Opinion: A modified 'hobo code' for homeless Denverites

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Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a homeless person and a hobo?

While hobos experience homelessness, they do so by choice. They consider themselves migrant workers, looking for odd jobs as they ride the rails from city to city.

Hobos have their own code of conduct adopted in 1889 at a convention of unhoused train hoppers in Britta, Iowa. A copy of the code can be found on the Mental Floss website.

After looking it over, I must say that parts, but not all, of it are applicable to modern-day homelessness in Denver. What follows is the hobo code declarations and suggestions for modern-day ethical guidelines for people experiencing homelessness.

Fifteen rules to live by

"Decide your own life, don't let another person run or rule you." While this may have worked for hobos that were of able mind and body, some people experiencing homelessness suffer from debilitating mental and physical illnesses and need help. An attitude of not letting “another person run or rule you” could lead to isolation, and that already is a problem for people experiencing homelessness. Most have no friends or family to rely on.

"When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times." Perhaps back in the days of hobos police did not harass the unhoused like they do now. It can be difficult for people experiencing homelessness to respect police when they often feel unprotected and even targets of crime. But obeying laws is necessary or people experiencing homelessness will end up in jail. They are 11 times more likely to be arrested after all, according to Colorado Coalition for the Homeless. As for behaving like “a gentleman,” we cannot forget that these days there are women experiencing homelessness, too, and everyone should always be on their best behavior.

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"Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos." This should be a golden rule for people experiencing homelessness. I have often wondered why homeless people steal from other homeless people or otherwise exploit them, sometimes in heinous ways. As for harassing locals, all that does is worsen the views of people experiencing homelessness. Unhoused people would be wise to be polite, even if they feel ignored.

"Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so you not only help a business along but ensure employment should you return to that town again." This makes sense if you have a place to sleep and shower every day and have identification for gainful employment. But many people experiencing homelessness do not have these things, and it is not realistic they will be able to obtain a job without them. Instead, for those who cannot find or sustain a job, find purpose in something, even if it is collecting food at homeless lunch lines each day for other people in your camp.

"When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts." For some, this means “flying a sign,” or panhandling. Others could play a guitar on 16^th Street Mall. Many people have unused skills. People will not feel bad about donating to someone who is creating art.

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"Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos." For modern-day Denver, we can add do not smoke fentanyl or meth on RTD buses and trains. It is a major sign of disrespect. In fact, homeless people should not use drugs in public period. There is always somewhere they can hide for doping up.

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"When jungling in town, respect handouts, do not wear them out, another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you." For modern-day Denver, I think this can be modified to simply say thank you whenever a housed person helps you, whether it is with food, clothing, money or just kindness.

"Always respect nature, do not leave garbage where you are jungling." For modern-day Denver, we should add to dispose of human waste in someplace other than the street. Waste can be placed in a bag and thrown in a dumpster when no toilet is available.

"If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help." For modern translating, the “jungle” is an encampment. All encampment dwellers should have specific duties for the good of the community.

"Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible." We’re not sure what “boiling up” means, but we assume it’s a hot shower. While it can be difficult to find a place to shower in Denver when you’re homeless, there are places like St. Francis Center and The Network Coffee Shop that offer these services, as well as the shelters such as Crossroads, 48^th Avenue and Denver Rescue Mission.

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"When traveling, ride your train respectfully, take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad, act like an extra crew member." Although hobos rode the rails, and some still do, jumping a train in the post-9/11 era can be risky. I would not recommend it.

"Do not cause problems in a train yard, another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard." For modern-day Denverites experiencing homelessness, they should always respect the lunch and coffee lines and be on their best behavior.

"Help all runaway children and try to induce them to return home." This cannot be emphasized enough. Some runaway children become exploited by older people experiencing homelessness. This is unconscionable. All people experiencing homelessness should look after the youngsters among them.

"Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed, you may need their help someday." This is simple. The Golden Rule.

"If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!" Seldom do people experiencing homelessness attend the trials of other people experiencing homelessness, but being honest about those who know right from wrong is a good idea.

A convention of homeless people?

Modern-day homeless people would do well by themselves to have a code of ethics. Organizing a convention for homeless people to raftify it, however, could prove challenging. But it's an intriguing idea.