They came to L.A. to chase a Hollywood dream. Two weeks later, they were homeless

[Demovictory9]

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-19/they-arrived-with-a-hollywood-dream-two-weeks-later-they-were-homeless-sleeping-on-hard-pavement

So many people come to L.A. carrying little else but big dreams. One misstep, one con, one stroke of bad luck can be all it takes to derail them.


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In Detroit, Loxk Calhoun (pronounced Lock, born DaShawn), had been scraping by for two years on his own since his mother kicked him out at 18. He was thrilled when someone in the music business encouraged him to come to L.A. He describes himself as an audio engineer who also writes music and raps and performs. He wants to be better known. The guy from L.A. said if Loxk just flew out here, he’d put him up and help make that happen.

But Loxk got here and he didn’t. He offered no help at all. When Loxk called from LAX, he said he’d be out of town for a long time.

Loxk and his girlfriend, Bri Meilbeck, who just turned 24, suddenly had only each other. They were novice travelers. They’d been together just one month. In a giant city, they had no one else whose support they knew they could count on.

In a fix, Loxk called another contact on his phone — a music producer he hadn’t yet met. He was relieved when this virtual stranger said that he and Bri could come stay. But the West Hollywood house they arrived at, which looked like a mansion on the outside, turned out to have bedroom after bedroom crammed with bunk beds. Bri and Loxk didn’t know how many there were or even whose house it was.

They also didn’t know that the producer to whom they had given some money owed rent — until one night after dark they got the word that the landlord wanted them gone at once.

This was the moment when they slipped into homelessness and slipped out of the world as they’d known it. They were the only ones who noticed. They had just $50 left.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2019-10-19/they-arrived-with-a-hollywood-dream-two-weeks-later-they-were-homeless-sleeping-on-hard-pavement

[madaboutharry]

1. That was a tough story to read.

I do hope they continue to be ok.

[Demovictory9]

2. they have shelter now

[cwydro]

3. Rough story.

Nowadays you see so many kids trying to be “celebrities” with no idea of what’s involved.

Really sad stories.

[wasupaloopa]

4. I moved to Los Angeles in 1982. I got a job with an accounting firm relatively easy.

I was an alcoholic. I lost the job, filed bankruptcy because of divorce proceeding. lost my apartment and ended up homeless in San Diego.

I have been sober for 35 years now. Remarried for 33 years. I had some of the best times of my life in Los Angeles between marriages but I was burning my candle at both ends.

That Bob Seger song, "Against the Wind" describes my life well back then

[Indykatie]

5. LA is Tough Even When You Have a Solid Plan - These Two Were Relying on the Kindness of Strangers

Taking along a new girlfriend when you don't even have a solid housing arrangement for yourself is the kind of move young folks in love make I guess.

[pamdb]

6. Wasn't this a musical?

Anyone with any brains knows California is very expensive. To show up on someone’s vague promise without enough money for rent is just plain stupid. You need first month and security and sometimes last month ( in case you skip). We’re talking at the very very least $5,000-$8,000. And that’s just rent. In a business that most people don’t succeed in. Hope they’re doing ok, but jeez.

[Demovictory9]

7. you need more than $5k. landlords want proof you can continue the pay the rent. Now they want

proof of income that is 3 times the rent. there is an local blog where people from around the country post.. "moving to LA...should I blah blah?" Los Angelenos post back.. "NOOOOOOO, don't do it"!

[Initech]

8. David Cross had a bit about this many years ago.

The bit was on his special "Shut Up You Fucking Baby!", and he was talking about how stories like this are a dime a dozen. He said that thousands of people come from all over the world looking to make it in showbiz, and maybe 13 of them actually do make it in. Maybe 14 if you count the woman who goes on Blind Date and poses in Playboy.

But you can't move here expecting to make it in showbiz without a plan, or a backup plan. Ot doesn't work that way.

[Blue_true]

9. Some people move there with a leg up.

Kids of the rich or rich and famous have advantages, multiplied many times if they are also talented.