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Ah, Orange County. Land of so-bad-it's-good televised opportunities, exemplified by shows like The O.C., Laguna Beach, Newport Harbor and Real Housewives of Orange County, where the average household income consists of too many digits for the shows' stars to add up (without the help of a calculator-toting assistant). What those shows fail to acknowledge is the existence of lower-class families in their neighborhoods, living paycheck-to-paycheck to reside in a single filthy motel room they can barely afford, which is the focus of Alexandra Pelosi's new documentary series on HBO, Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County.
The documentary follows the children of several different families as they reveal a glimpse at what living in a sleazy motel room entails: the presence of bedbugs and lice, increased arguments and lack of privacy, witnessing crime in the parking lots that act as their playgrounds, and drug deals by gang members. Not such an ideal childhood? Well despite these debilitating conditions, the children still try to stay relatively optimistic and make the most out of what little they have. As one of the little girls responds, "God knows what He's doing. He only gives you what you really need... not the things you wish for."
Contrasted with the daily struggles of these children, the excessive lifestyles of O.C. residents that have been portrayed on scripted and unscripted shows makes you despise those privileged teens and housewives even more, if that's possible. While the MTV and Bravo reality stars can't seem to decide between the Galliano gown or the Versace mini dress, 10-year-old Celine sifts through her entire wardrobe that fits in a small storage container, saying, "sometimes I have a hard time looking for the clothes I wanna wear." Most reality stars have goals to launch a clothing or cosmetics line, score admission to the hottest clubs, or manage to squeeze more money they don't deserve out of the networks they have contracts with. Whereas the motel kids of Orange Country have wishes "to re-do life," "for a house" to live in, and, as 7-year-old Gabriel admits, "to have a mansion and a thousand dollars and every single gun in the whole wide world."
Irony doesn't even begin to describe the fact that they live a few blocks from the self-proclaimed "happiest place on earth," Disneyland. At best, a few of the kids can lay on the parking lot that faces the amusement park to watch the fireworks at night. But their entertainment usually is limited to whatever borrowed memories they find in the dumpster after the belongings from an evicted family are thrown out, playing in the motel parking lot at night while cop cars pull up to respond to a domestic disturbance, and climbing the stairwells or dancing in the hallways until they get yelled at by "the wicked witch" to keep it down. As 9-year-old Dylan says, "We're just trying to have fun, we're just kids." Instead of showing off their collections of Silly Bandz as most kids their age would, 11-year-old friends Brenda and Meygan compare the rashes on their wrists from bedbugs.
The one beacon of hope in their otherwise dismal lives is provided by Project Hope, a school that offers free education, learning materials, transportation and lunches to homeless kids in the area. The only time you see the motel children genuinely happy is when Project Hope brings them on a field trip to the beach. Probably the same beach where Kristin and Stephen shared a sushi picnic at the end of Laguna Beach's first season. Oh, pretentious high school memories... While Laguna Beach led Kristin and Stephen to land spots on other inaccurate portrayals of average young adult life (The Hills, One Tree Hill), a couple of the motel kids bluntly answer what they have to look forward to: "nothing." Here's a thought, already-rich O.C. reality stars -- instead of investing money into your half-assed, likely-to-fail business ventures (inspired by the fact that you're "famous" enough to be featured in Life & Style magazine), lend a helping hand to your less fortunate neighbors.
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Hear, hear.
Especially the Jesus-spouting couple on the OC housewives.
Instead of another plastic surgery to try to put meaning in your plastic lives, give these kids some attention. You'd get more out of it than the kids would.
I watched this show for the first time last night and was so saddened. Also its not like the parents are good for nothin people. They are just trying to make it in tough times. Touched and will continue to watch. Thanks goodness like the kids said for america were kids have food to eat.
This is the most amazing documentary I've seen. The children are not bitter, but honest. It's heartbreaking. I hope that it brings much needed attention to these poor babies. They are relatively well-behaved, use good grammer and well, one of the little boys knows his "miranda" rights. That's just wrong! The parents are not what you would expect. They are trying to keep their family together regardless of the circumstances.
The show just re-affirms my belief that you need a license to have children. Those children don't have a snowball's chance in hell. Why do those parents keep having children they cannot afford?
Sally - they do have a chance. By this documentary, they have a bigger chance. I'm sure the parents didn't plan to have all of their children. I agree birth control be a plus, but please take into consideration the parents seem to genuinely love their kids. That speaks volumes.
I guess we will agree to disagree. If those parents loved their children, they would make sure they could properly care for them financially and emotionally before they had even more children. You can love your children and still be a bad parent. When it comes to kids, I don't think "doing the best I can" is good enough, when your best is sub par at best. A lot of these children are lacking discipline because their parents are too busy working to be a parent to them. That is why I say they have no chance, they are growing up in a violent environment with guns and drugs with no supervising to keep them from growing up the same. There is one 16 year old kid on the show that is already gone down the wrong path with his little brother following closely behind.
Sally - Thank you for not attacking me. I appreciate it greatly. I agree with you to a large extent. I have a 3 year old and a 15 year old. I would be devestated if I couldn't give them all I wanted. That said, I grew up pretty close to homeless. I also had a pedaphile for a stepfather. You do the math. I am now in my 40s with a loving husband and amazing children. My sister-in-law is actually the social worker for some of the children we watched. Please don't give up on them. I know that one boy has a rap sheet and appeared to be somewhat proud of it. However, I can't think that Rudee won't make it, along with some of the others. I live pretty close to the school and will see what I can do about donating to it.
Sally, If you watched the doc you know that the women with 5 kids was widowed. She did not ask for this situation. I only saw one couple who I agree should have stopped, the ones who were going to move to Riverside. I say it takes a village and for those of us who are fortunate enough to have what we have, it is our moral obligation to give to those less fortunate than us. These children, and millions of others like them, did not ask for their situation regardless of what their parents did or did not do.
I watched the documentary for the first time and found it to be quite touching. This shows the reality most reality show programing do not want to show. There is poverty in California just like all over the country. I live here on the east coast in Philadelphia and there are poor neighborhoods with high crime and poverty. There are other cities on the east coast with poverty and crime at a high rate like in Camden, New Jersey a couple minutes outside of Philly. Reality shows like the O.C and the Jersey shore along with Jerseylious only show what networks want to show but people know that these shows do not represent all communities within those states.
As Vicci and Mary point out, many peole in these situations did not have their kids during the toughest of times. I was raised by a widowed mother of four when my dad died suddenly at age 36, and we could have been those kids. Other families I know had children when times were good, then a parent was injured or got sick, or a job was lost, or in some cases a dad or mom suddenly abandoned the family, leaving the other parent to fend for him or herself. Most parents don't intentionally create these scenarios, but they happen. This is why nearly every major religion exhorts people to care for widows, orphans, and the fatherless.
I WAS JUST WONDERING HOW TO GO ABOUT HELPING OUT SOME OF THESE KIDS. THAT LITTLE CASSIDY ESPECIALLY.......WHAT A RAY OF SUNSHINE...& SHE HAS NO IDEA. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO BRING HER INTO MY HOME UNTIL HER PARENTS ARE ON THEIR FEET. LETS GIVE THEM A FIGHTING CHANCE!!!!
Yes but do they need to have 4 dogs- additional mouths to feed and space to take up? I feel sorry for the kids AND the animals.
I lived in a motel across from Disneyland for 2 years as a child. It was 33 years ago. I was hungry, alone and scared most of the time. I missed 2 years of school. You would never know that now but I will never forget it. I missed the show but was told about it and I am sad to know that this still goes on. I would love to help. If anyone has any information on how or where to go to help. Please e-mail me @Jenniferadiaz@yahoo.com
This situation is not new. I worked for Orange County child protective services from 1985 to 1994. These same motels were housing homeless kids back then. It is sad to think that after so much time has passed that nothing has changed.
Unfortunatley I missed the 1st airing of this documentary. Does anyone know when it will be shown again?
Please let me know how I can help. My heart goes out to these helpless children.
To Sally,Just becasuse people are lower income doesn't mean they should miss out on knowing the love of a family. This world is screwed up. There's people living with servants and lobster tail every night and then there's others living in boxes eating out of trash cans! There is plenty of money in this country for everyone. Especially when it is people that are NOT on drugs or lazy. Job loss can happen to ANYONE. You or I could be a paycheck away from that kind of life.
Accidentally watched the last half of this Sunday afternoon and wish I hadn't. It was truly terrifying and sent me into a bad depression worrying whether that could be me someday. I guess this sounds selfish, but I was compelled to call a neighbor and beg her to tell me that these people made bad choices that caused them to end up in this hotel, drugs, lack of schooling, etc... She agreed. I know that's not really true though. I've volunteered at a homeless shelter and know that sometimes it's just bad luck. Which is what makes it so terrifying. Just like cancer, it's much easier to believe the victims led a lifestyle that caused their plight, the morality of health and homelessness.
I have to add that it's disgusting that TWOP inserted a link to paycheck loans. Those people prey on low income down on their luck folks such as featured in this documentary and do not help.
I totaly agree with you and wish for some way to bring happiness and comfort to all of these kids - Cassidy especially - she seems to be more dispirited than the other kids who are still fighting back in one way or another - wouldn't it be nice if the school could house the kids too - some place that worked with the parents so on those nights when it looks like the sidewalk or a bush at least the kids would have another option that is familiar to them - I would give money for a charity like that.
Well the documentary just proves that we as a nation are no better than any other third world shit-hole, only difference is we normally don't "see" our poor and to be honest those that do "see" spout " oh how horrible" and do NOTHING. For all of you idiots who will "pray for them" how about stepping away from your "throne of god" and do something for them but no god won't let you will he? because god "wants" you to be rich right??? Oh and yes "give" money to a charity when most "charities" claim a great percentage of your donation for "administration expenses" ie: salaries for themselves. If you really want to help look in your own town because the "motel kids" are in every town here in third world amerika. And get involved help the families directly only then will it work.
To the last poster, what exactly are you doing for the hotel kids of America?
what infuriates me is all the fervor over the film. As I'm trying to access real possibilities to help all I get is movie review news and idiots posturing for birth control. These are real children folks suffering with "nothing to look forward to". I only can hope that Alexandra Pelosi established a website where real proactive and caring people could attempt to realize and amend a horrendous human right negligence in their own backyard. How might I help? And why does Disney a multibillion dollar indusrty pay it's employees poverty wages? Shame... for shame. I just want to see some spark and light of "happiness" and hope in those children's eyes. Shame on you Disney!
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I agree with Susan I too hope Alexandra Pelosi does something proactive to assist homeless people. I also hope that there has been some debriefing set up for these people in particular the children as discussing these issues leaves them vulnerable to depression and other risks.
I was very concerned with the questioning from Alexandra Pelosi which was insensitive and highly inappropriate. I am not sure if she is a social worker, psychologist or working within the welfare sector - I hope not. If not you should have sourced some professional assistance on how to interview these children. Asking them questions to the effect of why do you think god has made you homeless! Really you need to have some empathy lady!!!!!
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