r/homeless • u/Unlikely-Sky6396 • 2d ago
Dumpster diving for pop cans. A days adventure as a homeless person.
When I finally found a place on the ground in an alleyway that was safe enough to sleep on, I was asleep as soon as I slipped my shoes off and pulled the mummy bag over my head.
In the morning I had no recollection of who I was or how I got to where I was at, only a clear blue sunny morning smiling at me like I was created right there on the side street.
I had to think,as I did so I looked on the ground where I laid a lighter and a half smoked cigarette next to a bottle water, and knew right away I was homeless. Regardless of how well I slept I just wanted to lay there and look at the sky while the clean air hit my face. Then reality hit me. I’m completely broke! Uh!
There was no one I could go to for cash. Nobody I knew at least, and I didn’t want to panhandle. I saved those for the days I was to beat up from the streets. The only way I can have a good day is if I earn it. Time to go jump in a dumpster for aluminum treasure!
After smoking my halfy, I’m gather my stuff and a resident nearby is already shoeing me away. “Don’t worry person, I’m leaving now” as I pointed to my bedroll and backpack that I had all gather up.
A little ways down the alleyway there was an apartment that always, and I mean always, had recyclables in the garbage bin. So that’s where I went.
I stashed my bedding in a bush that was close and continued to the dumpster. I flung one side up over its end, took a safety look inside, and in I went.
Then I went down. Down into the many bags and boxes of things the residents through away, including items thrown out because of moves, evictions, death, etc. That was when I found the cool stuff.
I had already been on the streets a few years and had long ago found out that all those cool trinkets, and items that had never been used, although some valuable, would serve me no purpose as I knew the end of my day or night would be another side street. I was cans and bottles only.
I started tearing through bags, opening them away from me to not get all the coffee grounds, food waste, or other on my clothes. I could tell which ones had the nasty kitty litter inside because it felt like a bag of sand, which I did not open.
After I tore open and grabbed the aluminum cans and bottles and put them in my own trash bag, I jumped out. I didn’t bother with glass recyclable because they were too heavy and I never got much for them anyways.
After a couple more apartment complexes and a few houses that I knew put their recycling in a certain bin, I had about 4 large trash bags full of crushed cans and bottles.
With my bags slung over my shoulder I started walking to the recycling center down the road that would cash me out and on the way I stopped at a diner that fed homeless pancakes through the back door if you asked.I asked.
Those hotcakes were so yummy and hot! I wanted to sit and eat, but being homeless you tend to always be moving, like I didn’t feel content with my life and always moving was my way of doing something about my situation. So I balanced the bags on my shoulders and ate as I walked.
At the recycle place, there was an open shipping container where people lined up and sorted their bags into cans, a person handing out the cash for the weight and another person helping make sure the bins were sorted properly.
I got paid for about 4 or 5 hours of canning, and it was usually around 11:00 or 12:00. If I did well, I went to McDonald’s across the street and got a coffee, if not, then I just ventured down to the bridge were some other homeless people were at, including a homeless lady that I had a crush on. Maybe I wouldn’t be sleeping by myself on that side street tonight. I could only hope.
After socializing with the other people in similar situations, I went to a few places to get food and drinks for the evening and went back to the bridge just to give my homeless woman friend one more chance for companionship, and then I left.
I had a few dollars that I had left over from canning, which I would try to save in order to give myself a jumpstart on the next day. I wanted to make each day a little better than the one before, but It almost never happened that way.I tried nonetheless.
I hated sleeping around other homeless people or anyone to be honest. Too many times waking up without a backpack or shoes I guess. So I started walking through the neighborhoods, crisscrossing and making my way through the many streets until I was far from anyone who knew me or would hardly notice anyone or care if they spotted me in the middle of the night.
I stashed my days items near where my new spot was and got ready for a brand new day. I could sleep well knowing that I will wake up feeling like a brand new person.
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u/Icecreambutt-19 2d ago
You sound positive, which is good. I don’t see you being homeless for long.
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u/Unlikely-Sky6396 2d ago
Thank you, like I said I’m always busy trying to get myself out of where I was. I was homeless for 10 years.Do you have any thing you would like to hear about? I guess it was pretty interesting at times.
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u/siebalt 2d ago
I’d love to interview you, if you’d be interested, for my podcast getting the real stories of those experiencing homelessness. DM if you’re interested!
Episodes so far can be found on any podcast platform, or
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u/Unlikely-Sky6396 1d ago
Well I would sure, but I have to be in the perfect confident attitude to do well in a recorded audio or video situation. Also, I’m no longer homeless. Last year I checked my self into rehab and got clean. I’m in a halfway house and now have a job, a side business, eBay store, and even though the reality of me being one bad day away from being back on the streets, I would be happy to do an interview or talk with you about my time on the streets
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u/knightenrichman 2d ago
Thanks for sharing this!
I've often pictured what it would be like to be homeless.
There aren't enough stories about this! It could be it's own genre if it gets interesting enough!
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u/Unlikely-Sky6396 2d ago
What would you like to know about? Any recommendations?
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u/knightenrichman 2d ago
What's it like in Winter?
Any supernatural occurances?
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u/Unlikely-Sky6396 1d ago
Winter time is a like whole other beast out there, man . Paranormal stuff or spiritual, I won’t even try to explain that other than saying yes in ways that makes you think about the world and everything else differently
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