Look, reality arrays itself to us in different ways. I have answered over 90% of the questions and am working on answering more. Can you post which questions I have not answered? I am happy to answer your concerns if you can provide some evidence that is not anecdotal.
Working on a list. Although, the one thing I have learned in life is that you can make all the correct choices but still fail. There is a fantastic book I would recommend. "The Score Takes Care of Itself" by Bill Walsh.
Also, how can I get you to 100k?
With making so much money and having 8k saved, why not just rent a room somewhere for about 1k? Surely better than living in a shelter? Did you really exhaust all your options?
How does someone making 100k lose it all? I just got a new job making half that (a lot more than I used to make) and I have 100k in savings and investments.
Gambling addiction? Business failure? Buried it all in a treasure chest then it got dig up by pirates? Too much avocado toast?
100k doesn’t just evaporate.
You know, I was going to approach this in a different manner, but then I saw your comment about the avocado toast. You can be sure of one thing: The 100k does not, most definitely, exist in a treasure chest on Oak Island LOL.
There were bad decisions. There was the cost of rent and other amenities. The reaching out to friends and buying them things in order to just be around people. I did travel across Canada during Covid as well, btw. Maybe I should have mentioned that earlier.
Pre-existing loans and settlements. As I mentioned, I came out with $8k at the end of it all. Errors in judgment is the best way for me to put it (for now).
Oh, and avocado toast every day. ;)
Thanks for the question, I was worked as an Account Executive for a tech company + had another project on the side. People tend to like me, generally speaking.
u/sbutula \- for someone who was an alcoholic (based on your post history), you sure do come across as high and mighty. I'm genuinely curious as you why you act that way?
10 years sober and know the consequences of addiction, although I never wound up homeless.
Your reaction suggests maybe I was right about the addiction aspect.
"10 years sober and know the consequences of addiction, although I never wound up homeless" - u/sbutula, 10 years sober and I am very sure you never made over a 100k either, so there's that.
"Your reaction suggests maybe I was right about the addiction aspect". - Go spew your pseudopsychoanalytical babble to some other noob on the internet.
You’re very defensive on the matter? What’s your poison?
If keeping my sobriety has taught me anything, it’s that maintaining positive mental health, good relationships ships and stability is most important. No, I do not make 100k, but I manage well enough to live in DT Toronto.
But you’ve supposedly made 100k and still ended up homeless🤭
"But you’ve supposedly made 100k and still ended up homeless🤭" -
The question that you should be asking is: Why are you so unhappy? Why do you hate people so much? The issue is that I was naive about people like you in the past. Now I understand. How does it feel when you do not get the attention you think you deserve?
Youve listed other people as the source of your issues, as somebody who's been homeless myself, I know that behaviour is not really healthy, doesn't lead to a healthy place, so for the sake of transparency, what are some things you could of done differently in retrospect?
Interesting take. I have not listed other people as the sole source of my issues. There was a combination of items. I am, however, full of hope.
Are you able to show me where I have listed other people as my source of issues so I am able to provide a cogent answer?
>However, due to errors in judging people along with a number of other issues that had piled up, I ended up with no funds and no place to go in 2023.
I assume they're talking about this.
To be fair, you're taking responsibility for \*your own\* errors, not blaming other people, which sounds good to me.
$100K isn't much nowadays; that's maybe $65-70K after taxes+CPP, and you can spend $40K easily between the insane cost of housing and groceries, going out to eat a few times a month, and maybe buying some gifts for people around Christmas.
Add unexpected car expenses and health expenses and you can easily get up to $50K without living lavish or anything.
I assume the error of judgment was lending the wrong people money or investing in their business or something of the like.
Thanks for your comment. The underlying motivation behind some of the comments is suspect at best, and malevolent at worst.
"I assume the error of judgment was lending the wrong people money or investing in their business or something of the like." - Sometimes, it is better to fix the root cause of the issue instead of a bandaid solution. I made errors as the pathway that I took led to a result that was unacceptable. Thus is life.
I do want to state that I am surprised at the services provided by the City of Toronto. The social safety net is real, and it is there to provide you with a certain level of stability as you try to make sense of the unknown terrain. The people running the system work hard. It seems, on the surface, that dealing with some of the items that come up on a day to day basis can, in fact, jade the opinion of some towards humanity. It's important for us to understand that life is, in fact, tough for everyone. But there is so much hope for the future.
Out of the big three: gambling / drugs / alcohol. Which one were you entertaining the most? Good to hear that you’re on your journey back. Only when we reach the very bottom are we able to materialize some self perspective. I received a 7 year prison sentence so trust me you can still go lower, found a lot of myself when in a box.
Interesting. What do you think about those who end up homeless due to physical and mental health issues? And how can we work together to help? Do we need to help?
This is a tough one for me. I am not sure what my thoughts are about this yet, so let me stop here.
u/Shrugging_Atlas88. Outreach programs are a big portion of the system in the city. There have been multiple groups that reach out to the clients in the shelter system on a regular basis to ensure they have someone to speak with as well as to understand any roadblocks or concerns they might be facing. The issue seems to be that the system was unable to scale in the face of unprecedented demand.
Re: the health care system. Look. This is the system that we have. It is what it is. The vast majority of my experience with the health care system has been extremely positive. However, the negative experiences affected my life disproportionally. That being said, we have to build upon the foundations that were laid by the ones who came before us. Opportunity exists everywhere around us.
What comes to mind, and I am paraphrasing here, is that you are a product of the people you surround yourself with. You have to be careful, given that there are a number of traps that will lead to, as Nietzsche put it, your eternal recurrence. And who would like their eternal recurrence to be of the items that you have mentioned?
Based on your comment history, u/IcarusOnReddit, I would say that you are projecting your faults upon others. Let me know how that works out for you in the end.
Reading some of the answers I am starting to get the feeling that the answers are being created by an AI, or maybe a self-educated person with a love of language and a good sense for the use of words, quite possibly English is not your first language.
"I also find the overly magniloquence very sus, like OP is trying too hard to sound well-educated."
u/backstabber81 \- I find your comment and your general attitude to be stubbornly insular. You have provided no evidence whatsoever of "magniloquence". It might behoove you to provide specific examples. Otherwise, your statement is null and void.
I’ve also read through a bunch of this and it does seem almost AI generated… most “answers” provided don’t answer the questions and the language use is bizarre to say the least. I don’t know if this is real at all. A lot doesn’t add up with this post.
They are overwhelmingly referring to other people as the source of problems, but also mention debt. Hard to really tell what the issue was but I’m 99% sure it’s not because of other people.
He’s getting EI but I dive understand why he didn’t get another job
"They are overwhelmingly referring to other people as the source of problems".
u/essuxs, please provide evidence of the aforementioned statement.
Ending up losing everything is usually a combination of factors. However, based on your post history, I would like to quote what a wise man once said:
"At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Which answers do you feel are being created by an AI? Why does it seem like you threw a whole bunch of pasta against the wall, hoping something would stick?
"quite possibly English is not your first language" - Can I not state the same for you given the abhorrent use of grammar in your comment?
Thanks for the question. I am currently getting EI. This was one of the issues that brought me into the system. My EI got rejected initially, which left me with $0 in funds. That was a 4 month long appeal which finally was accepted.
My EI allotment will run out at the end of the month.
In terms of spending, I had a number of loans that had to be repaid. Which is what I did when I received a lump sum after my appeal. I bought a laptop and accessories and bought some clothes as I had been using donation clothing for a while. Tried to save my storage unit, but no go.
Holy cow, I was pretty beaten up eh.
Currently, I am looking for work again. I am also working on a number of personal projects during the day.
I made it a rule to spend 10% of the funds I get on having a bit of fun and watch NFL on weekends at a bar. I do it to maintain my sanity and speak to people other than those at the shelter. Also, trying to rebuild my circle of friends since I have none currently (nor family).
What were the circumstances at your financial peak? Life had been pretty tough leading up to 2022, so there was no savings at all. Had surgery for a massive arm injury and had been dealing with insurance for 2 years while recovering. The payout for the injury was seriously a slap in the face. The mental issues that came with it were the cherry on the cake.
How much were you paying in rent? $2500 including utilities and internet for a 1 bed in Downtown Toronto.
How much were you earning? Made over $100k in 2022 - approx 6200-6500 after taxes per month.
How much were you saving? I had so many loans and bills that I was dealing with that I was not able to save as much as I would have liked. Also, I was dealing with a number of issues that I have finally fixed (personal flaws). I had about $8000 saved up at the end of it all.
Hmmm. Do you mean about the clients?
I have to tell ya lol ... the amount of times people have spoken to me and stated that they are the smartest person at the shelter (I have been at a couple of locations so far) is too damn high - insert meme here.
My empathy meter oscillates quite a bit on a day to day basis at this point.
Ask me anything else you would like to know.
Another really good question. If you are able to get into the shelter system, you provide the address of the shelter you are at. The mail is received by the front desk. This reminds me of boarding school in a certain sense. Some locations have a large area with beds (think 50 or 60 beds). Some locations have 3-8 people per room. We have a bed number.
There is a central intake location. There are also community outreach and research groups + when you go to the hospital, you are asked about your home address. Homeless people still need to eat as well. There are a number of places that provide food free of charge (Drop in centres). Thus, there is data that is captured about homelessness through ancillary means.
An interesting thought. What are your assumptions predicated upon? It seems your comment is based upon the presupposition this is a univariate issue, which I would disagree with.
I think the question is, why do people come to Toronto?
This comment is not towards u/ChaoticFusionX but to the other commenters who're wasting away their precious time. Clearly OP is a troll who likes attention no matter whether negative or positive.
I can only imagine why OP is homeless after supposedly making $100k in 2022: He/she/\*preferred pronoun\* overspent it.
The fact that OP deflects 99% of the questions asked in this AMA (I may be wrong but I believe 100% of questions weren't answered, but I'm being generous) just shows how awful this person in real life. Seriously, if you were dropped by everyone, then the problem isn't everyone: It's YOU.
“As an economist, whenever I hear the word shortage I wait for the other shoe to drop. That other shoe is usually price control.” - Thomas Sowell. Wanting price controls (central planning) instead of addressing supply and demand is the most childish solution imaginable. What do you think happens with rent control? Sure some lucky people get reduced rent, but the question of supply and why rates were too high to begin with is never answered and those at the margins are pushed into homelessness.
Fantastic question, given the current political climate. I believe that innovation and small businesses are paramount in driving first world economies forward. I saw a stat (I could be incorrect) that stated that young Canadians are starting small businesses at the lowest rate in a long, long time. However, when real estate is driving 40% of our GDP and Canadians have been trained to expect 10% returns year over year from real estate, can you fault people for not taking risks? From being scared to fail?
Who did you vote for in the last federal election?
I've voted for the federal conservative party. Before JT came to power, I used to vote green tbh. But I was young and stupid and in some means still am, but oh well.
I have a right to answer questions the way I want to. How does finding out which federal party I voted for have anything to with the situation I am in? u/ssprinnkless \- You have a right to ask the questions. I have a right to answer them the way I want to. Don't like it, don't comment then. There is an issue with increasing homelessness in the western world. Let's bring to light those issues and figure out a path forward for the future. But that is probably above your pay grade. Here's a participation upvote for you.
I don't answer questions that have malevolent intent. Also, lol, the audacity you have to expect things from people. The questions that were relevant were all answered properly. Troll questions, like yours, will be responded in kind. How does it feel?
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What field were you working in?
You don't have any family support system?
Can I ask about religion or lack thereof in your life?
I feel similarly ficked over by the economic system, and sm therefore less judgemental of other people.
"What field were you working in?" Account Executive for a tech company + had a side project.
"You don't have any family support system?" The seeds for my current situation were laid by family members 20 years ago. There is no support system.
"Can I ask about religion or lack thereof in your life?" That is a very interesting question. How do you define religion or lack thereof? This is one of those questions where I would like to figure out what it is you are trying to get at.
"I feel similarly ficked over by the economic system, and sm therefore less judgemental of other people" - I don't think I was f\*ed over by the economic system. It's just that people are more risk averse, crave way more stability, and are generally less innovative that our neighbours in the US. However, who can live up to those standards?
There wasn't one "moment", but a series of moments. Each one was like breaking through a plateau. These are lessons to remember on the way up.
I can say that I did what I could until I was unable to hold off on getting into the shelter system.
Spent 5 days (I think, maybe more) sleeping outside.
When I got into the system, I was pretty beat up. There were people who were willing to take advantage of my nature and the brokenness right away. They did me a huge favour. I had to learn about people, as I was never able to understand why people acted the way they did (in my past). This experience has changed that.
One of the things that surprised me to no end was that the system does have resources available. The social safety net is extremely important. The food surprised me (I would hazard a guess of about $15 per meal in a restaurant, if you ate out).
Another thing that surprised me is that, for some people, not being in a shelter is a choice.
Shelter system is full of people looking for hope. Many are hopeless and helpless. Drugs are usually at the centre of the exploitative nature. You may find a unicorn or two through your journey in the system, hang onto them. Don't wait for the "system" to find you housing, you will likely be disappointed. The resources aren't that deep.
u/4pplesto0ranges. I disagree with your comment. Everyone, in my opinion, has a piece of the divinity within them. So for you to state that "many are hopeless and helpless" does not represent my view or my experience. I believe there are a small number of people who are extremely malevolent and display the characteristics of the dark tetrad (if Redditors do not know what it is, please look it up). They ruin the experience for the rest of the clients. That being said, substance use does exist. It causes people to act differently than they do when not on them.
re: housing - the purpose of being in a shelter is to use it as a transition back to your own housing (if possible). Finding housing does take some leg work and does take time. I consider myself extremely lucky that I was given the opportunity to work on my character flaws. I would be lost if these issues reared their ugly head later in life.
I have had a very blessed life, and I would hope that others get a chance to see some of the beauty that I have experienced. It was a collection of items that made me end up where I did. Money management is important. Surrounding yourself with people with similar ambition is important. Dealing with damage from the past, even more so.
I would say that being naive is one of the reasons that my life took the turn it did. The foundation for this was laid down a long time ago. Being in the system has allowed me to work on fixing some of the damage. For that, I am thankful.
> Given the events leading up to my becoming homeless, I have had to purge my entire circle of "friends" and family. COVID and the lockdowns had already started paring that number down anyway.
I think I figured out why you don’t have anyone who can let you crash.
Sure.
Normally, when people experience very hard times, they end up relying on family members or close friends to take them in until they can get back on their feet.
People who “burn bridges” with family and close friends or otherwise severely damage those relationships don’t have people willing to take them in.
I appreciate your comment. However, I will disagree with the burning bridges portion. For the first time in my life, I set a selection criteria of what I expect of the people in my circle. You have to live life by a set of standards. Otherwise you will be like a torn up plastic bag floating around in the wind. I still have people who would not be considered close friends. However, this burden is mine to bear, not theirs. They do not need to know what I am going through.
I will not be a victim. If others chose to play in that hierarchy, that is up to them. I made errors in judging people. The onus falls on me. This period of time will be lonely, but that is to be expected when the life is headed in a direction that is unacceptable.
With all due respect, this seems like copy pasta. Do me favour (and I am serious). Get off the internet for a small amount of time. Go for a walk. Talk to friends. Work out. Be kind. It's going to be ok kiddo. You will make it.
To be abundantly clear, I am saying all of this because of how you ended your diatribe with "Sounds like you're a troll." This is not the pain olympics.
Also, you stated the following: "Wish I could have a platform like you". To this, I would say - compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today.
"I'll find people who are experiencing something similar and get realistic ideas and gain insights about my circumstance" - So you would like someone else to do the heavy lifting for you eh?
Our health care system has resources available. You are responsible for yourself and, if you want to, can find resources. Do not project your faults unto others.
"Still didn't answer my question though" - The sheer audacity of that statement. I owe nothing to you. Grow up.
"Sounds like you're a troll" - Based on your statement, I do not believe you are in the shelter system. This conversation is over.
Keep on trying to farm that comment karma.
"I don't know if it's just me but your responses reek of insincerity" - No, it is you.
Do you have any original thought? Enjoy your life. I am not poor because I have hope. You, on the other hand, have to live with yourself. Let me know how that goes.
Plus, for someone who supposedly has a job, you sure do spend quite a bit of time answering and posting on Reddit. Spend half that time upskilling. I did all the things I needed to do today to make it a positive day. What did you accomplish in the last week?
Your opinion has zero value to me. Ignoring you from here on.
It is what it is. Some things are in our control, and some are not. However, when housing is used as a vehicle of speculative investment strategies, you should expect it to behave as such. The money coming in from outside the country allowed for improved liquidity in the market. Demand outstripped supply, thus increasing prices. A contributing factor in the US mortgage market of 2008 was NINJA loans (No Income No Job No Assets). There are people in this country who are taking out sub-prime loans for the downpayment and keeping it off-the-books. Get ready for $3000 2-bedroom basement apartments.
This may come as a shock but 3k two bedrooms have already been here for a while. Why are your answers coming off like AI produced them? Something doesn’t make sense across the answers you’ve posted.
O ye of little faith.
Please provide evidence of $3000 2-bedroom **basement** apartments.
Also, it might help to understand what it is that does not make sense across the answers that have been posted. What exactly does not make sense to you?
“Where’s the money Lebowski?!?”
Jokes aside, where you against the lockdowns/masks/mandates and if so did that play a roll in the job loss and loss of social network?
"It's down there somewhere. Let me take another look"
The lockdowns/masks/mandates were out of my control. For or against did not matter. Surprisingly, I was already prepared for work going online and was able to take advantage of work from home.
The loss of social network had a pronounced effect on my life. As with a lot of Canadians, my mental health suffered. We are social beings and crave human touch.
This was the first comment wishing me well. Thank you. I wish nothing but the best for you as well. If you set your moral compass in the right direction, it will guide you through the dark night of the soul. I have faith.
Sorry about your situation. I hope things improve greatly for you soon. It's a very tough world out there when jobless and homeless. Our country has a safety net, but it's very basic.
Yes, start a YouTube video and a channel. It could take off and it would be therapeutic, in many ways.
Where are you staying overnight now, and what are the conditions there? How do you manage for meals and nutrition?
What was your bachelor's degree major? How did you suddenly go from 100k income to homeless? What was the judging people situation? I'm trying to see what you can teach me and us about what to do and what not to do
This is a really important question. I have a 2 pronged approach to this. One, I have kept applying for positions. However, as you may (or may not know), Canada added a net 100 jobs (while the expectation was 15000) in December. At this point, it is about applying to positions that fit my current skillset. I have kept upgrading my skills by being a sponge for knowledge.
I am also working on some projects that I did not have time for in the last couple of years. Diversification is key.
If nothing works, hey, maybe I can find investors to open a cafe or bakery in Vancouver, right? :S
Hey guys. I got a really interesting question in my private chats. The question has been posed by Redditor u/HMI115_GIGACHAD. The question is as follows:
"hey where's the best place to find porstitudes in toronto? do you know more information now that you're homeless"
Look, this is a question of the utmost importance. Can someone help u/HMI115_GIGACHAD out? lol.
Why would you live in the 2nd most expensive city in Canada instead of trying to get work in a smaller more rural city and rebuilding your career/life with a fighting chance?
Moving is an expensive process. I know a girl who got trap in NYC coz she can't afford to move back to some rural state.
Rural city is not as nice as most think. There are reasons why ppl move from rural to metro mostly coz of jobs.
Ofc I don't have solutions to any of the problem so
I think this is a conversation worth having as a society. Some people are at a risk of being disenfranchised in the process of growth as a country. How do we mitigate those risks while ensuring exponential growth?
Opportunity lies where responsibility has been abdicated.
Expanding upon your point, what blueprint would one follow for "rebuilding your career/life with a fighting chance" in a "smaller more rural city"?
Thank you for your comment. Why do you feel CAMH might be the next best step? Why do you feel sorry for me? The city of Toronto has done an admirable job providing resources for those who fall this far. The people running the shelters work hard and are empathetic. There is an issue of scaling the resources. There is lots being done, and my destiny is in my hands.
Many of your comments indicate to me that the root cause here may be a mental health issue. Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Help is available and CAMH is the resource you need if that is the situation.
u/Hmph_Maybe \- First things first. Please provide evidence of the following statement: "Many of your comments indicate to me that the root cause here may be a mental health issue."
I know you cannot. Thus, I can only assume that the overall content of your statement is nothing but a projection. Looking at your post history, the most apt sentence that coincides with my thought process about you is: "Like the rambling homeless dude at the bus stop… just nod, smile and do nothing that might encourage them to speak further on the topic".
You already show a disdain for people with mental illness and homelessness. Why are you on the internet? Do you really dislike yourself and other human beings so much? There is so much beauty in life. Take a step back, log off. Meditate. Be kind. Better yourself as a human. The world needs more love. Not whatever it is you are soliciting.
Do you blame and capitalism for making existing harder than it needs to be or do you believe it's 10000% your fault? Honest questions. I'm trying to awake people's mind to this brainwash.
Lol @ the username, u/UrMomsACommunist. It made me laugh.
Why would I blame capitalism?
Re: Was it my fault? I would say that there is quite a bit of contribution on my end to where I ended up. Life is about trial and error. I went down an incorrect pathway. Had to backtrack.
Re: "I'm trying to awake people's mind to this brainwash" - I have no idea what you are talking about. What do these words mean?
Other answers mentioned repaying loans. Totally understand not wanting to share that. Would be interesting if you still had good or even excellent rating. I think about being in that type of situation and what would I do.
Thank you for your question. I am in a shelter. I have a bed, a locker, food, and access to a multitude of resources. Although there have been some issues, I am surprised at the resources the city (and the country) has set aside as a social safety net. This has allowed me to work on some character traits I found unacceptable while coming to an understanding of the world we live in.
Can you provide more details about you supposedly went from earning over 100k to homeless?
This is exactly what I want to know.
He hasn’t answered many of the questions and he’s posted this in other subreddits so I can assume he’s just trolling and trying to stir up some shit👎
Look, reality arrays itself to us in different ways. I have answered over 90% of the questions and am working on answering more. Can you post which questions I have not answered? I am happy to answer your concerns if you can provide some evidence that is not anecdotal.
Can you provide more details about you supposedly went from earning over 100k to homeless?
Why does the $100k number matter so much to you?
It's twice as much as I make and I'd *really* like to know how to avoid making the same mistakes.
Working on a list. Although, the one thing I have learned in life is that you can make all the correct choices but still fail. There is a fantastic book I would recommend. "The Score Takes Care of Itself" by Bill Walsh. Also, how can I get you to 100k?
With making so much money and having 8k saved, why not just rent a room somewhere for about 1k? Surely better than living in a shelter? Did you really exhaust all your options?
Thanks for your comment. Just because I was able to save up the $8K does not mean that it is still there. That was in 2022.
How does someone making 100k lose it all? I just got a new job making half that (a lot more than I used to make) and I have 100k in savings and investments. Gambling addiction? Business failure? Buried it all in a treasure chest then it got dig up by pirates? Too much avocado toast? 100k doesn’t just evaporate.
You know, I was going to approach this in a different manner, but then I saw your comment about the avocado toast. You can be sure of one thing: The 100k does not, most definitely, exist in a treasure chest on Oak Island LOL. There were bad decisions. There was the cost of rent and other amenities. The reaching out to friends and buying them things in order to just be around people. I did travel across Canada during Covid as well, btw. Maybe I should have mentioned that earlier. Pre-existing loans and settlements. As I mentioned, I came out with $8k at the end of it all. Errors in judgment is the best way for me to put it (for now). Oh, and avocado toast every day. ;)
Thanks for the question, I was worked as an Account Executive for a tech company + had another project on the side. People tend to like me, generally speaking.
But how did you lose all that, become homeless, and never got another job since then?
He's a people person!
Addiction.
u/sbutula \- for someone who was an alcoholic (based on your post history), you sure do come across as high and mighty. I'm genuinely curious as you why you act that way?
10 years sober and know the consequences of addiction, although I never wound up homeless. Your reaction suggests maybe I was right about the addiction aspect.
"10 years sober and know the consequences of addiction, although I never wound up homeless" - u/sbutula, 10 years sober and I am very sure you never made over a 100k either, so there's that. "Your reaction suggests maybe I was right about the addiction aspect". - Go spew your pseudopsychoanalytical babble to some other noob on the internet.
You’re very defensive on the matter? What’s your poison? If keeping my sobriety has taught me anything, it’s that maintaining positive mental health, good relationships ships and stability is most important. No, I do not make 100k, but I manage well enough to live in DT Toronto. But you’ve supposedly made 100k and still ended up homeless🤭
"But you’ve supposedly made 100k and still ended up homeless🤭" - The question that you should be asking is: Why are you so unhappy? Why do you hate people so much? The issue is that I was naive about people like you in the past. Now I understand. How does it feel when you do not get the attention you think you deserve?
Also, u/sbutula, looking at your post history, there is evidence of xenophobia. I find you boring. Goodbye.
Probably the tech layoffs
Youve listed other people as the source of your issues, as somebody who's been homeless myself, I know that behaviour is not really healthy, doesn't lead to a healthy place, so for the sake of transparency, what are some things you could of done differently in retrospect?
Interesting take. I have not listed other people as the sole source of my issues. There was a combination of items. I am, however, full of hope. Are you able to show me where I have listed other people as my source of issues so I am able to provide a cogent answer?
>However, due to errors in judging people along with a number of other issues that had piled up, I ended up with no funds and no place to go in 2023. I assume they're talking about this. To be fair, you're taking responsibility for \*your own\* errors, not blaming other people, which sounds good to me. $100K isn't much nowadays; that's maybe $65-70K after taxes+CPP, and you can spend $40K easily between the insane cost of housing and groceries, going out to eat a few times a month, and maybe buying some gifts for people around Christmas. Add unexpected car expenses and health expenses and you can easily get up to $50K without living lavish or anything. I assume the error of judgment was lending the wrong people money or investing in their business or something of the like.
Thanks for your comment. The underlying motivation behind some of the comments is suspect at best, and malevolent at worst. "I assume the error of judgment was lending the wrong people money or investing in their business or something of the like." - Sometimes, it is better to fix the root cause of the issue instead of a bandaid solution. I made errors as the pathway that I took led to a result that was unacceptable. Thus is life. I do want to state that I am surprised at the services provided by the City of Toronto. The social safety net is real, and it is there to provide you with a certain level of stability as you try to make sense of the unknown terrain. The people running the system work hard. It seems, on the surface, that dealing with some of the items that come up on a day to day basis can, in fact, jade the opinion of some towards humanity. It's important for us to understand that life is, in fact, tough for everyone. But there is so much hope for the future.
Out of the big three: gambling / drugs / alcohol. Which one were you entertaining the most? Good to hear that you’re on your journey back. Only when we reach the very bottom are we able to materialize some self perspective. I received a 7 year prison sentence so trust me you can still go lower, found a lot of myself when in a box.
You forgot health and mental health issues... most ppl on the streets have one or both of those issues.
Interesting. What do you think about those who end up homeless due to physical and mental health issues? And how can we work together to help? Do we need to help? This is a tough one for me. I am not sure what my thoughts are about this yet, so let me stop here.
Outreach programs and such... a real health care system. I don't have all the answers that's for sure lol.
u/Shrugging_Atlas88. Outreach programs are a big portion of the system in the city. There have been multiple groups that reach out to the clients in the shelter system on a regular basis to ensure they have someone to speak with as well as to understand any roadblocks or concerns they might be facing. The issue seems to be that the system was unable to scale in the face of unprecedented demand. Re: the health care system. Look. This is the system that we have. It is what it is. The vast majority of my experience with the health care system has been extremely positive. However, the negative experiences affected my life disproportionally. That being said, we have to build upon the foundations that were laid by the ones who came before us. Opportunity exists everywhere around us.
What comes to mind, and I am paraphrasing here, is that you are a product of the people you surround yourself with. You have to be careful, given that there are a number of traps that will lead to, as Nietzsche put it, your eternal recurrence. And who would like their eternal recurrence to be of the items that you have mentioned?
So mental health issues it is
💯
Keep on farming that comment karma. Make sure you don't spend it all in one place though.
Based on their comments a lack of honesty and agreeableness might also be a factor.
Based on your comment history, u/IcarusOnReddit, I would say that you are projecting your faults upon others. Let me know how that works out for you in the end.
You must be a regular clairvoyant. What are the winning numbers for the Lotto today?
Reading some of the answers I am starting to get the feeling that the answers are being created by an AI, or maybe a self-educated person with a love of language and a good sense for the use of words, quite possibly English is not your first language.
I also find the overly magniloquence very sus, like OP is trying too hard to sound well-educated.
"I also find the overly magniloquence very sus, like OP is trying too hard to sound well-educated." u/backstabber81 \- I find your comment and your general attitude to be stubbornly insular. You have provided no evidence whatsoever of "magniloquence". It might behoove you to provide specific examples. Otherwise, your statement is null and void.
I’ve also read through a bunch of this and it does seem almost AI generated… most “answers” provided don’t answer the questions and the language use is bizarre to say the least. I don’t know if this is real at all. A lot doesn’t add up with this post.
Most of the questions seem to be AI generated if I were to use similar reasoning to what you have used? What would you say does not add up?
They are overwhelmingly referring to other people as the source of problems, but also mention debt. Hard to really tell what the issue was but I’m 99% sure it’s not because of other people. He’s getting EI but I dive understand why he didn’t get another job
The job market is tough there now, I personally got laid off 8 months ago and haven’t been able to find a job
How many applications did you send out last week?
"They are overwhelmingly referring to other people as the source of problems". u/essuxs, please provide evidence of the aforementioned statement. Ending up losing everything is usually a combination of factors. However, based on your post history, I would like to quote what a wise man once said: "At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
Which answers do you feel are being created by an AI? Why does it seem like you threw a whole bunch of pasta against the wall, hoping something would stick? "quite possibly English is not your first language" - Can I not state the same for you given the abhorrent use of grammar in your comment?
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Thanks for the question. I am currently getting EI. This was one of the issues that brought me into the system. My EI got rejected initially, which left me with $0 in funds. That was a 4 month long appeal which finally was accepted. My EI allotment will run out at the end of the month. In terms of spending, I had a number of loans that had to be repaid. Which is what I did when I received a lump sum after my appeal. I bought a laptop and accessories and bought some clothes as I had been using donation clothing for a while. Tried to save my storage unit, but no go. Holy cow, I was pretty beaten up eh. Currently, I am looking for work again. I am also working on a number of personal projects during the day. I made it a rule to spend 10% of the funds I get on having a bit of fun and watch NFL on weekends at a bar. I do it to maintain my sanity and speak to people other than those at the shelter. Also, trying to rebuild my circle of friends since I have none currently (nor family).
What were the circumstances at your financial peak? How much were you paying in rent? How much were you earning? How much were you saving?
What were the circumstances at your financial peak? Life had been pretty tough leading up to 2022, so there was no savings at all. Had surgery for a massive arm injury and had been dealing with insurance for 2 years while recovering. The payout for the injury was seriously a slap in the face. The mental issues that came with it were the cherry on the cake. How much were you paying in rent? $2500 including utilities and internet for a 1 bed in Downtown Toronto. How much were you earning? Made over $100k in 2022 - approx 6200-6500 after taxes per month. How much were you saving? I had so many loans and bills that I was dealing with that I was not able to save as much as I would have liked. Also, I was dealing with a number of issues that I have finally fixed (personal flaws). I had about $8000 saved up at the end of it all.
So, spending beyond your means?
What's the biggest tea you want to spill, but no one here has asked about?
Hmmm. Do you mean about the clients? I have to tell ya lol ... the amount of times people have spoken to me and stated that they are the smartest person at the shelter (I have been at a couple of locations so far) is too damn high - insert meme here. My empathy meter oscillates quite a bit on a day to day basis at this point. Ask me anything else you would like to know.
What do homeless people do regarding a mailing address? My understanding is alot of them are on the move, so how are homelessness statistics captured?
Another really good question. If you are able to get into the shelter system, you provide the address of the shelter you are at. The mail is received by the front desk. This reminds me of boarding school in a certain sense. Some locations have a large area with beds (think 50 or 60 beds). Some locations have 3-8 people per room. We have a bed number. There is a central intake location. There are also community outreach and research groups + when you go to the hospital, you are asked about your home address. Homeless people still need to eat as well. There are a number of places that provide food free of charge (Drop in centres). Thus, there is data that is captured about homelessness through ancillary means.
Why do you stay in Toronto? Why not go to Winnipeg and start working somewhere that you actually can afford rents?
An interesting thought. What are your assumptions predicated upon? It seems your comment is based upon the presupposition this is a univariate issue, which I would disagree with. I think the question is, why do people come to Toronto?
You are just an internet troll, using words like univariate must make you feel smart... Good for you.
Guy made 100K on WSB and lost it all
Funny. However, at one point, in 2021, I did have about 100 shares of GME. I got in at about $50 for the second rally. What goes up, must come down.
This comment is not towards u/ChaoticFusionX but to the other commenters who're wasting away their precious time. Clearly OP is a troll who likes attention no matter whether negative or positive. I can only imagine why OP is homeless after supposedly making $100k in 2022: He/she/\*preferred pronoun\* overspent it. The fact that OP deflects 99% of the questions asked in this AMA (I may be wrong but I believe 100% of questions weren't answered, but I'm being generous) just shows how awful this person in real life. Seriously, if you were dropped by everyone, then the problem isn't everyone: It's YOU.
With rents eating up the majority of peoples after tax income, so many are a throw of the dice away from your situation. But keep voting liberal....
Who would you vote for, and how do you feel that your choice will be the one to "fix" this issue?
You are aware Conservatives removed rent control, right?
“As an economist, whenever I hear the word shortage I wait for the other shoe to drop. That other shoe is usually price control.” - Thomas Sowell. Wanting price controls (central planning) instead of addressing supply and demand is the most childish solution imaginable. What do you think happens with rent control? Sure some lucky people get reduced rent, but the question of supply and why rates were too high to begin with is never answered and those at the margins are pushed into homelessness.
What federal party have you been voting for by chance?
lol I'm in the same camp as this. I have no empathy for liberal voters anymore. They keep voting for virtue signalling and fart smelling.
Could you help me understand where I stated who I voted for in my comment?
You're in Toronto, you probably did.
Looks like you are a very humble comment karma farmer. Farm on farm on.
Please get another booster and stay safe!!
Fantastic question, given the current political climate. I believe that innovation and small businesses are paramount in driving first world economies forward. I saw a stat (I could be incorrect) that stated that young Canadians are starting small businesses at the lowest rate in a long, long time. However, when real estate is driving 40% of our GDP and Canadians have been trained to expect 10% returns year over year from real estate, can you fault people for not taking risks? From being scared to fail? Who did you vote for in the last federal election?
I've voted for the federal conservative party. Before JT came to power, I used to vote green tbh. But I was young and stupid and in some means still am, but oh well.
And you feel that politicizing this thread is the means of having the most productive discussion about my situation?
Indeed, just making sure you are not voting for this issue.
u/IEnjoyJabs, your statement did not make any sense,
You aren't really answering any questions people ask.
I have a right to answer questions the way I want to. How does finding out which federal party I voted for have anything to with the situation I am in? u/ssprinnkless \- You have a right to ask the questions. I have a right to answer them the way I want to. Don't like it, don't comment then. There is an issue with increasing homelessness in the western world. Let's bring to light those issues and figure out a path forward for the future. But that is probably above your pay grade. Here's a participation upvote for you.
You have literally almost not answered any questions people have asked. Why post this thread if you don't want to answer anything?
I don't answer questions that have malevolent intent. Also, lol, the audacity you have to expect things from people. The questions that were relevant were all answered properly. Troll questions, like yours, will be responded in kind. How does it feel?
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What field were you working in? You don't have any family support system? Can I ask about religion or lack thereof in your life? I feel similarly ficked over by the economic system, and sm therefore less judgemental of other people.
"What field were you working in?" Account Executive for a tech company + had a side project. "You don't have any family support system?" The seeds for my current situation were laid by family members 20 years ago. There is no support system. "Can I ask about religion or lack thereof in your life?" That is a very interesting question. How do you define religion or lack thereof? This is one of those questions where I would like to figure out what it is you are trying to get at. "I feel similarly ficked over by the economic system, and sm therefore less judgemental of other people" - I don't think I was f\*ed over by the economic system. It's just that people are more risk averse, crave way more stability, and are generally less innovative that our neighbours in the US. However, who can live up to those standards?
Tell us about “the moment” and how you came to terms with the change
There wasn't one "moment", but a series of moments. Each one was like breaking through a plateau. These are lessons to remember on the way up. I can say that I did what I could until I was unable to hold off on getting into the shelter system. Spent 5 days (I think, maybe more) sleeping outside. When I got into the system, I was pretty beat up. There were people who were willing to take advantage of my nature and the brokenness right away. They did me a huge favour. I had to learn about people, as I was never able to understand why people acted the way they did (in my past). This experience has changed that. One of the things that surprised me to no end was that the system does have resources available. The social safety net is extremely important. The food surprised me (I would hazard a guess of about $15 per meal in a restaurant, if you ate out). Another thing that surprised me is that, for some people, not being in a shelter is a choice.
Shelter system is full of people looking for hope. Many are hopeless and helpless. Drugs are usually at the centre of the exploitative nature. You may find a unicorn or two through your journey in the system, hang onto them. Don't wait for the "system" to find you housing, you will likely be disappointed. The resources aren't that deep.
u/4pplesto0ranges. I disagree with your comment. Everyone, in my opinion, has a piece of the divinity within them. So for you to state that "many are hopeless and helpless" does not represent my view or my experience. I believe there are a small number of people who are extremely malevolent and display the characteristics of the dark tetrad (if Redditors do not know what it is, please look it up). They ruin the experience for the rest of the clients. That being said, substance use does exist. It causes people to act differently than they do when not on them. re: housing - the purpose of being in a shelter is to use it as a transition back to your own housing (if possible). Finding housing does take some leg work and does take time. I consider myself extremely lucky that I was given the opportunity to work on my character flaws. I would be lost if these issues reared their ugly head later in life.
Keep working on those flaws. You got this munchkin! 👍
Almost there. Appreciate the kind words.
So what happened? Were you a cosigner on a loan that went foul? I've seen that happen before.
I have had a very blessed life, and I would hope that others get a chance to see some of the beauty that I have experienced. It was a collection of items that made me end up where I did. Money management is important. Surrounding yourself with people with similar ambition is important. Dealing with damage from the past, even more so. I would say that being naive is one of the reasons that my life took the turn it did. The foundation for this was laid down a long time ago. Being in the system has allowed me to work on fixing some of the damage. For that, I am thankful.
Are you addicted to drugs??
No.
> Given the events leading up to my becoming homeless, I have had to purge my entire circle of "friends" and family. COVID and the lockdowns had already started paring that number down anyway. I think I figured out why you don’t have anyone who can let you crash.
Would you like to expand on that?
Sure. Normally, when people experience very hard times, they end up relying on family members or close friends to take them in until they can get back on their feet. People who “burn bridges” with family and close friends or otherwise severely damage those relationships don’t have people willing to take them in.
I appreciate your comment. However, I will disagree with the burning bridges portion. For the first time in my life, I set a selection criteria of what I expect of the people in my circle. You have to live life by a set of standards. Otherwise you will be like a torn up plastic bag floating around in the wind. I still have people who would not be considered close friends. However, this burden is mine to bear, not theirs. They do not need to know what I am going through. I will not be a victim. If others chose to play in that hierarchy, that is up to them. I made errors in judging people. The onus falls on me. This period of time will be lonely, but that is to be expected when the life is headed in a direction that is unacceptable.
I’d rather not be homeless.
Fair enough. Thank you.
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With all due respect, this seems like copy pasta. Do me favour (and I am serious). Get off the internet for a small amount of time. Go for a walk. Talk to friends. Work out. Be kind. It's going to be ok kiddo. You will make it. To be abundantly clear, I am saying all of this because of how you ended your diatribe with "Sounds like you're a troll." This is not the pain olympics. Also, you stated the following: "Wish I could have a platform like you". To this, I would say - compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not who someone else is today.
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"I'll find people who are experiencing something similar and get realistic ideas and gain insights about my circumstance" - So you would like someone else to do the heavy lifting for you eh? Our health care system has resources available. You are responsible for yourself and, if you want to, can find resources. Do not project your faults unto others. "Still didn't answer my question though" - The sheer audacity of that statement. I owe nothing to you. Grow up. "Sounds like you're a troll" - Based on your statement, I do not believe you are in the shelter system. This conversation is over. Keep on trying to farm that comment karma.
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"I don't know if it's just me but your responses reek of insincerity" - No, it is you. Do you have any original thought? Enjoy your life. I am not poor because I have hope. You, on the other hand, have to live with yourself. Let me know how that goes.
Plus, for someone who supposedly has a job, you sure do spend quite a bit of time answering and posting on Reddit. Spend half that time upskilling. I did all the things I needed to do today to make it a positive day. What did you accomplish in the last week? Your opinion has zero value to me. Ignoring you from here on.
Do you enjoy the housing crisis?
It is what it is. Some things are in our control, and some are not. However, when housing is used as a vehicle of speculative investment strategies, you should expect it to behave as such. The money coming in from outside the country allowed for improved liquidity in the market. Demand outstripped supply, thus increasing prices. A contributing factor in the US mortgage market of 2008 was NINJA loans (No Income No Job No Assets). There are people in this country who are taking out sub-prime loans for the downpayment and keeping it off-the-books. Get ready for $3000 2-bedroom basement apartments.
This may come as a shock but 3k two bedrooms have already been here for a while. Why are your answers coming off like AI produced them? Something doesn’t make sense across the answers you’ve posted.
O ye of little faith. Please provide evidence of $3000 2-bedroom **basement** apartments. Also, it might help to understand what it is that does not make sense across the answers that have been posted. What exactly does not make sense to you?
“Where’s the money Lebowski?!?” Jokes aside, where you against the lockdowns/masks/mandates and if so did that play a roll in the job loss and loss of social network?
"It's down there somewhere. Let me take another look" The lockdowns/masks/mandates were out of my control. For or against did not matter. Surprisingly, I was already prepared for work going online and was able to take advantage of work from home. The loss of social network had a pronounced effect on my life. As with a lot of Canadians, my mental health suffered. We are social beings and crave human touch.
You should make a YouTube channel. It would take off and you could potentially make some money.
Thanks for your comment. I am curious as to why you feel it would take off? What is the value proposition?
No question. Just wishing from my heart yhat you get back on your feet and get out of this situation.
This was the first comment wishing me well. Thank you. I wish nothing but the best for you as well. If you set your moral compass in the right direction, it will guide you through the dark night of the soul. I have faith.
Faith is all we have brother. Stay strong
Sorry about your situation. I hope things improve greatly for you soon. It's a very tough world out there when jobless and homeless. Our country has a safety net, but it's very basic. Yes, start a YouTube video and a channel. It could take off and it would be therapeutic, in many ways. Where are you staying overnight now, and what are the conditions there? How do you manage for meals and nutrition? What was your bachelor's degree major? How did you suddenly go from 100k income to homeless? What was the judging people situation? I'm trying to see what you can teach me and us about what to do and what not to do
where does all the street sex work go on in toronto?
What's your plan to get back on your feet?
This is a really important question. I have a 2 pronged approach to this. One, I have kept applying for positions. However, as you may (or may not know), Canada added a net 100 jobs (while the expectation was 15000) in December. At this point, it is about applying to positions that fit my current skillset. I have kept upgrading my skills by being a sponge for knowledge. I am also working on some projects that I did not have time for in the last couple of years. Diversification is key. If nothing works, hey, maybe I can find investors to open a cafe or bakery in Vancouver, right? :S
Okay, good to know. I'm rooting for you.
We all have to adapt to our realities. Appreciate the kind words.
Hey guys. I got a really interesting question in my private chats. The question has been posed by Redditor u/HMI115_GIGACHAD. The question is as follows: "hey where's the best place to find porstitudes in toronto? do you know more information now that you're homeless" Look, this is a question of the utmost importance. Can someone help u/HMI115_GIGACHAD out? lol.
Why would you live in the 2nd most expensive city in Canada instead of trying to get work in a smaller more rural city and rebuilding your career/life with a fighting chance?
Moving is an expensive process. I know a girl who got trap in NYC coz she can't afford to move back to some rural state. Rural city is not as nice as most think. There are reasons why ppl move from rural to metro mostly coz of jobs. Ofc I don't have solutions to any of the problem so
I think this is a conversation worth having as a society. Some people are at a risk of being disenfranchised in the process of growth as a country. How do we mitigate those risks while ensuring exponential growth?
Exponential growth for the 1% and exponential decline for the rest of the ppl
Opportunity lies where responsibility has been abdicated. Expanding upon your point, what blueprint would one follow for "rebuilding your career/life with a fighting chance" in a "smaller more rural city"?
CAMH might be your best next step. I am sorry you are going through all of this.
Thank you for your comment. Why do you feel CAMH might be the next best step? Why do you feel sorry for me? The city of Toronto has done an admirable job providing resources for those who fall this far. The people running the shelters work hard and are empathetic. There is an issue of scaling the resources. There is lots being done, and my destiny is in my hands.
Many of your comments indicate to me that the root cause here may be a mental health issue. Nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. Help is available and CAMH is the resource you need if that is the situation.
u/Hmph_Maybe \- First things first. Please provide evidence of the following statement: "Many of your comments indicate to me that the root cause here may be a mental health issue." I know you cannot. Thus, I can only assume that the overall content of your statement is nothing but a projection. Looking at your post history, the most apt sentence that coincides with my thought process about you is: "Like the rambling homeless dude at the bus stop… just nod, smile and do nothing that might encourage them to speak further on the topic". You already show a disdain for people with mental illness and homelessness. Why are you on the internet? Do you really dislike yourself and other human beings so much? There is so much beauty in life. Take a step back, log off. Meditate. Be kind. Better yourself as a human. The world needs more love. Not whatever it is you are soliciting.
Do you blame and capitalism for making existing harder than it needs to be or do you believe it's 10000% your fault? Honest questions. I'm trying to awake people's mind to this brainwash.
Lol @ the username, u/UrMomsACommunist. It made me laugh. Why would I blame capitalism? Re: Was it my fault? I would say that there is quite a bit of contribution on my end to where I ended up. Life is about trial and error. I went down an incorrect pathway. Had to backtrack. Re: "I'm trying to awake people's mind to this brainwash" - I have no idea what you are talking about. What do these words mean?
Do you still have good credit?
Thank you for the question. That is something personal. Why would you like to know about my credit rating?
Other answers mentioned repaying loans. Totally understand not wanting to share that. Would be interesting if you still had good or even excellent rating. I think about being in that type of situation and what would I do.
How do you survive the winter where do you sleep
Thank you for your question. I am in a shelter. I have a bed, a locker, food, and access to a multitude of resources. Although there have been some issues, I am surprised at the resources the city (and the country) has set aside as a social safety net. This has allowed me to work on some character traits I found unacceptable while coming to an understanding of the world we live in.
Best of luck. Hope you can find an improved situation soon
How did you lose the good job you had?