The reality of homelessness

First thing that hits you as you log into DU this morning is posts about the homeless. On how a homeless man was found dead not far from where he was camping yesterday. On panhandling etc.

The thing is those of us posting here right now are not homeless, or very few at least I would guess. We all have internet access and homes. Some of us are unemployed and some of us soon will be. Homelessness will be a reality for some DUers this year. It's something that I fear greatly for myself. I've no clue how to deal with it. With the health issues I have coming back from it if it happens is ... problematic.

I think a lot of the posting and such is plain and simple non understanding and Fear that it's going to happen to me by all the posters. Some folks here have been homeless before.

So let's just have this thread be for posting stories from those that have actually been there and done that. No sugar coating, no moral judgements. We're in a crisis and some of us are gonna sink before we swim again. Some of us will probably not swim again. Knowing from those that actually have been there, no matter how grim, what you face is probably a good thing.

So post your stories if you've been there and everyone please keep the flames down.

about it and if somebody else has an idea to help the homeless even a little bit, then these people will flame and trash it if it does not agree with their own ideas. So it would be nice to hear from some people who have actually been homeless.

But I see it as a possibility coming down the road and it scares me. I know that I know jack and shit about the realities of it. Probably won't last 2 days jack and shit. That's why the post.

the better your chances may be if you become homeless. Knowing where to go and what to do to get help puts you a leg up on a lot of others. Even being homeless, knowledge is power. A single person or a couple are going to be much better off than a family with children. Also, if there is a concern of becoming homeless, then this is certainly the time to shore up social connections with family, friends, and church--anyone who can help you, even for a short time.

There are those who will put down any kind of short term help or assistance to the homeless that does not provide them with food and shelter of their own, claiming that such little form of help simply promotes homelessness, but if I were homeless I would not turn down or stick my nose up at the offer of a blanket, a meal, or even a place to safely and warmly stay for even a night.

Homelessness should not mean hopelessness or helplessness. Knowledge is power, not fear.

You just have to pick through the threads.

He stayed in a small men's shelter and was able to find a room to rent about mid-January.

It cost $20 a week to stay there after the first few days, they offered a place to sleep and shower facilities. They did not offer food, but Dad said there were many places offering food so he did not go hungry.

He's gotten back to his doctors, though, after he got really sick shortly after getting into the room he found -- he contracted Hepatitis A sometime while he was homeless. He's been HIV+ for a long time (is actually in full-blown disease at this time, diagnosed 17 years ago) so this was not a good thing.

and you have to fight to not be in despair.

the only plan that works is to keep trying because luck can happen when least expected to give you a better future.

an aside: alcohol will not help, gods will not help, however maryjane can keep you from slitting your wrists.

It regularly and all year around provides both food and shelter for the homeless in my area, as well as helping them to find a new and more normal life such as a place to live or a place to work. I am sure there are thousands of other religious groups across the nation that do the same because they feel they answer to the command to feed, clothe, and shelter the poor. The actual religious groups aside, faith in something is a good antidote to despair because faith and hope travel hand in hand and without hope there is nothing.

how long did it last... summer/winter? Part of the country?

If it's too painful to remember and put down in words that's cool. But I think we need to put a face on the name. More than a few of us I suspect will have to endure a bit or a lot of time this way before things turn around.

trailers, behind a screen in a kitchen etc. whatever works at the time.

I'd rather not do it again, but you never know.

a librarian, Sue Hess, trusted me enough to rent me a room without me paying first, last, and security. (which is one reason many stay homeless. having to come up with all that money for a room to rent).

one thing you can do when homeless is read books free from the library. guess she figured she could trust a woman who only read novels by women writers, grin. (I had read male writers until I was 40 ish and knew what they had to say so only read women writers. a move I don't regret for the writing was and is wonderful.

For all you young'uns out there -- You do know that Homelessness in America is a relatively recent development, right?

I grew up in the fifties and sixties...there were no "homeless" then..Not before the Reagan administration...
I was in my thirties then, and everyone of my age was shocked at the situation and thought it would be temporary...We were like.."This isn't Calcutta...America doesn't have people sleeping in the streets"!...I mean, I think we always had the occasional "hobo"..or something -- but you really did NOT see people, especially en masse, sleeping on streets.

My husband and I talk about this a lot..He felt the same way..When I wonder out loud how this was allowed to go on he shrugs and says bitterly.."I guess America doesn't mind having a Beggar Class...Terrible...I always give to anyone I see sitting homeless on the streets.

seems pretty silent now. :(

Not many people here have ever been homeless.

But many people here have an opinion (fear) about homelessness.

Fear (denial) can make some people pretty nasty.

might be overwhelmed to add much,they might be unable to face the possibility of becoming homeless themselves now.They might be stressed out that they may lose a job or get robbed in medical debt and lose everything. It is very hard to face if homelessness is just a paycheck or two away.Sad truth is many people live paycheck to paycheck.
There is very few places hiring these days. The stress of uncertainty is killing everyone in the lower income brackets and the ranks of homeless people are growing fast..

not that it was going anywhere :p no gas, insurance etc. the worst part for me was having to find someplace to use a restroom at 3am. much easier for the guys, I'm guessing. this was about 20 years ago and may happen again, but not yet. I know what kinds of food to hoard now better than then too, and I have a few survival things like a camp stove and sleeping bag that I didn't have then. of course, I have the kitties now too so I'm trying like hell not to get to that place - they depend on me

but I know alot of people who are. And it tears my heart out.Nobody helps,nobody listens, nobody cares who could help them the most(the ones WITH money to spare on offering help).Here the people that are well to do are scared of the homeless,they resent them,they think low income housing will ruin the neighborhood etc.etc..These fucked up NIMBYS fight every time a homeless housing arrangement is even suggested in this county.The cuts in social services have made the few places housing people who are disabled,become very stringent on who gets in,and they will kick out people at any excuse they can find.Sometimes they just kick them out no reason given.And people spend YEARS waiting for section 8.I am thankful for orgs. like SPIN,and Hearts and Ears and others,that offer help or a person to talk to.

Here are some resources if you are homeless in Maryland..
http://hpn.asu.edu/archives/Jan98/0276.html
http://www.fusiongroup.org/programs.html
http://www.harfordcountymd.gov/services/guide.cfm?Cat=1&Menu=6
http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=7159&pst=325425
http://www.idealist.org/if/i/en/av/Org/114861-271

Take care everyone..It's scary out there.