It is unclear if Gatz was living in the national forest because he was experiencing homelessness.
…Yeah, I think we can safely assume that, yes.
In 2023, the National Homelessness Law Center called on the feds to stop arresting people for living on public lands and shift to a housing- and services-only approach, after undercover Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management police officers shot a disabled man in the back during a removal operation and left (him) paralyzed from the waist down.
He and his family had been living in the Payette National Forest near Boise, Idah, after their landlord reportedly evicted them from their home and they were unable to find space in area shelters.
Just a big reminder that we could end homelessness in America for about $20 billion per year.
That’s about the same amount the federal government pays every year to give farmers super cheap crop insurance.
So, it’s a choice we’re making. Allowing homelessness, and abject poverty to exist, as a cudgel to those who would otherwise seek to drop out of the rat race.
That’s about the same amount the federal government pays every year to give farmers super cheap crop insurance.
Or 1/15 of what we’re paying Iran for “losing” the war.
$20B per year? That’s wild given that we have reportedly been spending $1B per day doing god knows what in this Iran war.
Got to have your priorities I suppose. /s
It’s not the people’s choice. It’s the Epstein class that owns 93% of all the wealth in America
Removed by mod
What the fuck does that make you, with opinions like that?
With the way shit is going, I don’t blame the guy for wanting to live alone in the woods
His residence was a giant pile of garbage. I mean, he’s not like, 3M or Mr. Burns, but we I don’t think we want people trash dumping in national parks. They’re in enough danger as it is. If you move your campsite every 14 days and don’t litter, you could live there indefinitely, it would seem.
This residence is a giant pile of garbage.
https://earthship.com/2020/03/30/sustainable-luxury-in-the-phoenix-earthship/
You’re assuming he surrounded himself with piles of festering useless waste. More likely he had the stuff he cared about and the supplies he needed, and they just took everything and threw it away, cause that’s what cops do to the homeless.
Nevermind, I read it.
I’m all for living in the woods, but this guy was definitely doing it wrong multiple ways
“You are homeless THE WRONG WAY!”
Yes, having fires during no burn times ,and not properly putting it out, living next to active trails , trash everywhere including hazardous materials is not doing it “right”.
It’s easy to tell people who have nothing and live in nature as a last resort to “be better”.
Yes, throwing trash in nature is bad. Nobody is disputing that.
I also think it’s silly to judge homeless by housed standards.
It sounds like you are disputing that.
Nowhere did I say anything blaming him for being homeless.
I do blame him for having open fires during no burn times and leaving it smouldering unattended. I also blame him for having trash everywhere including hazardous materials. (Especially doing it near active tails - that’s just asking to be caught)
Obviously the guy isn’t firing on all cylinders, but that doesn’t just make how he did things ”ok".
I was homeless for a year and I’m only one step above homeless right now that didn’t mean I could just do whatever the hell I wanted.
I’m making plans to do that
Likewise. I was homeless and lived like that. It was hard but also one of the most liberating experiences of my life. I already had survival training and lots of outdoors experience which helped.
Things are looking pretty grim for me again and I have been stocking up on supplies, bought all the gear I need for a prolonged stay outdoors, tent, clothes, everything.
I’m not gonna get caught living in a trashy one man summer tent in the middle of winter again, I’m gonna be homeless in style.
My dream. Too bad we’ve effectively deforested any areas we could’ve Salinger awayed to
Man caught
Sounds like he wasn’t doing anything wrong or harming anyone in any meaningful capacity.
Why not just let him live in peace?
But he didn’t pay anyone anything!!! Lol
What do you mean “caught”?
The entire headline is just monumentally misleading if I read half of this right lol
Let nature take its course. The bears will eventually find him. Until then WGAF if he’s living out there?
I care that his garbage is not being properly disposed of.
Yeah it’s a mixed conservation recreation area. People living there impedes both purposes. Especially when those people are mentally ill and not committed to the aims of the forest service
