That is pretty crazy.

That is great! I am so tired of hearing people talk about how it is impossible to break the cycle.

Yes this is awesome. "The American Dream" All you have to do is work hard. Most people are too lazy and they use that as an excuse.

He also was not taking care of kids. So, this is only evidence for single people not supporting a family.

It surely helped that he was an able-bodied, mentally stable, college-educated white male with good credit who had a credit card in his back pocket and came from a family who lived "comfortably" whom he could go back to at any time if he needed to. I'm sure this gave him an advantage over some of the other people on the streets, who don't have a backout plan.

I mean, sure, one could do this. But a lot of the people who are out on the streets don't have the advantages that he did going into his "project."

I agree wholeheartedly with you origamigirl, I would also like to add could he go to a city such as New York and make it on government assistance. I also wonder if the state where he received assistance want their money back now. Some states don't give single people without kids benefits; very interesting he received assistance.

I can't believe how willing everyone seems to be to let people off the hook for their own well being. Are we seriously saying that this guy had an dvantage simply because he came from a home and had a family?? That's crazy! He didn't use any connections. He didn't get some high level executive position. He worked with a moving company. As for having children doesn't that give you even more inspiration to make something happen for not only yourself but to make a better life for your children. Eveyrone has so many excuses these days. No wonder we're becoming a country with nothing to offer, we have no ambition to do anything greater than sit on our butts and whine about what can't be done

I wasn't letting anyone off the hook. I am simply saying, he had an education and there are many people that do not or they struggle to go to school, have a job, and child care. I do not think anyone should stay on the assistance because it pays nothing. You get a check that barely covers light and gas and does not cover rent, if you do get assistance with your living situation it is not a pretty picture. This is from someone who works in the system and see what goes on everyday. I think yes he did have an advantage. I also, believe his little story does give hope to people out there that are struggling. I bet he didn't live in the slums of his city that he lived in, nor did he have roaches or rats to battle where he laid his head down. This is not an excuse it is reality for some people in this country who struggle. He did this after the affect or having an education - I know many women and men who have started in the system and made it through and now have doctorate degrees, great homes, and make a commitment to the community - they are hardly seen or wrote about.

Also, just added information when you are on assistance from the gov most some states only allow you to work for a certain amount of money before they cut you off. So, therefore, if you are making min wage, you have kids, and your own apt - you won't be able to pay for child care, food, and what not so most people end up getting further behind or they quit so they can be able to take care of their family. B/c lord forbid if momma or daddy leaves the kids at home or with someone who is not so right and they get caught. There kids will be in the system. What we need to do in educate people more and not just give them a stipend of 5k most states depend on where you are at for training and then kick them off when they get a job. Furthermore, I bet this guy knew how to budget, what if you come from a background where you do not have that education from your parents or you are not computer savvy. More food for though.

How can you not know how to budget? I highly doubt his college education helped him out. It doesn't take a lot to know you can't eat out even though you'd really like to, for instance. And it's not like a college degree helps you work as a mover better.

As for his credit history, the longer article, which this one provides a link to, states that he did not use his credit history. He literally started from scratch.

Well, I think that a lot of people aren't just uneducated, but lazy and ignorant (and don't care to know any better). As a matter of fact I know a man with two young children (one with another mother) and a wife. Of which neither have worked since they got married. They are both very intelligent people (booksmart) and could easily have a productive job. But they choose the system. And to be honest they have a better life than me and my husband and we have no children and two jobs. Now how is it that a couple with two collegiate level jobs are struggling more than a couple with two kids that havn't worked in three years? In essence I will not vote that he had a disadvantage or an advantage, there's too many things that factor into his equation. And just because someone is "uneducated" that does not mean they are incapable of working.

Oh yeah, and I think it should be a movie plot At least it would be something that might spread a little hope in this dragging economy.

It is true that there are lazy people but what about the people who are not lazy and generally are trying. I am not saying college helped him budget but he did come from a supportive family which makes the difference in this world. There are always two sides to every story. You can't just sit here and think that people on the system or being helped are lazy and that everyone can do what this gentlemen has done because he was successful with his three goals.

I guess I just wish that he had $600/month due in student loans like most people in this country. How are we supposed to say 10% or more of our salaries when that is going to pay off our education. That's what I want to know how to do.

Geri, I would also like to know that. But, hey most ladies on this post think everyone can make it on 25.00. Student Loans are evil..... J/K

Also, to read the story: http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0211/p13s02-wmgn.html

I do think Adam has an advantage being a guy — women would have a much more difficult time finding work instantly. Often readily available jobs are labor intensive, and women aren't usually the first choice in filling those spots.

I meant, save 10% not say...sorry about the typo.

I take full responsibility for my debt, but it still sucks

Shepard's "experiment" was not a test of the American Dream, but rather a showing of American middle and upper class ignorance.

Homelessness and poverty are not simplistic issues that we should justify dismissing from our conscience because some kid completed a fatally flawed "experiment", that only really proved that he could unabashedly cheat a system with already meager means.

I'd like to read the book, but my library doesn't have it, and it seems a bit counterproductive to go out and buy that book.

I intentionally put myself in poverty for a year, and that involved food stamps, soup kitchens, church food pantries. Instead, I ended up in debt rather than out of it. Plus, I had to start paying off student loans.

Awe, tee-I wish you luck. bethie85, you make an excellent point. However, there are going to be a lot of people who read an article about him and even his book and think everyone in the United States can live this dream minus the disadvantages they may have just because some young gentleman did this for 10 months.

I did one-year stint with AmeriCorps a few years ago, and they put you at the poverty line by giving you a very meager "salary" so you can see what it feels like to struggle.

Let me tell you. Having no money does NOT make one poor. I had an amazing education and a strong family. In other words, I had options. I never once felt poor. And that is NOT the case for the people who are actually making that kind of money (~8,000 / year).

What I learned that year, is that poverty isn't always about money. It's about mindset and it's about options.

What a shame that this guy thinks he's proven something by what he did. I guess he's proving the American Dream is alive for white educated men.

Wow! Haha there is hope for me!!!

popgoestheworld, you are so right.

Right On!!

Wow, its hard to believe that there are so many people that want to discount someone actually proving that determination actually works. Why can't you just admit that if someone wants to badly enough it is possible to get out of poverty.

Was he really working hard and determined or did he steal from the government when he didn't need the money. Did he take benefits from someone who might have really needed the money. He basically cheated the system to get something - like many people do. However, there are people that do not cheat the system and those are the ones who are punished because there are people like this that cheat the system. Mr. S does not know what it is to be poor, he knows what it is to be broke; but not to grow up in poverty and live it day in and day out. He did it for 10 months. I would like to see the experiment for 3 years or more and then I might agree or disagree.

that's awesome. i think that it just goes to show you what the power of being motivated and setting goals can do for you.

hmmm I'd be interested in reading this.

So are people who are in the middle class lazy because they won't work hard enough to be part of the upper class? Shouldn't they be working harder instead of complaining that they don't make enough money? Shouldn't everyone in the middle class be trying to get advanced degrees?

I'm just curious as to why we can apply that kind of logic to people who are trying to move from the lower to middle class but not middle to upper.

Motivation is great, but there is no denying there are structural and cultural barriers in the way of upward class mobility.

what an amazing story
a real testment to will and drive
some people slam this article but i think he's trying to show that poverty isn't hopeless
i would also like to give him mad props for doing something many of us would not be willing to do or even try

ps another big point in his experiment was "living with in your means"
something many Americans have trouble with

thanks for this savvy
i'm buying this book

His "experiment" is flawed in many ways if you fall for this I have bridge in Brooklyn for sale.

1. He had 25 dollars to be fair to most people in poverty he would have had to be at least $250 in debt and that’s a very low figure.

2. He knew exactly where to go and what to do. He knew exactly where to go to get the information that he needed to succeed because of previous knowledge. People in poverty lack this option.

3. They don't teach budgeting in public schools no really they don't I went to one. They especially don't teach it in poor neighborhoods. I know what you privilege people are thinking then duh why didn't you just go to a better school oh what a novel idea I did I passed 4 high schools and took three buses to get to another high school across town didn't learn budgeting there either. Nice thought though. I didn't know what a bachelor’s degree was until I was in college. They didn't talk to us about that either but we did learn how to sign up for the army several times.

Catching three buses also gets expensive so for others that was not an option.

3. He had a credit card in his back pocket that’s like taking a gun to a fist fight. It's very easy to be confident and successful with a gun in your pocket.

4. He had perfect health poor people don't have health issuance so the fact he was even in perfect health was an advantage. I know you people think it’s not that great but next time your sick don’t buy medicine (it’s to expensive) and don’t go to the doctor( same goes here) and that’s poverty now live like that for 18 years then go do an experiment.

5. He went to college, I know you people think to yourselves college doesn’t make a difference. I’m in college and I’m here to tell you it does and it’s a huge difference. You think it’s a pond and it’s really more like a grand canyon of differences. Just getting a newspaper daily is big difference.

If you haven't guessed by now I used to be poor. It take more than a year to get out of poverty and guess what’s waiting for me when I finally get my degree next year $35,000 in student loan debt. yeay for me getting out of poverty now all I have to do is stay in perfect health long enough to pay off my student loans but wait I don't have heath insurance and I can't afford any... what should I do privilege people?

popgoestheworld your absolutely right it's about 30% about money and 70% about education. If you don't know what’s out there how can you take advantage of it. You can have all the programs in the world to help poor people but you have to get the information to them. Newspapers cost 50 cents each just to buy one would be poor budgeting. For two papers you could have caught the bus once.

Any questions?

Instead of buying this book buy a poor family a news paper subscription that way you can at least feel like your doing something instead of sitting on your ass complaining oh wait thats really all you know how to do. I guess that education thing works both ways is this getting through.

It is hard as HECK to get on gov't assistance in this country, especially if you have no or a poor education, and especially if you're a woman or person of color. He had an advantage simply being an educated, white, male in America - there is a privilege in that, as every women and minority should be very well aware of. I'm glad this guy feels like he's useful now, but his situation is by no means reflective of the realities of poverty in this country - God forbid he had been in poor health trying to work 2 jobs after being refused jobs in "nice" areas because of his skin color or gender and still not making enough money to eat and get to and from work.

Wow, yeswecan, you are such the optimist. I'm glad that everyone now knows that it is impossible to make your life better. Let's address this, shall we?

1. He wasn't trying to say he was the equivalent of a man who has been living in poverty for years. It made the point that starting from a blank slate, no house, no car, NOTHING, you can build a life for youself. Even if he started out $250 in debt, like you suggested, he still managed to save $5,000 dollars. That would still be about $4,750. Are you saying that being in debt is a life long sentence?

2. If you notice, he went to a city that he hadn't lived in before. I would think that he had little knowledge of where to go. You act like the soup kitchens and homeless shelters are hiding. Wow, they're goal is to feed and house the hungry, if you ask around enough SOMEONE is going to point you in the right direction. It's not rocket science, its basic directions to a food bank.

3. Some high schools suck, yeah, mine did too, I got over it. No one in my school talked to me about going to a larger university, but I did. I could have cruised through high school, instead, I took the harder classes that challenged me. Yeah, it must suck that they promote the military, an organization that will basically pay for you to go to school after you're done serving. OR you have the opportunity to retire before the age of 40. Whoa, why would we choose poverty over the military. Let's compare, military: complete and full medical and dental for you and your dependents, free housing, and money to live on, benefits after you quit, get to see the world. Poverty: I'm drawing a blank? We live in a country where kids drop out of school everyday because they are so spoiled and don't realize that children in other parts of the world would give anything to get an education. Also last time I checked, Libraries carry daily newspapers, in fact they have an entire section, it's called periodicals. Wow, lets pretend that libaries don't exist in impoverished neighborhood. Have you checked a McDonalds in the morning? If I'm not mistaken they, and many other restaurants leave newpapers throughout the sitting area for patrons. I'll give that some restaurants won't have a paper. Does reading yesterday's paper that has been thrown out make you less of a person? I didn't think so. In fact, if someone came up to me on the street and asked for a newspaper, I could spare the 50 cents.

4. He had perfect health. Sure, he's not a 60 year old woman, but poverty isn't limited to the elderly in poor health. Are you saying that every young man or woman that has grown up in poverty is unable to hold a labor intensive job? Moreover, you're saying that 35 MILLION people live below the poverty line because of poor health care. Please, I don't have health insurance, but everyday I go to my job. I didn't go to the doctor that last time I was sick, but it hasn't limited me from working for the rest of my life. God forbid I do get sick, hopefully I can save some money in case that happens. Oh that means, I can't buy those new shoes I want? There is a choice. It doesn't take a college degree to weigh the difference.

Oh and you'll be 35,000 in debt? So will the rest of us. It sucks, but at least with my college degree I can find a job that does offer he'
alth benefits, I may not be making millions, but at least I'll have basic amenities covered. Oh and lets not mention all of the scholarships available. Georgia and a few other states provide scholarships that cover all your tuition for an instate school. Live in the south? No in state school has your major? Then you can attend an out of state school for a instate price. Many high priced schools are waiving tuition completely for those whose families do not make enough. Let's not forget about pell grant and alllllll of the other private scholarships available.

You've basically said that you went to a bad school, got into college, have debt like MOST people graduating from college. The only difference I can see is that, you assume that any job you get won't pay for health insurance? Pardon me if I don't see your point. Right now I'm sitting in a house 5 times as nice as the one I grew up in, and the people that own it? First ones to graduate college from their families. Not only did they go to college, but then they went to grad school and now they are professors at a well known university. Yeah, they employ me. Shocking right? I've had enough humility to work for someone of a high tax bracket.

Lastly, you've said that programs don't work unless they are told about them. They aren't underground organizations. Heck, go to any church and they'll try to help you out; if they don't, go to the next church. The guy made the point that if you WANT IT BADLY ENOUGH you will get out of poverty. I have worked in soup kitchens right next to people who were once homeless, sure they aren't in the upper tax brackets, but they are better than they were before.

I'm sorry but your excuses don't cover 35 million people in the united states that are living in poverty.

I'm with Yeswecan; opting into poverty isn't like growing up in it. He may not have mentioned his education, but the education gives him an inherent advantage (for instance, he knows how to speak well in job interviews). And it's nice to imagine that all poor people are young able-bodied white men with no children — and who therefore can take good-paying construction jobs — but reality is a lot more complex. Most of the poor people I know struggle to afford child care while they work two minimum-wage jobs.

I also take issue with this quote:

I had this great back story on how I was escaping my druggy mom and going to live with my alcoholic dad.

A "great" back story, huh? Seems pretty insensitive to me.

To get into the military you do have to be able to read, as I stated before in an earlier post on here, you can't have an 3rd or 8th grade reading level. So, yeah you can want more, if your school doesn't have hard classes, if someone get's stab almost three times a week and that is a good week, what do you do. It's amazing how people are in their glass house looking out trying to compare their difficulties to those that actually have lived with roaches crawling in their ears, dying, being rushed to the emergency room for child services to be called and a report being filed because your family can't live in a better place. That living in the winter, without heat and cold water and heating up water every morning and night to do basically things. Ohh and yes, this was after we moved from the South from a farm to the North to make a better life. No to mention since I came from the South being two grades behind and struggling with a school who writes you off, you can't always go to another school because it's not in your district. I'm with Bella and Yeswecan, the guy had a backstory, so he made people feel bad for him and his so called background. You can want all you want, you can be motivated, sometimes when you ask you don't always get the answer; but until you lived it-you shouldn't speak on what people can and shouldn't do. You can have your opinion but you can't say what you would do if you haven't lived it.

Sorry, I meant that the roaches died in the ear.