Homeless Youth and Survival

Liz Martinez, homeless youth in Denver, Colorado is quoted by CNN's Jim Spellman as saying:

"If you can survive off of living on the street and sleeping on cold concrete or behind a Dumpster when it's snowing, you know you have the strength to do just about anything."

I am wondering about homeless, especially in Newark and New Brunswick, New Jersey and how they are surviving sleeping on sidewalks hot enough to fry eggs. Have spoken to homeless in both cities; living in NB and airport departures/arrivals in Newark. Plus took trains from NB to NYC, with stop-overs in Newark. And then there was the Greyhound bus trips cross country...

I think I survived living on the streets due to strength dealing with life's trials and tribulations prior to the experience. I refused to sleep behind dumpsters or anyplace else that attracted cockroaches. Had to deal with other bugs just about anywhere. Having survived the streets has not made me stronger ~ might say changed me for the bitter, not the better.

I guess age has a lot to do with what a person takes with them from the street living experience.

Very good article and video of Denver homeless youth interviewed by Spellman. Links on sidebar under You Tube to videos of Long Beach homeless, Smiley and Al D.


http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/07/08/denver.homeless.youth/?hpt=Sbin