US's homeless become new small-town pioneers

Pirate Steve surveyed the eccentric collection of shacks and cabins that is now his home on the outskirts of Portland. "Quite frankly, being here has been the best period of my life," he said. "Not the time when I had my sports car, my condo and my jewellery."

Known as Pirate Steve because of the patch which covers an eye seriously injured in a car accident, the former laser optics technician is one of more than 60 homeless people who have turned an uninviting patch of land near the city's airport into a model for living.

Dignity Village, as the ragtag collection of dwellings is known, has its own council, legislature and bylaws, and is now in the process of creating its own judiciary.

Urban phenomenon

On Wednesday, the village residents presented Portland's city council with proposals for their future, requesting that they be allowed to stay on the site for a further 10 years.

http://www.mg.co.za/Content/l3.asp?ao=22516

I hope they succeed.

and the others there. Sounds like they have discovered true wealth, which doesn't come from material objects.