- [Interviewer] So Terry, we're here.
We're here in Austin.
You're sleeping outside, tell me about it.
- Well it's not really all that bad.
I've had a little training in outdoor living.
I have a military sleeping bag, down filled.
So it's not like really all that uncomfortable.
But you know, it's not like a bed with a room.
- [Interviewer] Nobody should have to live like this though?
- That's true.
Today's economy and the way the government is set up,
I can't believe it.
The reason I'm on the street right now
is because of Social Security made a blooper
and cut out my social security check
so I haven't drawn a penny in the last two months.
So I don't know.
- [Interviewer] Is that how you lost your housing?
- Yes, basically yeah.
- [Interviewer] Oh my gosh, so how're you surviving?
- How am I surviving?
- [Interviewer] Yeah.
- That's a broad question.
- [Interviewer] Well how do you make it through the day?
How do you find food?
I mean if you're not withdrawing from.
- If you go hungry in the city of Austin,
something is definitely wrong.
There are so many places to eat around here
that will give you something to eat.
Care toss, churches, they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.
I mean, it's not hard to survive out here.
This is one of the easiest places I've ever been to survive.
- [Interviewer] Again as a senior,
this shouldn't be your retirement years.
- True.
- [Interviewer] What's your future like?
- Well, I've already talked to the VA
and I've talked to Social Security and by next month
my checks should be stabilized
and I should be back on track.
- [Interviewer] Good.
And get back into some housing.
- Yes.
- [Interviewer] If you had three wishes what would they be?
- Three wishes?
Well that's a hard one.
I would wish that people, the government,
could do something for the people to help them
get off the streets more than they are right now.
I see no, they give you this glad hand about
we're doing this and we're doing that.
I see the same people out here every day.
- [Interviewer] Yeah.
- Who are they helping?
I don't know of anybody.
- [Interviewer] Wish number two.
- I wish the bureaucracy red tape was cut in half.
Just to file a complaint you have to have a lawyer,
you have to do this, you have to do that, I mean,
you'd be surprised how much red tape
you've got to go through just to file a complaint.
- [Interviewer] It's crazy.
- Number three,
I wish it was set up so that there was some kind of agency
that could help older people like myself, I'm 65.
I'm still willing to work.
I have applied and applied and applied for work.
Nobody wants to hire me because of my age.
They won't say so, but their insurance and all that,
you know, it's, today's economy is against the older people.
- [Interviewer] It is, very much so.
It sure is.
Well thank you very much. - I wish that could change.
- [Interviewer] Yeah, very much so.
Well thank you very much for talking.
- Did it help you out?
- [Interviewer] Yeah.
Did it help you out?
- I don't know (laughs).
- [Interviewer] You have a good day.
- Same to you.