NationStates Jolt Archive

Homeless people. Pretty much every city has them to a certain extent, but besides the usual beggars and the like wondering around, does your town have a particularly famous homeless person?

I ask this because I was flicking through the wikipedia article on Wellington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington%2C_New_Zealand) when I noticed under famous Wellingtonians, 'Ben Hana - Blanket man' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanket_Man) was listed. Yep, someone has gone to the trouble of writing a wiki about Wellingtons most famous bum. I myself have seen him in town multiple times and said hello once or twice. I know of many people who have talked to him properly and shared cigs and things, and at least one person who has smoked up with him.

I'm not exactly sure who got all the info on him to write the wiki, but who is your towns most famous homeless person?

I don't about a singular famous homeless person in my city, but there's far too many drunk homeless folks around.

Hmm i don't know if he was homless but he was a certain eccentric. The man who went around Sydney writting "eternity" everywhere.

who is your towns most famous homeless person?

In my home town, it is, without a doubt, Shaky Jake.

From the Ann Arbor News
http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1130956861135210.xml&coll=2

And in case there was any doubt that Shaky Jake could be a category unto himself, here are some samples from the Shaky Jake school of mythology:
# Shaky Jake is immortal.
# Shaky Jake is dead.
# Shaky Jake actually plays guitar.
# Shaky Jake is Howard Hughes' illegitimate son.

He is homeless (even thoughn the rumor is he has close to a million in his mattress squrilled away somewhere), he DOES play guitar (badly -as in ONE note), and he has become legendary here. There are even 'I brake for Shaky Jake' bumper stickers.

There are panhandlers here (you have to get a license) and then there are actual homeless people (whom you don't often see panhandleing) I know of the panhandlers (you call them by where they work ie. Main and Broadway) I don't give them money, most of them won't accept anything else, because they are out there to make money, I talked to one once, he said he made about $200 a day, has kids at home, panhandling is easier then getting a job, it doesn't required education and like he said "some people are stupid and just fork over thier money, I don't even lie and say I am homeless, I just ask for $20 and they give it to me"

The homeless people however, I have met a few and know thier names, I used to help out at the shelter/soup kitchen. None of them are famous, most of them are forgotten by almost the entire city.

Not homeless, but one old guy (you know the type - always wandering around with a couple of dirty shoppng bags) around my high school, known as Mad Tommy, became pretty famous. He spoke 5-6 different languages an used to correct our grammar when we tried to talk german or whatever to him - well cool.

Toy-mic Trevor. he's a legend in Cardiff (even had him sing at the summer ball for the uni while i was there :P )

Back in my home town there was (is?) a homeless person that many people knew by name. Some called him "Santa Clause" because of his long beard. He has lived in the same shopping center longer than I have lived my whole life (over 27 years now). The older people in town remember him being a successful businessman. The legend says that he was once part owner of the shopping center he now lives in until his brother conned him out of his half. Legend also says he is still wealthy and has plenty of money in the bank but chooses to live as a homeless person. Perhaps the biggest reason he is so famous, other than the legends surrounding him is because he is such a nice person. He is always ready to smile and to share in conversation with anyone. He does not drink or do drugs and does not beg for food or money. He is respected by all, and talking to him reveals a great wisdom hidden behind that facade of failure.

I'm not exactly sure who got all the info on him to write the wiki, but who is your towns most famous homeless person?
When I was in Cambridge there was a tramp (that's 'bum' for the Americans out there) who played a long saw with a violin bow. It sounded pretty good actually - a bit like a theremin.

You mean besides me and H N Fiddlebottoms VIII? (Well, he isn't actually in my city, but I know of him...) ;)

(j/k)

living in a crappy small town we dont have any visible homeless people however there is one guy in edinburgh

who is quite well known by people from here

junky pete, due to the large amount of rubbish he carries around(nothing to do with his drug problem(lsd incidently))

http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/05/10/homeless.fighting.film/story.bumfights.jpg

Rufus the Stunt Bum

He lives in everyone's hometown.

We had a tramp called Docker Joe, because he used to pick up the fag butts that people left on the floor. We never saw him smoke any, though....

Anyways, rumours surrounded him that he lived in a caravan outside someones house (apparently, these people hadn't noticed him living in their caravan), he was actually a millionaire, he was an undercover reporter searching for a way into the underground drugs ring and that he ate pidgeons.

I lived in a village of ~9000. He was one of three tramps.

I'm not exactly sure who got all the info on him to write the wiki, but who is your towns most famous homeless person?There appears to be a documentary about this man as well. Interesting!

Here in London (the other London), Ontario, we have Crazy Mary. I'm pretty sure that she was institutionalized until buget cutbacks got her kicked out.
She has two shopping carts and switches things back and forth between them (organizing, I think), and she yells at teenagers who mock her. She doesn't like to be called Crazy Mary.

Kurt Cobain.

I don't know if he was homeless but he was certainly a pauper in San Francisco. Our devine departed Sovereign Joshua Norton I Emperor of the United States and Protector of Puerto Rico....

Here in London (the other London), Ontario, we have Crazy Mary. I'm pretty sure that she was institutionalized until buget cutbacks got her kicked out.
She has two shopping carts and switches things back and forth between them (organizing, I think), and she yells at teenagers who mock her. She doesn't like to be called Crazy Mary.

She needs some cats.

does your town have a particularly famous homeless person?
Kato Kaelin, I guess, though I don't know if he's still living in others' guest houses...

She needs some cats.Where would she keep them?
And I'd be concerned about the welfare of the cats...

Where would she keep them?
And I'd be concerned about the welfare of the cats...

I guess she needs an old abandoned house as well.


I was imagining something like this:

http://monkeymom.blogs.com/monkeymom/images/cat_lady-thumb.gif

Here in Boone, NC, the most well-known homeless person is a gentleman by the name of Joshua. He's been here so long, a legend has grown around him. It's said he was once an English professor whose wife died. He turned to drugs to cope, and Appalachian State University quietly canned him, hoping to avoid a scene. Instead of moving, he stayed in Boone jobless until he couldn't afford his home and he turned to the streets. He hangs around King Street downtown, selling one-page stories to whomever will buy one. It's said he only writes one story (though I saw him the other day selling a treasure map). The town council considers him a bit of an eyesore and has actually offered him free housing to get him out of sight, but he's refused (it's said).

Homeless people. Pretty much every city has them to a certain extent, but besides the usual beggars and the like wondering around, does your town have a particularly famous homeless person?

I ask this because I was flicking through the wikipedia article on Wellington (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wellington%2C_New_Zealand) when I noticed under famous Wellingtonians, 'Ben Hana - Blanket man' (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanket_Man) was listed. Yep, someone has gone to the trouble of writing a wiki about Wellingtons most famous bum. I myself have seen him in town multiple times and said hello once or twice. I know of many people who have talked to him properly and shared cigs and things, and at least one person who has smoked up with him.

I'm not exactly sure who got all the info on him to write the wiki, but who is your towns most famous homeless person?
Well i'd say 'Ben Hana then.:p

Ziggy: The Bagman. Protected by Eagle Street law firms and local churches from being forced off the footpath, he's become a local Brisbane institution.

Hell, he's got more hits on Google (http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&q=Ziggy+the+bagman&meta=) then me!

'Ben Hana - Blanket man'
Ahh blanket man. Boy does he smell bad. Also known as 'Tarzan'. Whilst being homeless, hardly seen without his MP3 player and alcohol. Quite a friendly guy though.
Another homeless Wellingtonian that springs to mind, is that guy who died last year (?) who had the growth on his head? He was really well known too

Ahh blanket man. Boy does he smell bad. Also known as 'Tarzan'. Whilst being homeless, hardly seen without his MP3 player and alcohol. Quite a friendly guy though.
Another homeless Wellingtonian that springs to mind, is that guy who died last year (?) who had the growth on his head? He was really well known too
True that.

Ahh blanket man. Boy does he smell bad. Also known as 'Tarzan'. Whilst being homeless, hardly seen without his MP3 player and alcohol. Quite a friendly guy though.
Another homeless Wellingtonian that springs to mind, is that guy who died last year (?) who had the growth on his head? He was really well known too

'bucket man'? I can't remember his real name, but I used to see him around all the time. He slept in the town belt rather than in the city though. Apparently he always used to go to Mcds and order a coffee and softserve cone.

True that.
Yea. His funeral was a pretty big deal too, I think, so he was pretty famous.

There is one in my town nicknamed Pylon Paul. His name says it all. He randomly shows up in parts of town and starts blocking off roads with pylons then holds his "Stop/Go Slow" sign. He is seen with his signature blue coveralls and orange hunting hat. I almost ran him over once because he just walked out in the middle of the street.

'bucket man'? I can't remember his real name, but I used to see him around all the time. He slept in the town belt rather than in the city though. Apparently he always used to go to Mcds and order a coffee and softserve cone.
Yea, bucket man.. I don't know much about him. His death was on the front page of the Dominion Post though, I remember that much.

Leslie Cochran hails from Austin Texas, a homeless, transvestite, mayoral candidate. often seen wearing a string-bikini on Austin's Sixth street (Where we keep all our happening bars). Not technically homeless however, sie usually lives in a two story carboard 'house' that If i'm not mistaken has wheels and can be seen rolling around downtown Austin

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Cochran

Well, there's http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c6/Pacific_santacruz_ca.jpg/450px-Pacific_santacruz_ca.jpg
Robert, the slow moving guy. Or Catapillar, the cat that tugs around the three linked carts up and down the hill.

In Fremont we had "The Mayor," a homeless lady who ran for mayor every election, tended to get the 18 year old vote...

Cliff Clavin was for a short spell.

Better known as John Ratzenberger


Does he count as famous?

Cliff Clavin was for a short spell.

Better known as John Ratzenberger


Does he count as famous?

Who?


right, the actor. My bad. Whats the story behind it?

An online Crazy Mary reference (http://squirrelsonrockets.blogspot.com/2005_06_01_squirrelsonrockets_archive.html), containing some more up-to-date information than what I had.

crazy mary - an old woman who pushes a shopping cart heaped with sleeping bags and all her worldly belongings. she likes to yell at people on the street and point out how many hookers there are just walking around pretending not to be hookers. recent quotes from crazy mary: "school abc"; "dislocated thumb"; "it has its mother". more to come...

Around my area, we have Denton.

A crazy african immigrant, who has pretty much always been homeless.

He mainly roams the streets singing in-comprehensible songs, really loudly.
Sometimes, he'll do it through people's letterboxes.

He'll talk to me and my friends sometimes, he shook my friends hand for 15 minutes. In complete silence. Plenty of other stories like that ^^

Also, when walking my dog in the morning, he always asks whether I'm taking my dog to school. I say no, and then he sings a song about taking your dog to school.

Heh, gotta love him.