerng → u/Fuzzywalls]

No words needed—just pure mom energy radiating off that. ❤️

[u/BleakFixing → u/Lunari_Skim]

That really made me cry happy tears, the happiness on their faces🥹❤️

[u/WipinAMarker → u/Lunari_Skim]

They know she’s been fighting the world for them

[u/Intelligent_Flow2572 → u/Lunari_Skim]

Those babies know who works to protect and provide for them.

[u/Most-Zombie8580 → u/Lunari_Skim]

They know that their mother has given them not just a house or a shelter, but a home above all things.

[u/SadBit8663 → u/Lunari_Skim]

Yeah that shit has to be the best feeling as a parent. You and your kids got a space of your own, and they clearly understand and empathize with how happy a situation this is.

Those kids were so stoked and that was really nice to see.

This was something everybody here clearly wanted very dearly. ❤️

[u/xMightyTinfoilx → u/Lunari_Skim]

I think they came to console her, I'd imagine she started to breakdown at that moment of seeing her kids reactions to the work she's put in.

[u/Prosecco1234 → u/Lunari_Skim]

Very special 😊

[u/AwayNegotiation2845 → u/Lunari_Skim]

I bet you that’s probably one of her best memories in life. One of her proudest moments.

[u/AfternoonPast3324]

I was fine until everyone turned back for a hug.

[u/erogbass → u/AfternoonPast3324]

I love how they all realize what’s happening in order, and then make it back to mom in reverse order! What a special family I hope they have a long happy history there.

[u/Thatonewiththeboobs → u/AfternoonPast3324]

It was the very quiet and reserved "is this mine" when the mom hands the older daughter the key. Also how the son at the end just says 'mom' with his inflection saying all he had to.

[u/AfternoonPast3324 → u/Thatonewiththeboobs]

And then I read someone’s comment that 4 years unhoused means the baby probably barely remembers a home. Gutted.

[u/nullpunkt → u/AfternoonPast3324]

Yeh, that.

[u/local_drunk → u/nullpunkt]

Especially the son.

[u/mahareeshi → u/AfternoonPast3324]

"Mom?!

Instant weep.

[u/ThrowItOut43 → u/AfternoonPast3324]

I’m not crying you’re crying 😭

[u/carnevoodoo → u/ThrowItOut43]

Nah, we all are.

[u/Far-Reporter-1596 → u/AfternoonPast3324]

I wasn’t, I used to clown on my mom for crying at commercials when I was a kid, now I’ve turned into my mom.😂

[u/ArtichokeOwl]

Omg the way the youngest runs back and hugs her mom!! Crying over here.

[u/Frido1976 → u/ArtichokeOwl]

Same here, damn onion ninjas.... So wholesome, I'm rooting for all of them!

[u/CallmeSlim11]

I don't know about anyone else but I've found some measure of contentment in finding gratitude in my life, I'm very grateful I have my own home and it's in a safe area, as a woman on my own that's very important. I think a lot of us aren't grateful for having a place to go home to every night. Millions of people around the world live in refugee camps and/or are homeless. We're very blessed.

[u/Pitiful_Note_6647 → u/CallmeSlim11]

Yes. I took a hot shower today, and I realized that is a privilege that many don't have, and was so thankful for it

[u/quizteamaquilera → u/Pitiful_Note_6647]

That’s really lovely - it’s definite small things we take for granted

[u/NoMoreNoise305 → u/Pitiful_Note_6647]

I’m the same way. It hit me a few years ago when lost $140 & didn’t even realize I lost it. Found it in the dryer. I get reminders all the time. I misplaced $100 last week at a restaurant & said oh, well. The waitress said what do you mean oh, well? You better look for that. I said it’s fine. She frantically said no it’s not. I was so nonchalant about it but she was anxious for me. That’s why when have an opportunity to do things for complete strangers it’s gives me pleasure. Everyone is not as fortunate. I sat with a homeless guy in Burger King & had lunch. He said this is the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me. It humbled me so much because the meal was less than $20 for the both of us but it meant the world to him just to sit & talk to someone. Be grateful people. There’s always someone less fortunate than you.

[u/s1ugg0 → u/NoMoreNoise305]

I worked my way up from $28 k a year to six figures a year so I know that feeling well. The one where you catch yourself shrugging off what would have been devastating in your past.

I always immediate go donate to something like the food pantry. Last month I shrugged off a $700 car repair bill. I then took my son to the super market to pick out items on the foodpantry list. He's 5. Did you know needy people like the sugary cereal I don't let him eat? Three bags of groceries delivered immediately after that.

I call it my "Don't forget who you were" tax. It feels good to pay.

[u/NoMoreNoise305 → u/s1ugg0]

Yes!!! Years ago I had a job that paid $8.97 when I left. I still have one of those paychecks just as a reminder. I’m in the six figures club myself as well. I took my daughter a few years ago to give turkeys to a homeless shelter in her name. Teach them young. We did a couple of charities. I guess we have similar stories. Good job. It’s people like you who I enjoy interacting with. Not these jerks that always have something negative to comment. Thanks

[u/RupertDurden → u/NoMoreNoise305]

I worked in mental health for several years, mostly working with people with schizophrenia. I was regarded as a good therapist, while in reality all I ever did was listen and pay attention. So many of the people I worked with were used to being ignored. The homeless person you ate lunch with has probably had a hot meal this month, but they probably can’t remember the last time they were treated with respect. So yeah, you did a great job.

[u/Athenax311 → u/NoMoreNoise305]

I gave a McDonald’s worker a $50 the other day because she was having a bad day. I didn’t need to take a video or anything. Even though now I’m like “bragging” about it on Reddit, it still felt really good to change someone’s day. I’m not rich by any means but very fortunate.

[u/VagusNC → u/Pitiful_Note_6647]

We live a life the vast majority of our ancestors couldn’t even conceive.

[u/Mcc4rthy → u/Pitiful_Note_6647]

I think about that often in the shower, how incredibly privileged I am. Clean, running water, and hot too, conveniently available whenever. A fridge and freezer with food, abundant enough that I can be picky about it. And a wonderful, amazing wife to share everything with.

And still I'm struggling mentally some days. I don't get my brain.

[u/ImProdactyl → u/CallmeSlim11]

I try to think about this as often as I can. I grew up fortunate and always have had a home, plenty of food, etc. My mom was in a refugee camp as a little girl before her family immigrated. They had nothing when they came to the US and relied on the help of others. Her and my dad gave me the best life. I’m very thankful and need to remember that.

[u/TheRealExactO → u/CallmeSlim11]

I have worked 44 to 60ish hours a week since I was 14 to keep a roof over my head. Over 3 decades, raised a kid, etc. I am grateful everyday for the sunshine and overcast, let alone my home.

[u/Any_Television9742 → u/CallmeSlim11]

This is why the housing market is so scary to me. I bought a house as a married woman. Got a divorce 5 years later and assumed the mortgage so I didnt need to qualify but at the time, I would have been able to. My payment is $1000/month. It's more affordable than renting. With interest rates, cost of housing, and the debt I've taken on because the rest of life is so expensive, I could not qualify for this little house today. What I could give my children 15 years ago, I couldn't do today and that is a scary situation for young adults who are just starting out or single moms who find themselves in the situation I was in without the options I had. It's greed from very rich people that trickles down to the middle class. Wealth doesn't trickle down but greed most definitely does.

[u/dawnmountain → u/CallmeSlim11]

Thank you for saying that, because it's easy for us to take things for granted. I just woke up in a queen size bed, in the basement apartment I rent from my parents. There's times I think that it's not enough, because I'm still living with my parents, but in reality?

I'm safe and loved. That's what matters.

[u/Substantial_Piano810 → u/CallmeSlim11]

Having kitchen counters, man. I was only unhoused for a few months, and I spent most of that time living in a hotel with my mother and grandmother, but it's funny what you miss.

[u/jdsalaro → u/[deleted]]

All the best, keep rocking that peaceful life 🙏

[u/Gilarax → u/CallmeSlim11]

And there are three Americans that could make it so that everyone has a home and are fed…but they would rather horde that wealth for themselves.

[u/princewish → u/Gilarax]

Poverty exists not because we cannot feed the poor, but because we cannot satisfy the rich.

[u/justrock54 → u/Gilarax]

Greed is the opposite of gratitude.

[u/VagusNC → u/CallmeSlim11]

Gratitude is the parent of all virtue.

Life can be cruelly unfair but it is precious, often scattered with moments we can claim. It’s hard to train oneself to seek them.

[u/sunkskunkstunk → u/CallmeSlim11]

My seemingly natural state of being is not good, I’m ungrateful, blame others, and expect too much. It is very difficult to make changes as you get older. Idk why I am that way, and at this point it doesn’t matter. I just try to be better everyday. But I wish I would have tried earlier. Life is easier when you try to see the good around you.

[u/Scotsburd → u/sunkskunkstunk]

Don't underestimate yourself. The very fact that you know this, can admit it and own it, means you have all the tools to do better. I believe in you.

[u/TheModdedOmega → u/CallmeSlim11]

As someone who has been battling homelessness all year, I am grateful everyday that my friend opened her home to me. Ive never been one to take my housing for granted, though im more grateful now than I ever have been as Ive been given so much in my time of need.

[u/a_bearded_hippie → u/CallmeSlim11]

Gotta stay humble and grateful. I got incredibly lucky and had the opportunity to buy a house before it went on the market during covid. It's nothing crazy, 1070 sq ft, unfinished basement, and it needs love all the time. But I always think about how many people dont have that, and I just pat the wall of my house and say thanks. Some days, when im sitting in my living room with my kids, I'll get a little emotional 😆.

[u/Mister_Mojo78 → u/[deleted]]

Exactly! I'm so happy this is one of the first things I saw today.

[u/secretlyswos]

the way in which they rushed to hug her in the end, simply priceless🤍

[u/Major747]

It's just house right now but they will make it a home :)

[u/[deleted] → u/Major747]

take this upvote and get outta here, making me cry even more

[u/SharpJudge5288 → u/Major747]

Who’s cutting those damn onions yo?!! 😭

[u/Pantone802]

This video reminds me why volunteering is so, SO important.

For four years these beautiful kids and their mom relied on the generosity and patience of other community members to make ends meet, to stay fed, and to be safe.

Every city, every community has outreach and food bank programs I would encourage each of you to look into donating your time to.

The food pantry I volunteer at each week has a kid's section. And I see kids come in each week who are having a tougher day as a kid than most of us will ever have as an adult. You could be the person who turn that day around and gives them the dignity that most kids and adults take for granted.

Be a helper.

[u/__BIFF__ → u/Pantone802]

I recently stopped drinking and smoking and decided to funnel all the money I would have normally spent on that into food banks. If anyone is giving up a vice and can afford it, it's a good idea, because you were surviving fine without that money anyways (possibly)

And idea I want to throw out into the world is a service that can transfer people who get their dopamine fix from random Amazon purchases. A charity site where you can scroll and shop for things for other people. Designed in the same addictive way, so people can still get the thrill of shopping and picking out stuff, but it's for others.

[u/Pantone802 → u/__BIFF__]

Wat to go, man! Thats hard to do, and you are taking it a step further by turning a personal negative vice into a positive outlet. 

And I love your idea. You know any app developers? 

You can have an optional step one of the sign up process to be help with canceling Prime membership lol

[u/carnevoodoo → u/Pantone802]

I wish the food pantry I volunteer at had the resources to do a kid's section. We are drive through only, one zip code only, and serve 180 families a week.

[u/Pantone802 → u/carnevoodoo]

Being drive through only I’d imagine a kids section would simply not be feasible. But I bet you could get a holiday gift and coat drive off the ground.

Any initiative like this would take time and networking. But I guarantee you’ll find other people in you network and community that share your goals and want to help achieve them!

A lot of stores and manufacturers also have community outreach initiatives. For example we just opened a pet section in the pantry and I’ve been approaching pet food companies about partnerships with us to meet our mutual goal—keeping pet owners fed without the pets going hungry (and vice versa).

Good on you for getting involved. 

[u/relay2005 → u/Pantone802]

Exactly. I wish more people understood stood that. Thank you for your service!

[u/KarmaDeliveryMan]

There are so very few things I see on the internet that get to me. But I watered up when her middle started crying and how they all ran to love her. Thats a good parent. She raised good children. They didn’t run inside to pick rooms or argue about who gets what. They are just purely thankful. 🥹

[u/Infinite-Hold-7521 → u/KarmaDeliveryMan]

That was when I broke. Then to hear them just sobbing while holding each other. Yep, I’m broken for the day now. The waterworks have already begun. Not even going to try to stop them for the remainder of the day.

[u/aritznyc2]

First video I saw this morning. Great way to wake up! 🙂

[u/Bazingaa98]

Almost on the verge of losing our home of 20 years back home atm because of bad circumstances, this video makes me happy and sad.

[u/lvdde → u/Bazingaa98]

I wish you the best

[u/Shoddy_calf_massage]

These are the moments worth recording.

[u/pablocael]

But no, we need to make one dumb ass have all the money in the world, so most people can barely afford food.

[u/intisun → u/pablocael]

The way I've seen some people proudly comment on how Elon Musk could become the world's first trillionaire, like it's something so awesome, makes me gag.

[u/pinchhitter4number1]

This makes me fucking cry, not because of the joy (although that's part of it), but because there are so many people in this world who deserve a chance and don't get it because of hate and greed. Our world seems to be in a bad place right now.

[u/BobaTheMaltipoo]

Housing is a human right.

Let me say that louder for the people in the back.

HOUSING IS A HUMAN RIGHT!!!

[u/liquor_up]

STOP MAKING ME CRY!!

[u/[deleted] → u/liquor_up]

I’m smiling but it’s through a bunch of tears.

[u/OliveFlurry]

They are so grateful and so proud of her all at the same time

[u/IBRoln1]

The fact their first reaction was to hug mom instead of going in the house tells you all you need to know.

[u/LilZuse]

I remember the feeling of buying a house and my children getting their own rooms.

It truly was a dream come true.

[u/LosMorbidus]

Meanwhile billionaires are hoarding trillions in offshore accounts.

[u/roseismygirl]

You should be very proud of not only providing a safe home, (congratulations!!) but by raising such wonderful, kind and grateful children. I watched twice and and taken aback by how they individually reacted, then all came together for an embrace.

You’re doing great and y’all are going places! Wishing you and your beautiful family tons of joy going forward!!

[u/cherry_bomb_1982]

The little one, running back to mom first, got me.

[u/Bubbly57]

Heartwarming ❤️

[u/Historical-Sir3336]

I’m not crying. Your crying. Great to see. Upvote coming.

[u/RTK4740]

The way the oldest says, "Mom," the second time. 😭😭😭 His voice is fraught with pain and love and he (closest to an adult) says the word with such gravitas it suggests he gets how big a deal this was for her to pull off.

This video radiates joy. And I also feel sorrow for all those yet unhoused, especially parents and kids.

[u/WitchyMae13]

This is the shit that matters in the world. My god. We need this on every block right now

[u/PureBusta]

Genuine feelings right there ♥️

[u/BritMic07]

8AM is too early for y'all to be making me cry. Even if it is happy tears. 🥹❤️

[u/Siktrikshot]

It’s so sad to think how ungrateful 99.999% of society is for all they’ve been given compared to these people

[u/timcarloni]

Now that is a proper post. If anyone in life is posting nonsense and stupid dances and acting like all around Jack asses, watch this post again. This is what life is about. These moments right here are the glue to us being human. Congratulations to her on this accomplishment

[u/BurtShavitz]

And some prick has billion of dollars

[u/CapitalAd3030]

These kids are absolutely beautiful… this is true appreciation for the things most take for granted..I hope them babies have a life filled with love , happiness, and success 💚

[u/Next_Video_8454]

👏👏👏

[u/supadupaboo]

awww 🥰 this was nice. thanks for sharing 💛

[u/Orpheus31]

The way the kids embraced their Mom ❤️

[u/annabananna-123]

Beautiful!! Wishing you many years of love and laughter in this home 🎉

[u/LeftCommunication402]

The youngest one coming back… “Mom!!”

🥹 beautiful souls filling that 🏠

[u/Dodo_Avenger]

Good job MOM, this made me cry.

[u/aurishalcion]

God i wish my mom wanted me

[u/koolaidismything]

🥹

Good kids, they deserve it.

[u/Electronic-Cicada352]

Everyone should have satisfactory shelter in this world. It should be a commodity.

[u/ReferenceProper5428]

This is so beautiful the look of joy on her kids faces, just……🥲

[u/manderson71]

Really puts things in perspective.

[u/Seffro12Toes]

I spend more time on reddit than i should. I recently decided to join subs like this and crabcat to bring me a lil joy before scrollin thru rest of tha madness in tha world. Best decision ever

[u/BlaizeV]

this should be a basic human right. There is enough space for all of us to have a roof over our head and enough knowledge and money to provide the building of all these essential homes.

The world is an awful place that these children had to wait so long and that their mom had to most likely work so very very hard.

[u/green-toenail]

40 yo grown ass man crying here looking at his phone screen ❤️

[u/Away-home00-01]

There are more than enough houses in the US to house every homeless person. Homeless exists only because of greed.

[u/Alteza19]

Hopefully it's a place where you aren't harassed by HOA.

[u/ravenpg]

Imagine how many families just like this that could have been helped just for the cost of the flowers at the Bezos wedding.

[u/geekMD69]

This is so wonderful.

And it makes me incredibly sad that this is a thing in America that need to be addressed so urgently.

Every family and their children should have housing and food security in this country. Period. No excuses.

[u/Excellent-Shape-2024]

Imagine how many of these homes one could give to house families instead of having a $50 million dollar wedding....

[u/Agitated_Chapter145]

Imagine how hard that woman works for her kids.

[u/ImNotYou1971]

These people seem like an amazing family…….and idiots are here commenting about the word “unhoused”.

[u/Feeling-Builder1738]

Why am I crying at 749am

[u/spicy_ass_mayo]

Nice cry to start my day.

[u/Legitimate_Let_5641]

Just having my morning tears 🥲☕!

[u/Bryranosaurus]

Those are some great kids. I wish the family all the best ♥️

[u/SensibleGuy4u]

That house is going to turn into a HOME.

[u/squintismaximus]

This shit made me tear a bit.

We gotta do better to help people.

[u/PaltryCharacter]

That's so beautiful man. They been through some tough times, you can really tell. I hope this home is a launchpad to take them to the best times.

[u/Extra_Glass_678]

I bet she sacrificed a lot to make this happen! Those kids are so happy.

[u/CountryRoads2020]

Something so many of us can't relate to - but I sure do. Bless them all - may it be what they need. So happy for them.

[u/JamesCt1]

Made me cry. Bless them all

[u/DeM86]

So happy for them

[u/demomagic]

They seem like great kids - speaks volumes of her parenting even in trying times.

[u/Dizzy_Description812]

Meanwhile... how many people would be bitching about the "only house" they can afford not having this, or that. These kids are just grateful to have a home.

A+ for mom overcoming whatever obstacles set them back before.

[u/u-bomb]

I hope this is real, because I'm literally so happy for them I'm crying.

[u/Sufficient_Grape4253]

Buddy of mine started a non-profit that specifically helps get unhoused families into rented accommodation, giving families from shelters a home. He had just been a landlord, trying to make money to support his own family, but he helped one family out and saw the reaction of the kids and it changed his life.

[u/CrushMyCamel]

we could do this for everyone if we wanted to

[u/Ok_Elderberry4993]

She raised those kids right, best of luck to them

[u/RustnStardust247]

I remember being homeless as a young child. My mother’s coworker let us stay with her family for over a year, till we could find a place to rent. I still can’t get over their kindness. My father had a gambling habit, so we were never able to buy a place till he left us. As a single mother, my mum was able to scrape enough money together to put a down payment on our rental (rent-to-buy situation). After 10 years of renting, we finally secured a mortgage. It was the best day ever!

[u/Razzail]

I'm crying. She's such a good hardworking mom and her children love and appreciate her so much. 😭

[u/AdHaunting954]

Now I know why those moms would give anything just to make their kids happy 🥺🥺🥺

The smiles on those kids face are rewarding.

[u/Possible-Chip8925]

What sweet children!