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'The Girl's Guide to Homelessness' Author Brianna Karp Offers Advice to Young People on the Streets
Filed under: Amazing Kids, Books for Kids, Gear Guides: Teens
Brianna Karp tells the story of how she got off the streets in "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness." Credit: Harlequin
But she would soon face a downward spiral.
"I was laid off in July 2008, along with over half of my company," Karp tells ParentDish. "For the next six months, I struggled to stay afloat on unemployment, which didn't cover rent and food. I searched for work every day; I signed up with several temp agencies and took as many opportunities as I could. This was at the peak of the recession, and nobody was hiring."
No longer able to pay her rent, Karp says she attempted a short-term stay with her mother and stepfather, "which really was a last resort, as there's a very toxic history there."
She writes of her family situation in her new book, "The Girl's Guide to Homelessness," (Harlequin) released today, and of how she soon found herself without a home.
ParentDish recently caught up with Karp, now 26, about the book, advice she can offer young people facing homelessness and how she was able to not only land on both feet, but land a book deal, as well. An edited version of the interview follows.
ParentDish: Where did you end up staying, after leaving your mother's house?
Brianna Karp: I ended up living in my deceased biological father's camper in the middle of a Walmart parking lot -- taking advantage of their policy allowing travelers and campers to stay overnight on their lots for free. It wasn't fun, but you do what you have to in order to sort of eke out an existence and try to find a sustainable routine.
PD: You had no electricity or running water.
BK: I showered at a nearby mom-and-pop gym where I purchased a membership for $9.99 a month. If I needed to use a restroom in the middle of the night, there was a 24-hour gas station on the same block. I'd learned from a book I'd read years before that you can boil water on a car radiator to cook food. I purchased a large high-powered flashlight that I shone at the ceiling of the trailer at night, and it would give me enough light to read by.
Credit: Harlequin
PD: What was a typical day like?
BK: During the day I'd usually sit in Starbucks with my laptop and send out résumé after résumé. I also started an anonymous blog, which was how I began meeting other homeless and formerly homeless people and activists. It had never occurred to me that there would be such a vast, global online network of homeless people.
PD: The idea of a homeless girl with a laptop and cell phone is a new one. How is job hunting different when you're homeless?
BK: Everyday life has become so technology-driven that things like a cell phone and Internet access are essential. Yet, people are still amazed to see homeless people utilizing resources, or conclude that they must not "really" be homeless. Why should a person entering a crisis like homelessness be expected to give up items they may already own, like a cell phone or laptop, which may be their most valuable tools for finding work and digging their way out? Without a laptop or cell phone, I would be without means of accessing job boards in the most efficient manner possible, of sending out résumés and being contacted by potential employers.
Another thing that many are unaware of is that there are government programs providing homeless people with voice mail boxes, cell phones and even used laptops. Often, homeless individuals use public libraries to access the Internet. These tools are invaluable and critical in today's society, and they also allow homeless people a means by which to share their experiences, stories and offer one another moral support or solutions even from long distances apart.
PD: What did you learn about other homeless people from your experience?
BK: It was a topic I'd never really thought about until it happened to me, as I suspect is usually the case for most people. It did force me to take a look at the personalities and stories behind the labels and stereotypes. What I found is that these are really just people, and that there is no basis for the automatic presuppositions that I hear over and over: "Homeless people are all druggies/mentally ill/dirty/lazy/unloved."
I found a warm, supportive network of people that did their best to help one another out, even if all they had to offer was encouragement despite their personal circumstances. In my experience, I've found that there's as many reasons and causes behind homelessness as there are homeless people. No one should be pigeonholed. I believe all homeless people need help. Shelter is a basic human need and right, as far as I'm concerned.
PD: Talk about how your religious upbringing and your mother have affected your life.
BK: I was raised a Jehovah's Witness. I knew early on that I didn't believe what the other Jehovah's Witnesses did, and I also knew that would affect the relationship with my mother. ... My mother has a reputation as a very difficult person and was highly physically and verbally abusive, emotionally manipulative ... which I talk more about in the book. Together, they really made it a very claustrophobic environment to grow up in. It's taken some time, out on my own, to figure out how the outside world and normal human interaction works and it's an ongoing process.
PD: Through your blog you connected with Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll.
BK: I had been reading her column for about nine years, and, on a complete whim, I wrote her a letter explaining my situation and asking for advice. I never expected to hear back and promptly forgot all about it. Several months later, my letter was not only published in her advice column in Elle magazine, but she offered me a three-month, telecommuting internship.
The story ballooned in the media and was picked up all over the world. Suddenly, I found myself in newspapers and on CNN and the "Today Show." It was all very overwhelming, but definitely exciting and quite a thrill. E. Jean is absolutely one of the warmest, most generous human beings I have ever met, and I'm so grateful for the opportunity she gave me and the doors that it ended up opening.
PD: Do you have full-time work now?
BK: A few months ago, I received a call for an interview at South Coast Repertory, a local theatre in Orange County, looking for a marketing assistant. I had applied there, along with hundreds of other assistant jobs in Orange, Riverside and L.A. counties. The interview went great and I landed the job!
I love the company, the people and the culture at the theater. I commute 80 miles round-trip per day, which is about three hours total in traffic. I'm picking up a lot of valuable new skills to add to my repertoire. As it's nonprofit work and wages are not what they used to be, I live paycheck-to-paycheck, like most people these days.
PD: And benefits?
BK: It's the first time since becoming homeless that I've had health and dental benefits. It's taken two years of job searching to reach this point. I tried to keep my residence status and the media attention on the DL at work, but Google never forgets, so pretty soon everybody at work knew about it. My co-workers and bosses have actually been so nonjudgmental and supportive. I feel so incredibly lucky and privileged to work here.
PD: What advice do you have for young people who may find themselves homeless?
BK: As "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" would put it, don't panic. Be as savvy as you can with the resources you have available to you. Technology and social media are your friends, so use them. With them, a world's entire wealth of information is at your fingertips.
Online, you can search for jobs, stock up on survival tips, reach out to others who've been there and might be able to point you towards available resources or programs that can help you. There is an entire community to help you through what you're experiencing. And, of course, take care of yourself and your mind. You are your own most valuable resource right now.
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ReaderComments (Page 7 of 14)
4-26-2011 @ 4:01PM
Natalia said...If you're referencing my comment if we opted in for insurance he'd make $65,320 a year because insurance with his job for a family (up to 7 kids) is $390 a month or $4680 a year. If we did that we'd save: $45320 a year instead of the $50k. When we had insurance with them (been with the company for 7yrs excluding the lay off) we went to the dr twice a year and my hubby went once the whole time. Our dr charges $100 a visit so that's $200 a year compared with $4680! My Uncle lives in Frazier Park, CA and makes $3500 a month but lives off of $1500 a month. He's in his eighties and has lived in CA his whole life. He's the one I get my financial advice from. Not everyone in California has to spend a ton to live.
4-26-2011 @ 2:36PM
lani2work said...4/26/11 Brianna, thank u sharing your story; i was homeless several years both as a child and as a young adult in college, so i really appreciate your candid expressions. i never had a camper, cells or laptops when i was homeless so my ride was excrutiatingly painful and difficult & many of my stories r tough 2 share; and yes, I did conquer that junk and began recovering and rebuilding about 2 years after homelessness during college; as a result, I joined many marathons to raise funds for the HHH (help 4 the hungry & homeless) before having got married and after getting married and having 2 babies (who will not ever see homelessness ever, i guarantee it, as long as i live vibrantly and loving life everyday - i live vibrantly with my fantastic hubby and bestfriend who also believes in making a positive difference in the world and peoples lives as i do and my children do now, as well -- yet my highschool friends never knew my homeless situations, it just is not something i ever found myself commonly talking - i kind of liked hearing about their lives more i guess....) However, i am so grateful u had that camper! this world could easily provide tiny campers like that and sites like Walmart to put them for the thousands of homeless we have in USA; they really can afford that - it is up to our government to put our tax dollars to work for homeless, and everybody's story is different. The real concern would be security and safety for the huge numbers - some are very sane,thousands homeless served our country, some are not sane anymore, some r just plain lost, so u have to know how to live on the streets to survive - i hope ur story stirs people in our goverment to create living campers for people - as tiny as yours was, it still is refuge to someone with nothing. extremely grateful 4 ur voice heard in my heart, i thank my Saviour Jesus u shared, for someone will be helped and lives will be saved by your journey expressed... lani
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 8:02PM
charmae said...Thank you for sharing your story. God bless and keep you and your family safe. You keep praying because satan heard you say "never". He is always trying to destroy. So keep prayful that you and your family never have to become homeless.
4-26-2011 @ 2:27PM
Paul S said...hey retards making 50k in OC,CA is equal to making:
18k in MS
21k in GA
23k in OH
25k in IL
get the point brain surgeons ?
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 2:28PM
Tom said...You're not homeless if you live in a camper with a laptop and enough money to but ANYTHING. And she was making 50 grand a year before this? What did she do with her earnings? No savings?
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 2:33PM
A Rambler said...This young lady took a bad situation and turned it into something positive. Good for her! Not everyone in my generation is entitled or lazy. Just like how not everyone in the Boomer generation was entitled or lazy, because their grandparents said the same about them, and so did their grandparents. It feels nice to paint an entire generation with a broad brush. But really what you're saying is, that the younger generation is not as good as yours, that times were better before, and it's the younger generation messing everything up. Things weren't better before, hindsight helps to create that illusion though. And I'd say that the messing up part is equally distributed amongst many varying demographics.
Let's all just try to cut back on the superiority complex a little, huh? Ok, I'll start first. I'm not superior because I probably spelled some words wrong, and I'm being lazy by not going back and correcting it. See? It's easy.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 2:40PM
laniwater said...4/26/11 Brianna, thank u sharing your story; i was homeless several years both as a child and as a young adult in college, so i really appreciate your candid expressions. i never had a camper, cells or laptops when i was homeless so my ride was excrutiatingly painful and difficult & many of my stories r tough 2 share; and yes, I did conquer that junk and began recovering and rebuilding about 2 years after homelessness during college; as a result, I joined many marathons to raise funds for the HHH (help 4 the hungry & homeless) before having got married and after getting married and having 2 babies (who will not ever see homelessness ever, i guarantee it, as long as i live vibrantly and loving life everyday - i live vibrantly with my fantastic hubby and bestfriend who also believes in making a positive difference in the world and peoples lives as i do and my children do now, as well -- yet my highschool friends never knew my homeless situations, it just is not something i ever found myself commonly talking - i kind of liked hearing about their lives more i guess....) However, i am so grateful u had that camper! this world could easily provide tiny campers like that and sites like Walmart to put them for the thousands of homeless we have in USA; they really can afford that - it is up to our government to put our tax dollars to work for homeless, and everybody's story is different. The real concern would be security and safety for the huge numbers - some are very sane,thousands homeless served our country, some are not sane anymore, some r just plain lost, so u have to know how to live on the streets to survive - i hope ur story stirs people in our goverment to create living campers for people - as tiny as yours was, it still is refuge to someone with nothing. extremely grateful 4 ur voice heard in my heart, i thank my Saviour Jesus u shared, for someone will be helped and lives will be saved by your journey expressed... lani
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 5:32PM
james said...Too bad.
It will get worse with huge debt ($14 trillon ) looming.
Already food inflating....
Obama inflating fuel on purpose.... Sec of Energy says we need same gasoline price as UK and that is over $6/gallon.
People better at least grad from HS and some form of tech school or college to give themselves more of a chance. Many will not.
If you are willing there could/should be a job... but not with huge debt looming and other government out of control policies.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 6:35PM
susan said...The title is decieving...she was not "homeless". I think most of us would define homeless as someone living under a bridge with their belongings in an old shopping cart. She had a camper....free of charge, and other amenities to use ....that is not homeless and the title grabs you but is still very decieving......She was not homeless....final word!
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 2:56PM
Bonney said...The only thing that "flags" my curiosity is why, if one has been living at a nonpermanent address would you not locate nearer to your job. Not only would this save time and money, it's just common sense.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 5:51PM
XLMB said...Are you for real? Only in America would fools buy into this story! Homeless? An Orange County resident who didn't want to stay with mommy and step dad because it was toxic? Here is an example of toxic. Having no choice but to go back to mommy and daddy with a small child and an alcoholic parent who physically assaults you with no warning or reason! Homeless? My dear friend Andrew who literally lived our first two-in-a-half years out of his car waiting for a dorm room at our university not caring if he had no place to shower and ostracized by other students because "he smelled." The student who received his associates while living and sleeping in the NYC subways determined to get a degree until the news broke the story and people opened there homes to him back in the 80's. The stories of people I know and knew are endless who sincerely suffered hardships. Homeless? Etc...,? Give me a break!! She had a roof over her head and the ability to take advantage of government programs. As I said only in America would people be foolish enough to even give credence to this story and publish that book.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:09PM
Don M said...I have a empty rooms in my house , I would gladly help her get on her feet , MY daughters are 19 and 22 , in school and would welcome the chance to help and give back , we are hanging on ourselves , but feel we could help this young lady get on her feet , if some one knows how to reach her , have this lady e mail me dmoore 3651 at a o l dot com
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:07PM
Don M said...it does not matter why , when you fall on hard times you just need help , not judgement
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:23PM
honestly said...Making $50,000 at age 23, as an exec. assistant, I would say she was being over paid to begin with. I have a masters degree and it took several years out of college to bring in $50,000/yr. She should be glad the gig lasted as long as it did. Her only problem now is getting back to the reality that her exec. assistant skill set will likely never garner a wage like that again. Props to her though for writing a book about it and attempting to do something with her life.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:24PM
jennifer stewart said...i bought my first home and i'm doing ok i'm thirty i know my economic limitations people who think oh my god i have too have the optimum best of everything and the best means clothes shoes underwear stockings and phones lap top's entertainment and car's i can't drive a late model ford anything i have too keep up with my friends if she wanted too keep her family safe she should of opened up a 401 k and put money aside for a safety net or cushy egg instead she flittered her money away on stupid stuff its people like this that make me sick and i'm not apart of any political affilitation i'm stating hard nosed facts you waste your money you lose it simple
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:20PM
Lori said...I could swear this could have been my daughter who wrote this book. My daughter even resemble her in physical appearance. I only know of my daughters current similar condition through her only confidont, her younger sister. This is due to a terrible relationship we have had for years. I cannot eat or sleep knowing my daughter is out there homeless in SanFransico. She has been there for 7 yrs. and very educated through student loans, and very wise with $ and had a similar job and lived in a apartment that cost more than my mortgage payment in IN. She has been out of work since Jan. '11. It was a liveable but people need to know the cost of living their is ginormous. She sold all her belongings on craigslist, took her small savings and 2 suitcases and now is out the door from staying at one of her last couple of friends. She was so deperate she used her last $37 on lottery tickets. Never a gambler. Still I understand she currently is homeless. I cry everyday for her. She would rather die than come back home. I understand. I am the mom. People please have some sympathy for the homeless. I hope one day my daughter will be back on her feet like Brianna.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:25PM
Hattie Crabtree said...I used to live in the Huntington Bch/Fountain Valley area.I don't miss it but do miss some old friends.I moved back to the east coast.
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4-26-2011 @ 3:28PM
Arun said...You are such an inspiration. God bless all homeless people to find a shelter of their own.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:29PM
dee said...How did she keep her laptop and cell phone charged? That would be a problem, it seems.
Reply
4-26-2011 @ 3:40PM
jay said...i was heartily understand what is to be a homelessness because iam one of them,,,,,,,and no one can truly understand ,,,not unless one experinced it.
.............iam still in the process of struggling to live a life to have a toilet and a roof when i need........
just dont give up ....give all your suffering to God and your achivements for His glory........and be in the presence of God within you for the temple of God is within you.
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