Homeless & Van Dwelling and Car Living 11 Jul 2006 01:57 am
Brilliant suburban car living article by William Alford
This is a long read but quite worth while for a glimpse at what living in a vehicle is like. William Alford lives in Virginia near DC and has lived extensively in cars and a trailer.
on 15 Jul 2006 at 5:20 pm 1.William R Alford said …
I appreciate the kind words.
Googling my name has revealed that the WCP article is being referred to in places that are more interested in an agenda than in the true needs of the homeless.
I’m not saying this is one of them, but post this here as a warning to others in similar circumstances who also my find themselves made fodder for those with ulterior motives.
Soon after the article’s publication and subsequent NY Times interview, places like an America-hostile French TV station and al-Jazeera contacted me for interviews to discuss how our system forces me to live this way.
I demurred.
Other blogs and websites cite my story as further evidence of the dreadfulness of George W. Bush and the essential evil of capitalism.
First of all, my periods of homelessness began under the Clinton administration. As much as I despise him and consider him to be one of the more harmful presidents ever, not for a moment did I blame him. And insofar as the free enterprise system is concerned, as flawed as it may be, I cannot imagine that it would be better if the government were running everything.
In the essay, I offer my theories as to what external factors may have served to exacerbate the situation. One of my hopes was to engender discussion of the issue among those who may not normally consider it and to suggest that not all of the homeless fit the caricature – that they may be in fact decent, intelligent, sober, sane people who are eminently redeemable.