“It’s almost easier when you don’t own anything anymore”: how Andy Raine went from millionaire to homeless

class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

From rags to riches – or vice versa. American Andy Raine (49) could not have fallen lower. Four years ago he could not have imagined that things could end this way. Then he was fine. He had made more than a million in the stock market and worked in the construction industry.

‘I once had a lot of money. My grandfather left me $350,000 when I started college. But I dropped out because the tuition was too expensive. “I preferred to work independently,” Raine tells “Focus”.

He invested his grandfather’s money well and made well over a million dollars from it. Then came the stock market crash. All the money was gone. So he started his own company and helped build houses. But then Corona came. Suddenly the orders collapsed and with them his income.

Ultimately, he could no longer pay the rent – ​​and was thrown out by his landlord in February 2020.

When bushes or back entrances become places to sleep

The then 45-year-old tried to make the best of it. «I took the opportunity to camp in the woods. Sometimes I could sleep in the garden or on the couch with friends.” He also had a car at the time, which made his life easier. A little later the car – and with it his favorite place to sleep – was stolen.

“That’s one of the worst things about being homeless: almost everywhere you go, you’re breaking the law and you have to move on.” However, sleeping in a car is not illegal.

“It’s almost easier when you don’t own anything anymore.”

On the other hand, if you sleep on a park bench at night, you will be turned away by the police. Raine about “Focus”: “Often they are even nice – but it’s just not allowed. To sleep you have to hide in bushes or back entrances.”

Owning objects also constantly causes problems. He often cannot take his shopping cart, in which he keeps his three computers, into buildings. Leaving him outside unattended is also not an option. “It’s almost easier when you don’t own anything anymore.”

“Everyone asks everyone what they need”

Although life on the streets is tough, Raine reports on the incredible generosity of those around him. Not only are homeless people helpful to each other, passers-by also often show solidarity.

“Everyone asks everyone what he or she needs: a blanket, a jacket or something to eat. Of course also drugs,” Raine, who does not describe herself as a drug addict, told the portal.

The ex-millionaire does not know what his future looks like. But that doesn’t mean he hasn’t set goals for himself. “I want to save enough for a cheap car. Later I would like to buy a piece of land and rent out parking spaces for mobile homes.

The homeless person is sure: “If you have an address or a car, things will be easier.” (dzc)

Source: Blick