And Miles To Go Before I Sleep

October 11, 2011 9:51 PM

"My name is Stephen T Millhouse and I am walking 1,460 miles " Former Marine, Stephen T Millhouse, is walking from Montana to Los Angeles to raise awareness about homelessness and money to help them. You can see his route here and follow along on his blog if you like. In the 90's he was living in Los Angeles and was trying his hand at becoming an actor but by 2001 he was homeless and living in his car.

Earlier this year he decided to try and get the word out to people about homelessness so he started walking. He's been walking since July. Just him and a backpack or two , stopping in shelters along the way, being interviewed by news organizations and talking to them about homelessness. He's been interviewed by NBC, CBS , the Idaho Mountain Express and a lot of other news organizations along the way.

Stop by his facebook page and say "Hi!"(he could use a word of support). Or make a contribution that will go towards homeless organizations. He's asking for a penny a mile. He's not anywhere near his original goal of raising a million dollars for the homeless but he's still walking.

posted by Poet_Lariat (14 comments total)

I was at the VA in Reno today for some routine stuff and I saw this guy with a backpack and wearing a 'Myonemanmarch.org' t-shirt in the waiting area. Being the big geek that I am I googled him up (iPad) right there and read his story and I thought he was awesome. So I chatted him up (he was there for foot problems of course) and we shared stories and I bought him to lunch nearby . So we shared our stories and I thought I'd share it all with you now. Drop him a line - it's a pretty lonely road out there.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 9:55 PM on October 11, 2011 [10 favorites]

"It's Milhouse! 'Yeah and your father is no-house!' '' OK Simpson's joke aside I have slept rough and having not looked over his whole site this sounds like a good thing.
posted by arse_hat at 10:01 PM on October 11, 2011 [2 favorites]

OORAH, Devildog!
posted by hal_c_on at 10:55 PM on October 11, 2011

Armed Forces vet, alone, walking from state to state? Surely nothing could possibly go wrong.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:51 AM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

He posted on his website conversations he had with locals about the natural beauty he has seen along the way.

"We also talked about how strange priorities seem sometimes when people put a higher priority on making sure that their dogs get massage and aromatherapy than helping the poor, the elderly, the homeless and hungry," he wrote.

Well, I don't know how many people get massages for their pets so this seems a bit too much.

His point is however easily made by going into any grocery store: many have two rows full of pet food. The money people put into keeping pets would probably feed and house every homeless human being on the planet. But you know it's a matter of priority.
posted by three blind mice at 1:15 AM on October 12, 2011

True, because pets are awesome.
posted by ShutterBun at 1:58 AM on October 12, 2011

pets are awesome.

Obviously lots of people think pets are awesome.

But it is a strange thing, as Mr. Millhouse observes, that someone who loves animals would place a higher priority on the superfluous comfort of a poodle than on the basic requirements of life for a human being.

I suppose he isn't a pet lover.
posted by three blind mice at 3:36 AM on October 12, 2011

"We also talked about how strange priorities seem sometimes when people put a higher priority on making sure that their dogs get massage and aromatherapy than helping the poor, the elderly, the homeless and hungry," he wrote.

The strength of our caring diminishes with distance like the strength of an invisible force, like gravity. It does no good to complain that so and so cares more for her budgie than she does for unknown millions in distant lands.
posted by pracowity at 5:32 AM on October 12, 2011

Ghidorah: "Armed Forces vet, alone, walking from state to state? Surely nothing could possibly go wrong."

He might start a shrimp company in memory of his war buddy? [Note: I did not click that link]
posted by schmod at 5:48 AM on October 12, 2011

These sort of projects are always very suspicious to me. Who knows how much money will go to any of the programs that helps out homeless people? How much of the money raised goes towards himself, his expenses, his board of directors, etc.
posted by 2manyusernames at 6:23 AM on October 12, 2011

I'll just bet he doesn't pay any federal income taxes. Another representative of the shiftless 47%
posted by mrhappy at 7:56 AM on October 12, 2011

Who knows how much money will go to any of the programs that helps out homeless people?

I have to admit that the same thought crossed my mind as well. These days I think it's second nature to think that way. But then I thought , "You know, I can make up excuses like Scrooge McDuck as to why I can hold on to my dollars or I can spot this guy a few for all the press he's generating and the consciousness raising that he's doing." so I gave him a few dollars that I'll never miss and a promise of more soon.

I sit around, like so many others, thinking what can I can do to solve so many problems and then again I see a guy like this who just goes out and does something. Maybe not the best thing. Maybe not the most effective thing but it's something, you know? So I figure it's worth a few bucks because, god hep him, at least it's something. Something more than I'm doing.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:39 AM on October 12, 2011 [1 favorite]

Poet_Lariat: "Who knows how much money will go to any of the programs that helps out homeless people?

I have to admit that the same thought crossed my mind as well. These days I think it's second nature to think that way. But then I thought , "You know, I can make up excuses like Scrooge McDuck as to why I can hold on to my dollars or I can spot this guy a few for all the press he's generating and the consciousness raising that he's doing." so I gave him a few dollars that I'll never miss and a promise of more soon.

I sit around, like so many others, thinking what can I can do to solve so many problems and then again I see a guy like this who just goes out and does something. Maybe not the best thing. Maybe not the most effective thing but it's something, you know? So I figure it's worth a few bucks because, god hep him, at least it's something. Something more than I'm doing."


I see he gave some homeless man a pair of socks, so perhaps he doesn't keep all the money for himself. My point is I highly doubt there is very much if any money left for the homeless after paying everyone involved.


Commenting that this program (where donations are not tax-deductible yet) is quite possible to be more about enriching himself than a single homeless person is hardly being a "Scrooge McDuck".

I am not saying don't help those in need. I've been there. I know what it is like to be homeless.

Instead of giving this man and his board members money, give to your local shelter, bring food to a homeless family, give some homeless person a few bucks, clothes, or whatever. You'll find that you have helped someone in need far more than you could by sending it this guy.
posted by 2manyusernames at 12:12 PM on October 12, 2011

I know what it is like to be homeless.

Then you probably know how everyone looks away and really doesn't want to see you. Then you probably are aware that anyone, like this guy, who gets the story out in the public eye - like he is doing - is doing a good thing. If you read his blog you find that he is camping along the highway, staying in homeless shelters himself at times along with the occasional Motel Styx so I don;t think his expenses are really high. You're choosing to focus on the donation aspect and exclude any buzz he's generating which is your option. When I met him yesterday he had a camera crew in the V.A. doing a story on him though I haven't seen it on TV yet.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 2:23 PM on October 12, 2011