Mike Haymer used to live out of his car.
He slept at Night Powell, showered at Wooden, perused the dollar menu and used the trunk of his car as a closet.
Haymer, a fourth-year biology student from Orange County and an “average white guy,” said he did not fit the homeless stereotype.
Brought up by a single mother who struggled to hold a job because of increasing health concerns, Haymer worked 40 to 50 hours a week for three years during junior college to provide not only for himself but for his mother.
When he transferred to UCLA, Haymer decided to move in with his significant other in Hollywood who agreed to offer Haymer a cheaper rent. He continued to attend his classes, work full time and financially support his mom.
It wasn’t until Haymer’s relationship turned emotionally abusive that he had to sacrifice his convenient living situation for his mental health and emotional stability.
Haymer thus resorted to living in his car for a few days until he discovered the couches of Night Powell, where he would sleep every night before showering at the John Wooden Center each morning.
Silenced by shame, Haymer refused to tell his friends for fear of being labeled with unfair social stigmas, and could not bear to worry his mom with even more frustrating news.
“I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want to seem different,” Haymer said.
After five months of homelessness, Haymer found a full-time job at the Chili’s in Westwood that worked well with his school schedule. In addition, he found a very reasonably priced Beverly Hills apartment that he shared with a friend. His mom was able to support herself again after finding a new job.
Because of these first-hand experiences, Haymer believes homelessness cannot be defined by race, mental capacity, appearance or any other factor. A friend or a classmate could be homeless, he said.
Now, he is studying for the MCAT exam, awaiting the publication of his research, and planning to be the first in his family to graduate from college this June.
Despite Haymer’s change in luck, he refuses to forget his experience as a homeless student and will share his testimonial in a speech at BruINTENT’s campout today.
The event begins at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center at 6 p.m. with a concert by UCLA’s own No Insurance and eight other performances including Signature A Capella, “So You Think You Can Dance” winner Jeanine Mason, Samahang Modern and a string of other speakers and entertainers, said Matt Spring, a second-year history student and co-director for the event.
Spring said he anticipates 300 participants to camp out in tents overnight to simulate and understand the struggles homeless students and homeless individuals in the community face on a nightly basis.
All proceeds from the event will go toward a $5,000 grant available to all homeless students. Proceeds will also be donated to the Union Rescue Mission, an organization benefitting homeless individuals in the Los Angeles community, Spring said.
The student group, BruINTENT, is organizing the campout in collaboration with the Undergraduate Students Association Council Internal Vice President’s Office, the sponsor for the event.
“BruINTENT not only highlights community homelessness but homelessness on campus. A lot of people have certain stigmas about the homeless, but this event strives to dispel any and all misconceptions of homeless individuals,” said Shahida Bawa, a third-year political science student and the USAC internal vice president.
In addition to speaking at the event, Haymer is also looking forward to publicizing the resources that can be found on campus, such as the food closet and the emergency loans he was completely unaware of when he transferred to UCLA.
“I want to show people that everyone is vulnerable, that homelessness is a universal issue,” Haymer said.