♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
>> John: WELCOME, WELCOME,
WELCOME TO
"LAST WEEK TONIGHT"!
I'M JOHN OLIVER.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING
US.
JUST TIME FOR A QUICK RECAP OF
THE WEEK, WHICH HAS BEEN BUSY --
THE G20 MET, COVID SHOTS FOR
CHILDREN WERE APPROVED, AND
FACEBOOK, IN THE MIDST OF
DAMAGING REVELATIONS FROM
INTERNAL DOCUMENTS, MADE A BIG
ANNOUNCEMENT:
>> I AM PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT
STARTING TODAY, OUR COMPANY IS
NOW META.
>> John: OKAY.
I MEAN, THAT IS STUPID FOR
SEVERAL REASONS.
FIRST, META IS A TERRIBLE NAME.
IT BELONGS IN THE BAD NAME HALL
OF FAME ALONGSIDE
RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE, NOOM,
AND "LAST WEEK TONIGHT."
BUT ALSO, YOU CAN'T JUST CHANGE
YOUR NAME TO COVER UP THE THINGS
THAT YOU'RE ASHAMED OF.
OTHERWISE, YEARS AGO, THE POPE
WOULD'VE RESPONDED TO THE
CHURCH'S SCANDALS BY SAYING,
"GOOD NEWS, GUYS: WE'RE NO
LONGER THE CATHOLIC CHURCH --
SAY HELLO TO 'HALO.'
I REALLY THINK THAT SHOULD FIX
EVERYTHING.
DON'T WORRY, WE SHIPPED THE
OLD NAME OFF TO ANOTHER PARISH."
BUT WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON
CONGRESS TONIGHT, WHICH SPENT
THE WEEK ON TWO THINGS:
FIRST, CELEBRATING HALLOWEEN,
WITH MITT ROMNEY DRESSING UP AS
TED LASSO, QUOTING "FRIDAY NIGHT
LIGHTS" FOR NO CLEAR REASON, AND
EVEN SHARING BISCUITS WITH
KYRSTEN SINEMA, IN A MOVE THAT
FELT VERY "HOMEROOM TEACHERS
DRESS AS THE MOST POPULAR KIDS
IN SCHOOL."
YOU THINK YOU'RE IN
ON IT, BUT YOU'RE VERY MUCH NOT.
BUT THE OTHER MAJOR ACTION
CONCERNED BIDEN'S SIGNATURE
SPENDING PLAN, WHICH APPEARS TO
BE TAKING ITS FINAL SHAPE.
>> THE PRESIDENT OUTLINING A
$1.75 TRILLION PLAN TO PROVIDE
FREE UNIVERSAL PRE-K FOR KIDS
AND EXTEND THE CHILD TAX CREDIT
FOR FAMILIES.
IT WOULD ALSO INCLUDE MONEY FOR
CHILDCARE AND ELDERCARE AND
EXPAND MEDICARE TO COVER
HEARING, AND IT WOULD SET ASIDE
MORE THAN A HALF-TRILLION
DOLLARS TO COMBAT
CLIMATE CHANGE.
>> John: YEAH, THERE IS A LOT IN
BUILD BACK BETTER --
UNFORTUNATELY, THOUGH, NONE OF
IT INCLUDES CHANGING THE NAME TO
SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T SOUND
LIKE A GOLD'S GYM PROMOTIONAL
OFFER.
BUT WHILE WHAT'S CURRENTLY IN
THERE IS GREAT, IT'S HARD NOT TO
BE INFURIATED BY JUST HOW MUCH
HAS BEEN CUT OUT.
PAID FAMILY LEAVE, FREE
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, AND LOWER
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS FOR
SENIORS HAVE ALL BEEN DROPPED IN
NEGOTIATIONS.
SO SOME OF BIDEN'S CORNERSTONE
PROMISES HAVE NOW GONE, AND
BASICALLY JUST LIKE THAT...
[SNAPS]
OH, SHIT.
>> GODDAMN IT.
>> I'M SORRY, GEORGE.
I'M SO SORRY.
I DID IT AGAIN.
>> YOU COULDN'T HAVE CAUGHT ME
AT A WORSE TIME, JOHN.
I'M ABOUT TO GO
TRICK OR TREATING.
>> OH, THAT ACTUALLY SOUNDS
REALLY FUN, GEORGE.
YOU HEADING OUT WITH YOUR KIDS?
>> NO.
[SNAPS]
>> John: OH.
OKAY.
WHERE WAS I?
OH, THAT'S RIGHT:
PAID FAMILY LEAVE
LOOKS TO BE GONE FROM
BUILD BACK BETTER.
AND JOE MANCHIN'S EXPLANATION
FOR WHY HE COULD NOT SUPPORT IT
WAS PRETTY WEAK.
>> I WANT TO WORK WITH EVERYONE,
AS LONG AS WE CAN START PAYING
FOR THINGS.
THAT'S ALL.
I CAN'T PUT THIS BURDEN ON MY
GRANDCHILDREN.
I'VE GOT TEN GRANDCHILDREN, AND
I'LL BE -- I JUST CAN'T DO IT.
>> John: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING
ABOUT?
WE CAN'T HAVE PAID FAMILY LEAVE
BECAUSE OF YOUR GRANDKIDS?
YOU CAN'T JUST USE YOUR
OFFSPRING AS AN EXCUSE FOR YOUR
BAD DECISIONS.
YOU'RE NOT TED CRUZ.
WHAT?
HIS DAUGHTERS WERE COLD!
THEY WANTED A VACATION AND THEY
WERE COLD.
AND IF COST WAS THE ISSUE, IT
DOES NOT HELP THAT A PROPOSED
WAY TO RAISE REVENUE, A
"BILLIONAIRES TAX," WAS ALSO
SCRAPPED IN THE FINAL
NEGOTIATING PUSH, FOLLOWING
COMPLAINTS FROM, AMONG OTHERS,
ELON MUSK, WHO TWEETED,
"EVENTUALLY, THEY RUN OUT OF
OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY AND THEN
THEY COME FOR YOU."
WHICH IS ACTUALLY A PARAPHRASE
OF A FAMOUS MARGARET THATCHER
QUOTE ABOUT SOCIALISM, AND I
ONLY HOPE HIS NEXT THATCHERISM
INCLUDES MY PERSONAL FAVORITE OF
HERS: "I AM DEAD AND HAVE GONE
TO HELL."
BUT IT WASN'T JUST ELON MUSK.
HERE'S KYRSTEN SINEMA'S SCENE
PARTNER, MITT ROMNEY, MAKING HIS
CASE AGAINST THE TAX:
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S NOT
A GOOD IDEA TO TELL
BILLIONAIRES, "DON'T COME TO
AMERICA, DON'T START YOUR
BUSINESS HERE," BUT NUMBER TWO,
YOU'RE GONNA TAX PEOPLE NOT WHEN
THEY SELL SOMETHING, BUT JUST
WHEN THEY OWN IT AND THE VALUE
GOES UP.
AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT
PEOPLE ARE -- THESE
MULTIBILLIONAIRES -- ARE GOING
TO LOOK AND SAY, "I DON'T WANT
TO INVEST IN THE STOCK MARKET
BECAUSE AS THAT GOES UP, I'M
GOING TO GET TAXED.
SO MAYBE I WILL INSTEAD INVEST
IN A RANCH OR IN PAINTINGS OR
THINGS THAT DON'T BUILD JOBS AND
CREATE A STRONGER ECONOMY.
>> John: OKAY, NOT TO SOUND TOO
MUCH LIKE MITT'S HERO TED LASSO,
BUT MITT MUST BE MADE OF WOOD
AND YAPPING ON THE HOUR, BECAUSE
THAT MAN IS A CUCKOO LIKE A
CLOCK.
IS HE DORA THE EXPLORER ON AN
ACID TRIP?
BECAUSE HE JUST CAN'T STOP
LICKING BOOTS.
AND AT THE RISK OF STATING THE
OBVIOUS HERE, BILLIONAIRES
ALREADY BUY RANCHES AND
PAINTINGS AND DINOSAUR BONES
THEY HAVE NO USE FOR -- WHY?
'CAUSE THEY HAVE TOO MUCH
FUCKING MONEY!
THERE LITERALLY AREN'T ENOUGH
THINGS ON THIS PLANET FOR THEM
TO BUY.
THAT IS WHY THEY'RE ALL RACING
TO SPACE.
WHOEVER LANDS ON MARS FIRST
GETS IT.
IT DOES SEEM MANY POLITICIANS
WOULD RATHER PRIORITIZE THE
HYPOTHETICAL THREAT TO A
BILLIONAIRE'S BANK ACCOUNT ABOVE
ALL ELSE.
BECAUSE THAT'S HOW OUR WORLD
WORKS NOW.
POLITICIANS TWEET ABOUT
COSPLAYING AS TV'S NICEST GUY
WHILE OPPOSING PROGRAMS THAT
COULD FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE
PEOPLE'S LIVES.
AND THE SCARIEST TRICK THIS
HALLOWEEN MIGHT BE THAT SOME
PEOPLE KEEP FUCKING FALLING FOR
IT.
AND NOW THIS.
>> Announcer: AND NOW, ONCE
AGAIN, OUR ANNUAL LOOK AT WHAT
HAPPENS WHEN LOCAL NEWS AND
HALLOWEEN COLLIDE.
>> WELCOME TO LIVING EAST
TENNESSEE.
I'M JUSTIN YOUNG WITH MURPHY.
CLEARLY WE HAD DIFFERENT IDEAS
WHEN IT CAME TO DRESSING UP.
>> WHAT'S UP, MAN?
>> YOU LOOK LOVELY.
>> YOU LOOK AMAZING.
>> THANK YOU.
>> LOOK AT THIS.
>> RIGHT OVER HERE.
>> I'M JUST GOING TO LEAN, I
THINK.
>> WE'VE GOT A BIG WRESTLING
TOURNAMENT DOWNTOWN.
>> I GOT THE CHANCE TO SPEAK
WITH JAMES JUDE COURTNEY, WHO
PLAYS MICHAEL MYERS IN THE
"HALLOWEEN" FRANCHISE.
>> SWEDISH CHEF, CAN YOU TELL US
WHAT OUR TOPIC IS TODAY?
>> HERP-A-DERB-A.
>> MOVING TO NEW YORK CITY LATER
ON.
>> 57 DEGREES HIGH.
ALL RIGHT, I'M DONE WITH THIS.
>> HALLOWEEN IS THE BEST TIME
FOR TRICKS, TREATS, CHILD'S
PLAY, AND CLOWNING AROUND.
EVEN CELEBRITIES LOVE TWISTED
PENNYWISE.
>> [LAUGHS]
>> TAKE A LOOK.
FEED THE CLIP?
>> John: MOVING ON.
OUR MAIN STORY TONIGHT CONCERNS
HOMELESSNESS.
AND I KNOW THAT WE ARE BY NO
MEANS THE FIRST SHOW TO COVER
THIS SUBJECT -- MANY HAVE TRIED,
NONE MORE MEMORABLY THAN THE
CRIMINALLY CANCELED
"TYRA BANKS SHOW."
>> I WANTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
THEIR LIVES ARE REALLY LIKE AND
WALK A DAY IN THEIR SHOES, NO
MAKEUP, NO LIGHTS, NOTHING BUT
ME AND THE STREET.
I STOPPED AT TWO KIDS IN THE
STREET PLAYING BALL.
HI, MY NAME IS TYRA.
HI, WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> MY NAME'S FRANKLIN.
>> FRANKLIN.
>> John: I MEAN, THERE IS SO
MUCH GOING ON THERE, BUT I WANT
TO FOCUS ON FRANKLIN'S FACE.
THAT IS THE FACE OF A KID WHO'S
DEFINITELY FIGURED OUT THE
SECRET IDENTITY OF THE WOMAN WHO
HAD A CAMERA CREW, LOOKED LIKE
TYRA BANKS, AND INTRODUCED
HERSELF SAYING, "MY NAME IS
TYRA."
BUT DESPITE TYRA'S BEST EFFORTS,
HOMELESSNESS IS STILL A HUGE
PROBLEM IN THIS COUNTRY.
FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR,
IT INCREASED NATIONWIDE, WITH
THE MOST RECENT COUNT SUGGESTING
THERE ARE OVER 580,000 PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS IN
AMERICA.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT IS LIKELY
WAY MORE THAN THAT, BECAUSE THAT
ANNUAL COUNT ONLY INCLUDES
PEOPLE THAT SURVEYORS COULD FIND
ON STREETS OR IN SHELTERS ON A
SINGLE NIGHT LAST YEAR -- A
SYSTEM THAT MISSES COUNTLESS
PEOPLE.
AND NOT JUST THAT, EXPERTS
PROJECT THE PANDEMIC RECESSION
COULD CAUSE CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
TO INCREASE 49% OVER THE NEXT
FOUR YEARS.
AND WITH THIS RISE IN
HOMELESSNESS HAS COME A
CORRESPONDING RISE IN THE
RHETORIC AROUND IT --
EXEMPLIFIED BY SEGMENTS LIKE
THIS:
>> WE CAME OUT, JUST HAVE SOME
FUN.
>> IT'S A GREAT TIME,
EVERYBODY'S SAFE.
>> IT'S AMERICA, IT'S MY HOME.
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
>> THIS USED TO BE ONE OF THE
CROWN JEWELS OF AUSTIN.
BUT AS YOU CAN SEE, ANOTHER TENT
CITY.
>> A GUY IS WALKING AROUND HERE
WITH A MACHETE THREATENING
PEOPLE.
>> IT STARTED WITH BOX CUTTERS
AS A WEAPON.
NOW, WE -- SADLY, WE JOKE THAT
WE'RE THE MACHETE CAPITAL OF
TEXAS.
>> John: OKAY, HOLD ON.
I'M NOT SAYING THAT SOMEONE
WALKING AROUND WITH A MACHETE
ISN'T SCARY.
BUT YOU'RE MAKING AN OUTLIER
SEEM LIKE THE NORM THERE AND
HAVE GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO
MAKE IT SCARIER WITH
VISUAL EFFECTS.
AND YOU CAN MAKE ANYTHING
FRIGHTENING THAT WAY.
HERE, I'LL SHOW YOU:
HERE'S A BIT OF FUN -- JUST
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL DANCING WITH
THE JABBAWOCKEEZ...
[OMINOUS MUSIC]
OH, GOD, OH, NO, NO, IT'S
TERRIFYING!
LEAVE HIM ALONE, JABBAWOCKEEZ!
LEAVE SHAQ ALONE!
RUN, SHAQ!
JUST RUN!
AND LOOK, I KNOW IT IS EASY TO
CRITICIZE FOX NEWS FOR BEING
ALARMIST.
ALARMISM IS THEIR WHOLE THING,
THAT AND AIRING ADS FOR PILLS
THAT MAKE YOUR DICK GO BONGO.
BUT THE TRUTH IS, EVEN SOME
RESIDENTS OF AUSTIN -- FAMOUSLY
A BLUE DOT IN A RED STATE --
HAVE SAID IT'S BEEN A STRUGGLE
TO RECONCILE THEIR FEELINGS
ABOUT THEIR HOMELESS NEIGHBORS.
>> DO YOU THINK IF YOU HAD SEEN
THIS ISSUE HAPPENING IN ANOTHER
CITY AND IT WASN'T HAPPENING IN
YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, YOU WOULD
FEEL DIFFERENTLY?
>> ONCE YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE OF
IT, YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND OF HOW
YOU APPROACH THIS SITUATION.
BUT AS YOUR SAFETY DECLINES, SO
DOES YOUR COMPASSION.
EVERY -- EVERY TIME I HAVE TO
PICK UP HUMAN SHIT, MY
LIBERALNESS JUST GOT LOWERED ONE
MORE NOTCH.
>> John: WOW.
THAT IS VERY HONEST.
"EVERY TIME I HAVE TO PICK UP
HUMAN SHIT, MY LIBERALISM GETS
LOWERED" IS QUITE THE SENTENCE.
ALTHOUGH I'M SURPRISED I HEARD
IT IN THIS CONTEXT AND NOT IN A
LEAKED RECORDING FROM AN
AMY KLOBUCHAR STAFF MEETING.
LOOK, AGAIN, I AM NOT SAYING
THAT'S A NICE SITUATION TO BE
PRESENTED WITH.
BUT FAR TOO OFTEN, STORIES
FOCUSING ON HOMELESSNESS ARE
PRESENTED SOLELY THROUGH THE
LENS OF HOW IT AFFECTS THOSE
WITH HOMES.
WHEN IN REALITY, IT'S OBVIOUSLY
THE PEOPLE WITHOUT THEM WHO NEED
THE REAL HELP.
AND THE DEMONIZATION OF THE
HOMELESS COMMUNITY IN AUSTIN MAY
WELL HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO
INCIDENTS LIKE THIS:
>> WE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE THROW
GLASS BOTTLES FROM THE CARS AT
OUR TENTS AND SAID, "YOU ALL
WHITE TRASH.
YOU ALL NEED TO GET A JOB.
YOU ALL NEED TO GET HOUSING.
YOU ALL DON'T NEED TO BE OUT ON
THE STREETS."
>> OR SOME WOULD YELL OUT,
"GO HOME."
IT'S LIKE, THIS IS TECHNICALLY
OUR HOME.
>> John: RIGHT.
AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY HORRIBLE.
ALTHOUGH I WILL SAY, NO ONE
SCREAMING OUT OF A CAR WINDOW
HAS EVER SAID ANYTHING
WORTHWHILE.
IT'S LIKE GIVING A EULOGY
THROUGH FLASH MOB.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY ALONE IS
JUST IMMEDIATELY DISQUALIFYING.
THE STORY OF HOMELESSNESS IN
THIS COUNTRY IS GROUNDED IN A
FAILURE OF PERCEPTION,
COMPOUNDED BY FAILURES OF
POLICY.
SO TONIGHT LET'S LOOK AT THE WAY
HOMELESSNESS IS TALKED ABOUT,
HOW THE PROBLEM IS CURRENTLY
BEING MADE WORSE, AND WHAT CAN
ACTUALLY HELP.
AND LIKE SO MANY THINGS, THE
MODERN VERSION OF THIS ISSUE WAS
TURBOCHARGED BY RONALD REAGAN,
WHO CAME TO POWER AT A TIME WHEN
HOMELESSNESS WAS INCREASING, AND
MADE THE PROBLEM FAR WORSE BY
CUTTING PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR
AND SLASHING HOUSING SUBSIDIES
BY 75%.
MAKING IT PRETTY GALLING THAT
REAGAN REGULARLY MADE ARGUMENTS
LIKE THIS:
>> ONE PROBLEM THAT WE'VE HAD
EVEN IN THE BEST OF TIMES, AND
THAT IS THE PEOPLE WHO ARE
SLEEPING ON THE GRATES.
THE HOMELESS WHO ARE HOMELESS,
YOU MIGHT SAY BY CHOICE.
>> John: UH, I'M SORRY,
"HOMELESS BY CHOICE?"
LOOK, THERE WERE LOTS OF THINGS
FROM 1984 WE COULD'VE USED AN
UNDO BUTTON FOR --
LONG DUK DONG, MOST OF
TEMPLE OF DOOM,
THIS EXTREMELY UNFORTUNATE
JELLO AD, BUT REAGAN'S
QUARTER-ASSED THOUGHTS
ON HOMELESSNESS ARE NEAR THE TOP
OF THAT LIST.
AND THAT NOTION -- THAT
HOMELESSNESS ISN'T RELATED TO
ECONOMIC POLICIES, BUT SIMPLY
REFLECTS THE PROBLEMS OF THE
INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING IT --
STILL INFORMS THE WAY IT'S
DISCUSSED TODAY.
HERE'S DR. DREW, OF ALL PEOPLE,
TALKING TO SETH GREEN, OF ALL
PEOPLE, AND PUSHING BACK ON THE
NOTION THAT THE HOMELESS CRISIS
IN L.A. MIGHT HAVE ANYTHING TO
DO WITH A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE
HOUSING:
>> THIS ISN'T A HOUSING PROBLEM.
>> IT'S NOT?
>> NO, NO.
THAT'S A HOAX, THAT'S A HOAX
BEING PERPETRATED BY THE
GOVERNMENT HERE LOCALLY, THEY
NEED TO STOP.
>> 'CAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE --
>> OF COURSE WE HAVE HOUSING
EXPENSE ISSUES, BUT WE JUST
ABSORBED A MILLION ILLEGAL, UH,
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS WITHOUT
A HOME, WITHOUT A COUNTRY,
WITHOUT A JOB, WITHOUT A PENNY,
AND WE ABSORBED THEM.
THEY FOUND A PLACE TO LIVE.
IT'S A HOAX.
SO IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS
AND ADDICTION CRISIS, FULL ON.
>> John: OH, OKAY THEN.
I CERTAINLY DON'T SEE WHY WE
WOULDN'T INNATELY TRUST DR. DREW
CONFIDENTLY MOUTH-SPLOOGING
BULLSHIT THEORIES TO
DR. EVIL'S SON.
BUT A FEW NOTES ON WHAT HE SAID
THERE:
SET ASIDE THE NONSENSE THAT
UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS DON'T
EXPERIENCE HOMELESSNESS --
BECAUSE EXPERTS WILL TELL YOU
THAT THEY VERY MUCH DO,
THEY'RE JUST LESS
LIKELY TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF
SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE WHOLE
"UNDOCUMENTED" THING.
INSTEAD, LET'S ADDRESS THE
NOTION THAT ALL THIS IS DOWN TO
MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION.
BECAUSE, YES, MANY WHO ARE
HOMELESS DO STRUGGLE WITH BOTH
THOSE THINGS -- AND THOSE PEOPLE
ARE OFTEN THE MOST VISIBLE --
BUT BY NO MEANS ALL OF THEM.
ALSO, IN MANY CASES, THOSE
STRUGGLES CAN BE THE RESULT OF
BEING HOMELESS AND NOT THE CAUSE
OF IT.
THE TRUTH IS, THERE ARE MANY
REASONS SOMEONE MIGHT FIND
THEMSELVES WITHOUT HOUSING:
MEDICAL DEBT, JOB LOSS, FLEEING
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, BEING KICKED
OUT OF THEIR HOME BECAUSE THEIR
PARENTS DON'T APPROVE OF THEIR
SEXUALITY, BEING RECENTLY
RELEASED FROM PRISON, OR JUST
THE OVERRIDING FACT THAT HOUSING
COSTS ARE RISING MUCH FASTER
THAN WAGES.
CURRENTLY 70% OF ALL EXTREMELY
LOW-INCOME FAMILIES ARE SPENDING
MORE THAN HALF THEIR INCOME ON
RENT.
AND ONLY 37 AFFORDABLE AND
AVAILABLE HOMES EXIST FOR EVERY
100 EXTREMELY LOW-INCOME RENTER
HOUSEHOLDS.
AND THAT'S A STARTLINGLY LOW
NUMBER, CONSIDERING JUST HOW
MUCH THIS COUNTRY LOVES WATCHING
TV SHOWS ABOUT HOMES.
LITTLE HOMES.
HUMONGO HOMES.
HOMES FOR GHOSTS.
AND HOMES REMODELED BY
WEIRDO TWINS WHO DEFINITELY
SHOWER TOGETHER, TO NAME JUST A
FEW OF THEM.
THE POINT HERE IS, IT DOESN'T
TAKE MUCH FOR PEOPLE TO SUDDENLY
FIND THEMSELVES WITHOUT STABLE
HOUSING, AS THIS WOMAN FOUND
OUT.
>> TWO YEARS AGO, PRISCILLA HAD
A FULL-TIME JOB AT A HEALTH
CLINIC FOR THE HOMELESS.
HER HUSBAND, RYAN, STAYED HOME
TO CARE FOR THEIR TWO SONS.
THE YOUNGEST HAS SEVERE AUTISM.
THEY LIVED ON A TIGHT BUDGET AND
THEN THEIR LANDLORD RAISED THE
RENT $150.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY FOR A
LOT OF PEOPLE THAT LIVE PAYCHECK
BY PAYCHECK, AND WE LIVE LIKE
THAT.
>> THE FAMILY WAS EVICTED, AND
IN A PLACE THEY NEVER IMAGINED:
HOMELESS THEMSELVES, LIVING IN
THEIR CAR.
>> I WORK AT A HOMELESS CLINIC
AND I'M HOMELESS.
HOW THE HECK DOES THAT HAPPEN TO
ME?
>> John: YEAH, THAT IS AN AWFUL
SITUATION TO BE IN.
YOU NEVER WANT TO FIND YOURSELF
SUDDENLY SAYING, "HOW DID THIS
HAPPEN TO ME?"
WITH THE SOLE EXCEPTION BEING
IF YOU'RE KNEE DEEP IN
STANLEY TUCCI'S SHEETS.
AND EVEN THEN, WHY QUESTION IT?
YOU'RE SWIMMING IN TOOCH.
POP A MINT.
THIS IS GONNA BE A DELIGHT!
SO DESPITE REAGAN'S CONFIDENCE,
THERE CAN BE NOT MUCH CHOICE IN
THE MATTER AT ALL.
AS FOR THOSE OUTWARD SIGNS OF
HOMELESSNESS THAT RAISE SUCH
ALARM, THEY'RE TYPICALLY THE
RESULT OF PUBLIC POLICY CHOICES
WE'VE MADE.
REMEMBER THAT WOMAN COMPLAINING
ABOUT HUMAN SHIT?
THAT'S ACTUALLY A COMMON THREAD
IN COVERAGE OF THE HOMELESS.
IN L.A., YOU CAN FIND MULTIPLE
STORIES ABOUT HUMAN FECES NEAR
HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS.
BUT IT'S WORTH KNOWING THERE IS
A REASON FOR THAT.
>> MOST OF THE CITY'S HUNDREDS
OF ENCAMPMENTS ARE NOWHERE NEAR
A PUBLIC TOILET.
IN FACT, L.A. HAS ONLY 16 MOBILE
TOILET STATIONS FOR ITS 36,000
HOMELESS PEOPLE.
TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE, WITH NO
FUNDING FOR ROUND-THE-CLOCK
SECURITY, THE CITY HAULS AWAY
THESE TOILETS AT NIGHT, LEAVING
THE HOMELESS NO CHOICE BUT TO GO
ON THE STREETS.
>> John: WHAT THE FUCK TO ALL OF
THAT.
FROM THE AMOUNT OF PUBLIC
TOILET STATIONS AVAILABLE BEING
LESS THAN THE AMOUNT OF BOND
MOVIES TO SHUFFLING THOSE VERY
MINIMAL TOILETS AWAY LIKE
THEY'RE GOING TO TURN INTO A
PUMPKIN AT MIDNIGHT.
AND WHILE THAT CLIP IS FROM JUST
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC -- WHICH
PROMPTED CITY OFFICIALS TO
INCREASE TOILET STATIONS --
THERE ARE STILL CURRENTLY ONLY
55 ACCESSIBLE 24/7.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU COMPLAIN
ABOUT HUMAN SHIT IN THE STREET,
MAYBE THINK ABOUT WHAT IT WOULD
BE LIKE IF SOMEONE PADLOCKED
YOUR BATHROOM EVERY NIGHT.
YOU, TOO, WOULD SUDDENLY BE
GETTING REALLY CREATIVE, REALLY
FAST.
AND IT SEEMS THE IMPULSE BEHIND
MANY LOCAL POLICIES SURROUNDING
UNHOUSED PEOPLE ISN'T SO MUCH TO
HELP THEM AS TO PUNISH THEM FOR
THEIR EXISTENCE AND KEEP THEM
OUT OF SIGHT.
YOU'RE PROBABLY FAMILIAR WITH
"HOSTILE ARCHITECTURE," DESIGNED
TO PREVENT HOMELESS PEOPLE FROM
SITTING AND LYING ON CERTAIN
PROPERTY.
IT'S WHY YOU'LL SOMETIMES SEE
SPIKES UNDER BRIDGES LIKE THIS,
OR BENCHES WITH DIVIDERS TO
PREVENT ANYONE LYING DOWN.
AND ONE CITY WENT EVEN BEYOND
ARCHITECTURE.
>> A DEBATE RAGING OVER A
FLORIDA CITY PLAYING CHILDREN'S
MUSIC AT A PARK PAVILION AT
NIGHT TO KEEP HOMELESS PEOPLE
AWAY.
PEOPLE SAY THE MUSIC ROTATES
BETWEEN "BABY SHARK" AND THIS
SONG.
>> ♪ CHEESE, CHEESE ♪
♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ RAINING TACOS ♪
>> John: IT'S TRUE, THEY PUMPED
THE SONG "RAINING TACOS" AT
PEOPLE WHEN THEY WERE TRYING TO
SLEEP.
WHICH IS INHUMANE.
NO ONE DESERVES THAT.
ALSO, AND THIS ISN'T THE KEY
POINT -- THAT SONG DOESN'T
DESERVE THAT, EITHER.
BECAUSE IT IS A CERTIFIED
BANGER.
TAKE A LISTEN:
>> ♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ OUT IN THE STREET ♪
♪ TACOS, ALL YOU CAN EAT ♪
♪ LETTUCE AND SHELLS ♪
♪ CHEESE AND MEAT ♪
♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ YUM YUM YUM YUM YUMMITY YUM ♪
>> John: STOP!
STOP, STOP, STOP, STOP.
I WOULD LOVE TO PLAY YOU MORE,
BUT THE PROBLEM IS, THIS SHOW
WOULD THEN GET TOO FUN, I'D
SPEND THE REST OF THE SHOW
DANCING IN THE AISLES WITH YOU,
AND ELLEN WOULD LITERALLY
KILL ME.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST SPIKES AND
SONGS.
MORE AND MORE CITY ORDINANCES
HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACE
CRIMINALIZING BEHAVIORS
ASSOCIATED WITH BEING HOMELESS.
OVER THE COURSE OF 13 YEARS,
CITY-WIDE BANS ON CAMPING HAVE
INCREASED BY 92%, ON SITTING OR
LYING BY 78%, ON LOITERING AND
PANHANDLING BY 103%, AND ON
LIVING IN VEHICLES BY 213%.
SO WHEN YOU HEAR FEARMONGERING
ABOUT RISING CRIME AMONG THE
HOMELESS, IT'S WORTH ASKING IF
THOSE CRIMES WERE ACTUALLY
CRIMES OR JUST "SOMEONE SAT
DOWN."
TAKE KENNETH SHULTZ, A
71-YEAR-OLD HOMELESS MAN WHO
TOLD REPORTERS, "SOMETIMES I
JUST GET EXHAUSTED, AND BOOM,
SIT DOWN.
THAT'S IT.
YOU'RE TRESPASSING."
IN THE NINE YEARS HE'S BEEN
HOMELESS, HE'S BEEN CHARGED WITH
TRESPASSING 96 TIMES AND HAS
SPENT ONE OF EVERY THREE NIGHTS
IN JAIL.
THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT MEANS.
IT MEANS HE'S SPENT THREE OF THE
LAST NINE YEARS BEHIND BARS.
IN WHAT WAY IS THAT MAN BEING
HELPED?
YOU CANNOT ARREST SOMEONE OUT OF
HOMELESSNESS IN THE SAME WAY YOU
CAN'T SING SOMEONE OUT OF
BANKRUPTCY.
ONE THING DOESN'T REMOTELY LEAD
TO THE OTHER AND YOU'RE JUST
GOING TO END UP MAKING THINGS
WORSE.
EVEN IF YOU'RE SINGING THIS:
>> ♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
>> John: NOPE!
NOPE!
TURN IT OFF!
I'M WARNING YOU -- ELLEN IS
SHARPENING HER KNIVES AS WE
SPEAK.
SHE'LL DO IT.
IT WON'T BE THE FIRST TIME.
AND CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS
EXPOSES ALREADY VULNERABLE
POPULATIONS TO UNNECESSARY
INTERACTIONS WITH THE POLICE.
UNHOUSED PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE
MORE LIKELY TO BE CITED,
SEARCHED, AND HAVE PROPERTY
TAKEN THAN WHITE PEOPLE
EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.
AND THOSE WITH MULTIPLE
MARGINALIZED IDENTITIES, LIKE
LGBTQ+ PEOPLE OF COLOR, ARE EVEN
MORE VULNERABLE TO THESE LAWS.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING,
"HOLD ON, WHY DON'T HOMELESS
PEOPLE JUST GO TO SHELTERS?"
THERE CAN BE A LOT OF PROBLEMS
WITH THAT.
SOME CITIES SIMPLY DON'T HAVE
ENOUGH BEDS FOR EVERYONE.
IN OAKLAND, FOR EXAMPLE, IN
2019, THERE WERE 457 BEDS
AVAILABLE FOR MORE THAN 4,000
UNHOUSED PEOPLE.
MEANING THEY COULDN'T PROVIDE
EVERYONE WITH A BED EVEN IF THEY
WILLY WONKA'D THE SITUATION.
AND IF I MAY, I'D ACTUALLY LIKE
TO PAUSE AT THIS POINT FOR A
QUICK TANGENT.
SO PUT 40 SECONDS ON THE CLOCK,
PLEASE.
REGARDING THIS:
I DON'T MIND CHARLIE'S
GRANDPARENTS SLEEPING
IN ONE BED.
EVERYONE ALWAYS ASKS, "BUT WHAT
ABOUT WHEN THEY HAVE TO FUCK?
DO THEY FUCK SEPARATELY OR ALL
DO IT TOGETHER?"
TO WHICH I SAY, I DON'T CARE,
AND I HOPE SO!
THEY'RE NOT RELATED BY BLOOD.
THEY'RE RELATED BY THEIR
CHILDREN'S MARRIAGE.
IT'S NOT THEIR FAULT THEY HAVE
TO SHARE ONE RICKETY BED.
GRANDPA GEORGE IS GOING TO
WANT TO MAKE LOVE TO
GRANDMA GEORGINA.
THEY'VE SHARED A LIFE TOGETHER.
AND GRANDPA JOE IS OBVIOUSLY
GOING TO WANT TO GET IT IN
GRANDMA JOSEPHINE.
THAT'S THE MOTHER OF HIS CHILD.
BUT AT A CERTAIN POINT, IF YOU
DON'T INVITE THE COUPLE SLEEPING
IN THE SAME BED TO JOIN IN, IT'S
JUST RUDE.
SO THE NEXT TIME YOU TALK SHIT
ABOUT CHARLIE BUCKET'S ELDER'S
SEXUAL PROCLIVITIES,
ASK YOURSELF THIS:
ARE THEY THE PROBLEM?
OR WERE YOU RAISED IN A
PURITANICAL SOCIETY THAT SHAMES
ANY SEXUAL DEVIATION FROM THE
"NORM"?
[TIMER DINGS]
OH, THAT'S MY TIME.
THAT'S MY TIME.
I'VE SAID MY PIECE.
BACK TO THE SAD STUFF.
THE POINT IS, SOME CITIES DON'T
HAVE ENOUGH SHELTER BEDS.
AND EVEN IN THOSE THAT HAVE
MANY, LIKE HERE IN NEW YORK,
THEY'RE NOT ALWAYS AN OPTION FOR
EVERYONE.
SOME MIGHT NOT WANT TO SPLIT UP
THEIR FAMILY OR PART WITH THEIR
PETS OR ARE SIMPLY WARY OF
BRINGING THEIR ONLY POSSESSIONS
AROUND A ROOM FULL OF STRANGERS.
BUT ALSO, THE KEY PROBLEM WITH
SAYING "WHY DON'T THEY JUST GO
TO SHELTERS?" IS THAT SHELTERS
ARE ONLY A STOPGAP SOLUTION.
BECAUSE YOU DON'T LIVE IN A
SHELTER, YOU JUST SLEEP IN ONE,
AS THIS WOMAN POINTS OUT:
>> IT'S VERY, VERY ROUGH.
I WOULD RATHER STAY ON THE
STREETS.
AND THIS IS WHY I UNDERSTAND
WHEN I SEE A LOT OF HOMELESS
PEOPLE, WHY THEY'RE ON THE
STREETS.
THE SHELTER DEGRADES YOU.
I WORK PART-TIME.
I WENT FROM A FULL-TIME JOB TO A
PART-TIME JOB, BEING IN THE
SHELTER, BECAUSE THERE'S TOO
MUCH GOING ON.
I HAVE TO BE IN AT 8:00 EVERY
NIGHT.
IF I'M NOT IN AT 8:00, I LOSE
THAT BED.
YOU WAKE UP AT 5:00, YOU HAVE TO
BE OUT OF THERE BY 7:00,
REGARDLESS.
>> John: YEAH.
AN 8:00 P.M. CURFEW AND A
7:00 A.M. KICK OUT THE DOOR.
SO IF "PULLING YOURSELF UP BY
YOUR BOOTSTRAPS" INVOLVES
WORKING NIGHTS, I'M SORRY,
YOU'RE SHIT OUT OF LUCK.
AND IF YOU'RE THINKING, "NO,
JOHN, SURELY A SHELTER
EVENTUALLY HELPS PEOPLE GET BACK
ON THEIR FEET.
EVERYTHING WORTHWHILE IN LIFE
TAKES TIME -- I READ THAT ON A
PILLOW ONCE."
WELL, THINK AGAIN, BECAUSE
JUST LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WHEN THE
PERSON WHO FILMED THAT WOMAN
CAUGHT UP WITH HER ALMOST EIGHT
YEARS LATER:
>> YOU TALKED ABOUT GOING IN AND
OUT OF THE SHELTER SYSTEM, AND
THAT'S STILL HAPPENING.
>> AND THAT'S STILL HAPPENING.
THEY PLACE YOU, THEY LET YOU GO,
THEY MOVE YOU, THEY LET YOU GO,
THEY GET YOUR MONEY FROM THE
GOVERNMENT, THEY LET YOU GO,
AND YOU'RE STILL MISPLACED.
>> John: YEAH, THE SHELTER
SYSTEM HAS DONE NOTHING TO
CHANGE HER CIRCUMSTANCE.
AND I'LL BE THE FIRST TO ADMIT
HERE, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO
UNDERSTAND JUST HOW HARD THAT
CYCLE IS.
I'VE BEEN LUCKY ENOUGH TO HAVE
ALWAYS LIVED IN AN APARTMENT OR
HOUSE OR, MOST RECENTLY, AN
INFINITE WHITE VOID RUN BY AN
ABUSIVE LANDLORD.
THAT WAS HARD IN ITS OWN WAY,
BUT IT WAS NOTHING COMPARED TO A
POTENTIALLY LIFE-OR-DEATH GAME
OF MUSICAL BEDS.
SO IF ALL WE'VE MENTIONED SO FAR
TONIGHT -- POKING HOMELESS
PEOPLE WITH SPIKES, BLASTING
THEM WITH MUSIC, AND LOCKING
THEM UP -- DOESN'T SOLVE THE
PROBLEM, WHAT DOES?
WELL, THIS HOUSING ADVOCATE HAS
A BOLD NEW IDEA.
>> THE SOLUTION IS SIMPLE.
THIS IS WHAT THE SOLUTION IS.
THIS IS ONLY THING THAT ENDS
HOMELESSNESS.
IT'S THIS RIGHT HERE:
HOUSE KEYS.
>> John: EXACTLY.
HOUSE KEYS.
IN OTHER WORDS,
GIVE THE HOMELESS HOMES.
IT'S THE SOLUTION YOU'VE
PROBABLY BEEN SHOUTING AT
YOUR TV FOR THE PAST 15 MINUTES,
OR LET'S BE HONEST,
SHOUTING AT YOUR LAPTOP, OR, IF
WE'RE BEING REALLY HONEST,
SHOUTING AT YOUR PHONE DURING
YOUR MONDAY MORNING SHIT.
AND IF YOU ARE ANNOYED I WASTED
YOUR TIME TAKING THE SCENIC
ROUTE HERE, LET ME MAKE IT UP TO
YOU WITH ANOTHER EXCELLENT CLIP
FROM "THE TYRA BANKS SHOW."
>> [SCREAMING]
>> John: THERE IS SOME CONTEXT
FOR THAT, BUT THE TRUTH IS, IT
HONESTLY WOULDN'T MAKE IT MAKE
ANY MORE SENSE.
NOW SOME WILL SAY, SURE, GIVING
THE HOMELESS HOMES IS AN OBVIOUS
SOLUTION, BUT BEFORE THAT, THEY
NEED TO BE SOBER AND HAVE A JOB.
BUT IT'S JUST NOT THAT SIMPLE.
SET ASIDE THAT DEALING WITH
SOBRIETY OR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES IS HARD ENOUGH WHEN
YOU ARE NOT LIVING ON THE
STREETS.
GETTING A JOB IS OFTEN, IF
NOT CONTINGENT ON, AT LEAST
AIDED BY HAVING AN ADDRESS.
THAT IS WHY ADVOCATES ENDORSE AN
APPROACH CALLED "HOUSING FIRST."
IT PRIORITIZES HELPING PEOPLE
GET A PLACE TO LIVE, BUT ALSO
OFFERS SUPPORT LIKE MENTAL
HEALTH AND ADDICTION SERVICES.
WE'VE ACTUALLY TRIED A VERSION
OF THIS WITH HOMELESS VETERANS,
AND IT HAD SOME REAL SUCCESS:
>> THE FIRST STEP OF THIS NEW
MODEL IS A PERMANENT HOUSE,
FUNDED MOSTLY AT GOVERNMENT
EXPENSE, WITH SERVICES THEN
ADDED AROUND THE RESIDENT.
IT'S CALLED PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE
HOUSING.
AND THAT'S WHAT LENDELL SEAY
FOUND HIMSELF IN.
SEAY LIVES IN THIS COMPLEX THAT
HOUSES ONLY FORMERLY HOMELESS
VETERANS.
WHILE THERE IS NO FIRM PROGRAM
THAT HE HAS TO FOLLOW, HE HAS
ACCESS TO SUPPORT SERVICES,
INCLUDING ON-SITE CASE MANAGERS,
MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING,
SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT, AND
EVEN A COMMUNITY GARDEN.
>> IT FEEL GOOD.
SOMETIMES, I WALK AROUND THE
APARTMENT AND NO TV OR NOTHING
ON AND JUST SINGING FOR NO
REASON AT ALL.
AND THEN I CATCH MYSELF DOING IT
AND I START TO LAUGH, AND I SAY,
"YOU MUST BE GOING CRAZY NOW."
BUT I'M JUST HAPPY, IT FEEL --
>> A GOOD CRAZY.
>> IT FEEL GOOD.
>> John: THAT IS A VERY NICE
THING TO SEE.
IT'S LIKE TWO BABIES HUGGING OR
FOUR GRANDPARENTS ABSOLUTELY
RAILING EACH OTHER.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT JUST FILLS
YOU WITH HOPE.
AND THANKS TO THIS HOUSING FIRST
STRATEGY, THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS
VETERANS DROPPED FROM 74,000 IN
2010 TO 38,000 IN 2018, A NEAR
50% REDUCTION.
AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS JUST
ONE VERSION OF WHAT THIS CAN
LOOK LIKE.
FOR THOSE RECENTLY MADE
HOMELESS, RAPID REHOUSING
PROVIDES SHORT-TERM RENTAL
ASSISTANCE AND SERVICES TO HELP
PEOPLE GET BACK ON THEIR FEET
QUICKLY.
AND LOOK, HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMS
CLEARLY REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT
RESOURCES AND FUNDING, BUT IT IS
NOT LIKE OUR CURRENT APPROACH IS
CHEAP.
ONE STUDY IN FLORIDA THAT
TRACKED A DECADE'S WORTH OF
SPENDING ON JUST 107 CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS PEOPLE FOUND THAT,
JUST BETWEEN MONEY SPENT ON
INCARCERATION AND EMERGENCY
MEDICAL TREATMENT, THEIR
COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAD SPENT AN AVERAGE
OF JUST OVER $31,000 PER PERSON
PER YEAR, WHEN THE ESTIMATED
COST OF PROVIDING THEM WITH
PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING
WOULD'VE ONLY BEEN AROUND
$10,000 PER YEAR.
SO IF YOUR ARGUMENT AGAINST
HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS WAS
PURELY MONETARY,
CONGRATULATIONS, YOUR CONCERNS
HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.
ALSO, A PRE-CONGRATULATIONS FOR
BEING VISITED BY THREE GHOSTS
THIS UPCOMING CHRISTMAS EVE.
BUT FUNDING ISN'T THE ONLY ISSUE
HERE.
A HUGE OBSTACLE IN IMPLEMENTING
THESE SORTS OF PROGRAMS IS
OPPOSITION FROM LOCAL RESIDENTS.
IT IS THE "NIMBY" PROBLEM --
"NOT IN MY BACK YARD" --
AND IT HAPPENS EVERYWHERE.
TAKE CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA,
WHERE NEW DEVELOPMENTS OFFERING
AFFORDABLE HOUSING, INCLUDING
THOSE GEARED TO THE HOMELESS,
WERE PROPOSED, ONLY TO ENCOUNTER
FIERCE COMMUNITY PUSHBACK LIKE
THIS:
>> YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT IT IN
OUR BACKYARD.
>> IT'S NOT FAIR.
>> WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS PAST
CRAZY.
>> WELL, IT'S JUST GOING TO GO
DOWNHILL IF YOU BRING ALL THAT
IN.
ALL THAT RIFF-RAFF.
I DON'T NEED IT.
>> IT'S JUST NOT THE RIGHT
PLACE.
I AGREE THAT THEY NEED HELP.
I AGREE THAT THEY NEED TO FIND A
LOCATION.
BUT CLAREMONT IS NOT THE
LOCATION TO BE HAD.
>> HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT
CRIME?
HOW IS THAT GOING TO IMPACT THE
BUSINESSES OUT HERE?
IS THERE LOW-INCOME?
ARE THEY GOING TO BE SPENDING
MONEY AT THE SUSHI PLACE OR, YOU
KNOW, OR NOT?
>> John: OH, NO!
NOT THE SUSHI PLACE!
I DIDN'T REALIZE A PREREQUISITE
FOR HOUSING WAS A WILLINGNESS TO
SPEND FRIDAY NIGHTS
DEEP THROATING NIGIRI.
AS FOR THE GUY SAYING, "I AGREE
THEY NEED TO FIND A LOCATION,
JUST NOT HERE" -- WHERE THEN?
BECAUSE YOU DO GET JUST BECAUSE
SOMEONE LEAVES YOUR SIGHT
DOESN'T MEAN THEY STOP EXISTING,
RIGHT?
IT'S A CONCEPT WE ALL LEARN
PRETTY EARLY, AFTER ABOUT EIGHT
MONTHS OF ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING
GAMES OF PEEK-A-BOO.
AND CLAREMONT'S BY NO MEANS AN
ISOLATED EXAMPLE.
IN NORTH TEXAS, LOCAL RESIDENTS
MOBILIZED AGAINST A PROPOSED
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT,
WHICH HAD UNITS SET ASIDE FOR
RESIDENTS USING "HOUSING
CHOICE," OR "SECTION 8"
VOUCHERS -- BASICALLY, RENTAL
SUBSIDIES FOR LOW-INCOME OR
HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS.
AND HERE'S HOW ONE OPPONENT OF
THE PROJECT EXPLAINED HERSELF.
>> THE LIFESTYLE I FEEL LIKE
THAT IS -- GOES WITH SECTION 8
IS USUALLY WORKING SINGLE --
EITHER SINGLE MOMS OR PEOPLE WHO
ARE STRUGGLING TO KEEP THEIR
HEADS ABOVE WATER.
AND IT'S NOT -- I FEEL SO BAD
SAYING THAT, BUT IT'S NOT --
IT'S JUST NOT PEOPLE WHO ARE, I
GUESS, OF THE SAME CLASS AS US,
WHICH SOUNDS BAD, BUT I DON'T
MEAN THAT IN A BAD WAY.
>> YOU THINK THAT YOU MAYBE ARE
STEREOTYPING THE FOLKS?
>> OH, I TOTALLY AM, 100%!
IT'S NOT -- IT WORKS BOTH WAYS.
I -- I'M DEFINITELY NOT A RACIST
AND I'M NOT BIGOT, BUT, UM,
I -- I THINK I HOLD A LITTLE BIT
OF A STIGMA AGAINST PEOPLE WHO
ARE DIFFERENT.
>> John: OKAY, SOME QUICK
CORRECTIONS THERE:
YOU DON'T FEEL THAT BAD SAYING
IT.
THE THINGS YOU'RE SAYING ARE
THINGS RACISTS AND BIGOTS SAY.
AND SAYING "I'M NOT A RACIST OR
A BIGOT" BUT ALSO SAYING YOU
HAVE "A STIGMA AGAINST PEOPLE
WHO ARE DIFFERENT" ISN'T
NECESSARILY SPLITTING HAIRS, BUT
IT'S DEFINITELY SEGREGATING
THEM.
AND WHILE THAT WOMAN LIVES IN A
CONSERVATIVE AREA OF TEXAS,
PLENTY OF THE PLACES YOU'VE SEEN
TONIGHT -- AND PLENTY OF THE
PLACES WHERE THESE SENTIMENTS
RUN DEEPEST -- ARE DEEP-BLUE
LIBERAL CITIES.
THE TRUTH IS, SOME OF YOU
WATCHING THIS RIGHT NOW MAY
SHARE SOME OF THOSE VIEWS.
AND IF YOU DO, I IMPLORE YOU TO
TAKE IN EVERY WORD OF THIS
FORMERLY UNHOUSED MOTHER,
KEANAKAY SCOTT, WHO WROTE A
LETTER TO THE NIMBYs IN HER
HOMETOWN.
>> YOU WEAR YOUR BIAS LIKE A
BADGE OF HONOR WHEN YOU SEE MY
HISTORY.
YOU JUDGE ME FOR HAVING
CHILDREN, FOR NEEDING
ASSISTANCE.
YOU HATE ME FOR WANTING THE
STABILITY YOU TAKE FOR GRANTED.
AND WHY?
BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LIKE LOOKING
THE OTHER WAY WHEN YOU SAW ME ON
THE STREET?
OR IS IT SIMPLY BECAUSE I MAKE
YOU UNCOMFORTABLE, AND YOUR
DISCOMFORT IS ENOUGH TO
DISQUALIFY A PERSON FROM THE
AMERICAN DREAM?
>> John: EXACTLY.
SHE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
IT IS NOT THE HOUSED'S COMFORT
THAT NEEDS TO BE PRIORITIZED
RIGHT NOW.
SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY
HOMELESSNESS CONTINUES TO GET
WORSE IN THIS COUNTRY, ONE
REASON IS THAT THERE
ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE -- EVEN
LIBERALS -- WHO BELIEVE THAT
HOMELESSNESS IS A PERSONAL
FAILING, POVERTY CAN BE AVOIDED,
AND THEIR OWN GOOD FORTUNE MAKES
THEM NOT ONLY BETTER THAN THE
UNHOUSED BUT MORE WORTHY OF
COMFORT.
IT IS BASICALLY REAGAN'S
ATTITUDE FROM A WHOLE FOODS
CROWD.
AND I DON'T WANT TO OVERSIMPLIFY
THE LOGISTICS INVOLVED HERE.
IT WILL TAKE A MASSIVE
COMMITMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE,
FUNDING, AND RESOURCES.
BUT THE VERY FIRST STEP HERE IS
A COLLECTIVE CHANGE OF
PERCEPTIONS.
BASICALLY, WE NEED TO STOP BEING
DICKS AND ASSUMING THAT THE
UNHOUSED ARE A COLLECTION OF
DRUG ADDICT CRIMINALS WHO'VE
CHOSEN THIS LIFE FOR THEMSELVES,
INSTEAD OF PEOPLE SUFFERING THE
INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCES OF
GUTTED SOCIAL PROGRAMS AND A
NATIONWIDE DIVESTMENT FROM
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
I REALLY HOPE THAT IS ONE OF THE
TWO KEY THINGS THAT STICKS IN
YOUR HEAD FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW --
THE OTHER, OF COURSE, BEING
THIS:
>> ♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ IT'S RAINING TACOS ♪
THAT'S OUR SHOW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR WATCHING!
WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
♪ RAINING TACOS ♪
♪ ♪