Times are tough for many Americans, especially when it comes to housing options. As more and more people can’t afford rent, one TikTok page is showing the reality many homeless people face in the U.S. They recently recorded a Kentucky man showing what happened when he tried to call shelters to get a room for the night. The disappointing reality shows that change must be imminent for many Americans who go without a place to sleep every night.
TikTok page @invisiblepeopletv “fights homelessness through documentaries.” In a recent episode, they recorded a homeless Kentucky man calling a shelter to get a bed for the night. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have anywhere to go to sleep. In the video, the Louisville man calls a hotline that works with three different shelters in the area. He needs a place to sleep because Kentucky “made it illegal to sleep outside in certain public places.” If he couldn’t find a bed, he could face arrest and charges he can’t afford to pay.
The man hopefully speaks with the hotline worker, who immediately extinguishes that hope. She tells him, “You have to be under the age of 25.” When he says he isn’t within that age range, they tell him, “I don’t have any men’s beds available for tonight.” She gives him another number to call, hoping they’ll be able to offer him a bed at their shelter. Even after hearing the bad news, he tells the woman to “have a good day” before ending the call. Far too many men, women, and children are facing this grim reality every day in Kentucky.
Commenters immediately shared their reactions on this TikTok video. One commenter stated, “It’s bad in every state. You have to go through so many loops just to be on a waiting list.” Another added, “This isn’t just common, it’s the standard for most of the U.S. Even progressive states. The majority of counties have laws against being homeless despite many of them not having shelters at all, or alternative services available besides jail.”
One commenter asked, “Wow, how come churches aren’t opening their doors to help? Isn’t charity what churches are about? And what does age have to do with it?” Commenters continue to share their opinions about how homeless people are treated in the U.S., including personal stories and reactions to what this man faced on the phone call.
