His name is Guy Trevor, an interior designer until he lost his job. He lived in his own house until he lost that, too. Then he lost his wife in a divorce.
Today Guy lives in his car at a charity parking lot for the newly homeless. In Santa Barbara, CA.
A man who was living the American Dream and now has very little left. Only the things he put in his car remain.
This happens to the most regular of people – people who have good jobs, houses, and who are just regular everyday functioning members of society. All of a sudden they have nothing. It’s really hard to explain, but when you hit that wall, when you realise that your job’s gone, that they’re foreclosing on your house and there’s nothing in the bank, it’s a very frightening moment.
Do we now examine Mr. Trevor’s life to ascertain what were the problems he had that led to this situation? Do we try to find something about HIM that differentiates HIM from US? Once we find it, can we breathe a little easier knowing that this could not happen to US because we are not like HIM?
Yes, we do because that is a very human trait. I read this article closely. I scrutinized his picture for some evidence of a character flaw that I myself did not possess. I was looking for something that made me different than Mr. Trevor. I could not find it.
The people sleeping at the parking lot are very friendly. They’re just like me – they come from normal, everyday homes. I think a lot of people in this country don’t realise that they, too, are a couple of pay-cheques away from destitution. As long as they’re being paid the threat doesn’t feel real, but the truth is that a lot of employees are close to losing their jobs, and it will hit them hard.
Yes, the Republicans tell you that these people were in over their heads and, yes, the Democrats tell you that it was the predatory lending practices.
Sometimes things just happen to ordinary people.
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