Dumpster Living

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Article in today's New York Post on a homeless guy living in a plywood box disguised as a dumpster.

http://nypost.com/2017/04/08/this-homeless-guy-lives-in-a-box-disguised-as-a-dumpster/

 

[MrNoodly]

You get down to a certain socioeconomic level and you become invisible, even right out in the open.

 

[ArtW]

Thinking THROUGH the box, kudos to the guy

 

[OutdoorFT]

That pretty neat.

 

[johnny b]

Saw this one on TV...made from an actual dumpster. Even has a bar hangin on the door!

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/brooklyn-dumpster-home-sweet-home-article-1.1422854

 

[John61CT]

Wow, could be a great idea for a "drop and go" trailered tiny-house!

Some sort of lowering/jack system with internal wheels. . .

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[BradKW]

He said his Dumpster house, which he calls a “personal container,” is the future.

“When you find your partner who you want to live the rest of your life with, you can weld your containers together,” he said. “Have a kid? Weld on a third container. If you have a divorce, you could split it apart, say goodbye.”

 

[lenny flank]

I am wondering how he explains away the fact that suddenly there's a big green dumpster there where there was none before......?

 

[SoulRaven]

And, I guess the day the trash truck mistakes your "abode" for a real dumpster..........

 

[DannyB1954]

Article says it only cost $1,500 to build. Did they use gold plated plywood?
Could have bought a van for that.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

And, I guess the day the trash truck mistakes your "abode" for a real dumpster..........

1:  The article mentioned that he had chained it to a fence.  (Wonder what the guy who owns the fence thought about that?)

2:  Dumpsters are not handled by the city garbage trucks, they are handled by the private carting companies (Wholly owned subsidiaries of International Mafia Unlimited in NY) and none of them would try to empty a dumpster that wasn't labeled as one of theirs.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Article says it only cost $1,500 to build. Did they use gold plated plywood?
Could have bought a van for that.

EVERYTHING is ridiculously overpriced in NYC.

(When our Governor was caught with a $5000 a night call girl, the joke on the Tonight show was that he could have got the same girl for $50 over in Hoboken . . .)

 

[Ballenxj]

Article says it only cost $1,500 to build. Did they use gold plated plywood?

It looks like there are three solar panels on top, so the interior is probably fairly high tech.
You're right though, he could have bought a van. Probably get the wheels stolen in that neighborhood though.
The lack of headroom might be a problem. And to think, some of us fret over getting a high top on our vans.

 

[bullfrog]

Several years ago while traveling across Dayton Ohio going to the Air force Museum I spotted a large dumpster type cargo container setting on the corner of an abandoned building's parking lot. Looked like the ones the Salvation Army for donations except it had neatly painted signage stating "Viet Nam Veterans Deposit Box". I was shocked while waiting for the traffic light to change to see a fellow with a field jacket and a National Defense Ribbon pined on it climb out! Apparently he took it literally. I told my kids when I got to a point they couldn't take care of me to just drop me off.

 

[IanC]

Article says it only cost $1,500 to build. Did they use gold plated plywood?
Could have bought a van for that.

Buying the van is only the start of the expense.

In his build, foam for the cushions, water system - looks like he has a pump. solar panels, etc, etc, could easily run into $1,500.  Shipping that from California cost a lot more than the build.

I'm always amazed at the 'artists' that seem to have unlimited money for quirky endeavors.  I'm starting to think that the word 'artist' is code for 'inheritance' and 'trust fund'

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

FOLLOW UP:  Second article in the Monday NY Post.  Cops seize dumpster, but then return it.

http://nypost.com/2017/04/09/cops-cart-off-homeless-mans-dumpster-house-then-give-it-back/

 

[Ballenxj]

FOLLOW UP:  Second article in the Monday NY Post.  Cops seize dumpster, but then return it.

http://nypost.com/2017/04/09/cops-cart-off-homeless-mans-dumpster-house-then-give-it-back/

Very odd behavior on the part of the police. The article said they feared bad press?

 

[Gunny]

The Mayor ran his campaign promising to help the homeless. He's not done anything to help. I suspect he's just trying to get a little good press. The Post, Times and Daily News all skewer the guy.

Rob