Have you ever met or known a homeless person?

I marked Other as I was once homeless myself. I spent about 9 months on the streets before I had some friends step up and help me.

Some people don't understand how easy it is to slip away into a place where no one is there to help you. I had moved away from my home at a young age. While I had a job everything was ok, I could pay rent, before when the company up and closed it sent alot of us into a helplessness state.

I couldn't afford rent and the landlord didn't want to hear it, so he kicked me out and there I lived. I lived in Raleigh, NC at the time, and being a college town helped I believe. I found some people very generous and kind, others were not. The students were the most helpful of all the people I ran into.

I would not change a thing looking back it at. It's help make me the man I am and for that I am thankful. :godisgood:

Jamie

 

I know many homeless people (which is the product of living in Waco, TX and L.A., CA!). I have met them on my own, in church, at a shelter, while serving a meal, etc.

 

I've met a few.

 

They're hard to miss, unless you live in the boondocks.

 

Where are they? (I mean the boondocks, not the homeless people). I have not heard of them.

 

The boondocks or "boonies" is an expression we Americans use sometimes that means far away from civilization. For example, if someone lives in a very rural area away from most of his neighbors, or deep in the woods with no one else around, we might call it the boondocks. It's not really a specific location on a map, just a general term.

 

Although we could afford rent, we lived without a street address for almost three years, just to see if it could be done. It's a real sense of freedom I wouldn't ever want to forget.

love,

Sopranette

 

We're on a major north -south road and during the winter, more mornings than not someone is sleeping in the passage way between buildings so I have gotten to know some of the 'regulars'.

Jamie - thanks for telling your experience! Your story sounds alot like the stories I've heard and how they got the way they are. How did you get off the streets?

 

Homeless ?

Two comments:

First, it depends on who is defining the term "homeless". A few years ago, I found out that the local government defined "homeless" as anyone who did not live in a "permanent dwelling place". That definition led to those who chose to live in $500,000 motor homes as being called "homeless". I knew several such people, including one man who was chaplain at a local prison! It seems the locals get more federal aid money if there are more homeless people.

Second, I have known several people who were truly homeless. One in particular was mentally ill, and could not hold down any employment. He roamed the streets, getting cash or food donations from a lot of us. He died a few years ago. Others, I was able to help steer toward the local charities who help the truly homeless.

Bill:godisgood:

 

Thanks! That makes it clear. Here, we use the expression "out in the sticks" (not "Styx", as Saggy Woman says) to mean the same thing.

 

"Styx"...lol, Saggy Woman! j/k!

love,

Sopranette

 

Hey Tom,

During that time I met some people and became friends with them. My attempts to not tell them didn't work, and after they found out I was living on the streets, they took me in. They helped me out a lot!

Over the years, I have used that time in my life to grow. After I bought my first home, I have had several people in my home giving them the hand up I got myself. Again, I wouldn't change a thing about my life, it's help me become the person I am.

Jamie

 

who has not?