Letting strangers move in rent free? Cool? or Crazy?

[Bearblastbeats]

I was just reading this article about a man who lets strangers live in his house while he lives with his mother. For free mind you, or $1.00 a month.

Coming from a family who has always helped out people such as letting friends and other people move in, renting out our space, or letting them couch surf, offering old clothing or food whenever possible, we never gave up our entire home, but I think this man is pretty bad-ass

http://articles.latimes.com/2012/dec/22/local/la-me-banks-house-20121222

[tooqk4u22]

I agree, it looks like a good way to have a huge impact on that family (single mother with 3 kids exposed to/suffered from domestic violence).  And think about if you translate it to a dollar amount - it would be equivalent to a very sizable charitable donation. To me the value impact of this proposition would far exceed writing a check to the United Way.

Although, I probably wouldn't have left all of my possessions (at the ones I valued) in the house.

[The Taminator]

Wow. That is an incredible story of someone living a blessed life and sharing what he has with others. I am so touched by this story.

[momo]

It is admirable and I certainly respect his decision help others in greater need than himself. I also like how he recognizes the need to detach himself from possessions. Great ideas and hard to practice.

My only question is at 50 doesn't he feel he still needs some level of privacy? Does the man have a significant other? Also, did he even ask his mother is she wants him living with her? It's not about money in his situation, I just question the personal space/privacy.

Thanks for sharing this inspiring story. Cheers!

[Bearblastbeats]

It is admirable and I certainly respect his decision help others in greater need than himself. I also like how he recognizes the need to detach himself from possessions. Great ideas and hard to practice.

My only question is at 50 doesn't he feel he still needs some level of privacy? Does the man have a significant other? Also, did he even ask his mother is she wants him living with her? It's not about money in his situation, I just question the personal space/privacy.

Thanks for sharing this inspiring story. Cheers!

I am unsure about a SO, but after the first year, his mother and sister support the idea of him continuing his plan.

[Peter]

What an excellent thing to do, which I'm sure a lot more could be doing (got a spare room?) to help out people down on their luck. There's a story arc in Curb Your Enthusiasm with almost this identical scenario (hilarity ensues).

One should be mindful though of whatever progressive (i.e. unjust) domestic union laws might exist in their region. I wonder what will happen if this Tony guy decides to sell the house 3 years down the road and withdraws his charity.

I can hear it now: "I"ve become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and so have my children! I have no means to maintain it without Tony..."

Something for men to keep in mind if treading in the waters of providing free housing for women, especially women with children.

I'd be very inclined to offer up help though to good men who've forcibly been removed from their home/family and can hardly afford a place to live because they are maintaining their former wife's level of luxury.

[Bearblastbeats]

What an excellent thing to do, which I'm sure a lot more could be doing (got a spare room?) to help out people down on their luck. There's a story arc in Curb Your Enthusiasm with almost this identical scenario (hilarity ensues).

One should be mindful though of whatever progressive (i.e. unjust) domestic union laws might exist in their region. I wonder what will happen if this Tony guy decides to sell the house 3 years down the road and withdraws his charity.

I can hear it now: "I"ve become accustomed to a certain lifestyle and so have my children! I have no means to maintain it without Tony..."

Something for men to keep in mind if treading in the waters of providing free housing for women, especially women with children.

I'd be very inclined to offer up help though to good men who've forcibly been removed from their home/family and can hardly afford a place to live because they are maintaining their former wife's level of luxury.

Yup, and no good deed goes unpunished.

[KimAB]

I read the article and it is a lot more rational than I thought it was going to be.  I thought this guy was moving women into the spare room... 
I'd be interested to see how that plays out for the kids long term. 

I've had two friends that have shared their homes with strangers.  First friend Sarah R.  - she found out that the guy was a neo-nazi and he recognized her family name Von R.  He informed her that he was part of a movement to bring about a new world order.  First they would kill all the Von R. men and the women will be used for breeding stock.  Sarah is very aryan looking...

Second friend- T invited this young woman home to live with her because she had nowhere to go.  T has a lot of kids... after about a week her baby started getting sick and she found something powdered in the bottom of her baby's bottle.  She never did find out what it was just that the other woman had ground 'something' and put it in the bottle...

I think that is cool that he is sharing his place.  And I think it is good that there is a time limit on how long they can stay for free.  At some point you have to support yourself, I think.  Would I do it?  :-/  I don't know...  I would feel a lot better about it if I didn't have to live with them.  I'm not terribly attached to my stuff.

[momo]

It is admirable and I certainly respect his decision help others in greater need than himself. I also like how he recognizes the need to detach himself from possessions. Great ideas and hard to practice.

My only question is at 50 doesn't he feel he still needs some level of privacy? Does the man have a significant other? Also, did he even ask his mother is she wants him living with her? It's not about money in his situation, I just question the personal space/privacy.

Thanks for sharing this inspiring story. Cheers!

I am unsure about a SO, but after the first year, his mother and sister support the idea of him continuing his plan.

Good for him then. Personally I would not do it b/c I value my privacy far too much.

[boy_bye]

I've let acquaintances who are down on their luck live with me before, but in each case there were weird boundary issues. Like, I ask you not to use my fancy conditioner, then find that you've squirreled away a jar of it in my spare room. Or you eat all the food and drink andalusia the liquor and smoke all the weed and expect me to cheerfully keep it all coming.

This has happened three times. Each time my intentions were good, but the person I helped ended up resenting me and feeling entitled to everything I owned. So, never again.

[BlueMR2]

I am unsure about a SO, but after the first year, his mother and sister support the idea of him continuing his plan.

Good for him then. Personally I would not do it b/c I value my privacy far too much.
[/quote]

Same here.  Sounds like sheer lunacy to me.  :-)

[Bearblastbeats]

I've let acquaintances who are down on their luck live with me before, but in each case there were weird boundary issues. Like, I ask you not to use my fancy conditioner, then find that you've squirreled away a jar of it in my spare room. Or you eat all the food and drink andalusia the liquor and smoke all the weed and expect me to cheerfully keep it all coming.

This has happened three times. Each time my intentions were good, but the person I helped ended up resenting me and feeling entitled to everything I owned. So, never again.

This is the reason why I have my own fridge in my room with a dual hot plate, george foreman grill, toaster and my own set of dishes. I keep all my toiletries in there as well. I made my bedroom into a small studio to try and avoid my roommates as possible.

But, on the other hand I feel like I'm helping them out. We currently have 3-5 people (including myself) at any given moment. Luckily we don't pay rent, just utilities.