Sit back and enjoy this take.
I am a 22 year old homeless man with several mental and cognitive disabilities living in a Nissan Sentra with his arthritic mom. And during our going on two years of homelessness, I have observed a lot of things. Here is my take on it so far.
1. Most people assume that if you're homeless that you are dirty, or have a particular look to them.
This can be true but many homeless people I've met I would have never guessed. They don't look classy or rich but they appear clean and normal. My mom and I shower about once a week at planet fitness to keep clean. Many others do this as well at gyms.
2. Homeless people are about a third of regulars at the public library.
Many people don't think about it, but the public library is a form of shelter to homeless people. A place for warmth from the cold or air conditioning from the heat. Computers, books and magazines to pass the time. After a while of going to the library every day I noticed certain people and that they were there every day. As an extrovert I spoke with many of them, nearly all living in the woods nearby or in their car. It's salvation for us, but the library I'm at doesn't have a group for us or a lot of flyers for homeless people looking for assistance. I've asked for them to have a weekly group session for lower class and homeless people to come together to share their stories, but it hasn't happened yet. We depend on the library as a getaway.
3. Many assume we are all on drugs or that we were on drugs before which is why we are homeless.
For many, this is not remotely true. Even studies have shown most homeless people spend money given to them on food and other essentials. For those that do drink, I wonder why. Maybe it's because not having a home sucks. You try being homeless for a little while, it's lonely, people harass you and call the cops on you for loitering or for just being around. I've never had as much interaction with the the police as I have being homeless, same for my mother. Our story is pretty boring for how we got here, no spectacular event. Just time catching up with us. And eventually we fell through. Getting back up is nearly impossible.
4. Many people assume I'm lying about being homeless because I have a phone.
Literally every homeless person I've met has a phone of some kind unless they specifically do not want one. Cheap phones at Walmart are available which is how I have mine.
5. "Get a job and you won't be homeless".
Bull... shit.... This is the most annoying of them all. Do you know how hard it is to get a job as a homeless person? It's nearly impossible. It's bad enough if you aren't homeless. Employers don't want to hire us, we don't have reliable transportation or we don't have the best hygiene or social skills. The large majority of homeless people have disorders which make it difficult to obtain and hold down a job. The hiring process also needs a forwarding address to send your check to, no address, no mail. P.O boxes don't accept some things and so some mail won't be received. We found that out the hard way... Many people don't have friends or family to count on, another reason why they are homeless. Applying for work as a homeless person is not easy in any way, so stop telling us to "get a job!". Even if we did, it wouldn't pay the bills. You are either getting paid and can use the money for food and gas. Or spend the money on a cheap apartment and have no money left over to feed yourself.
6. Homelessness is a big issue in America especially and in the United States, measures are taken to afflict them.
Forced Into Breaking the Law: The Criminalization of Homelessness ...
There are so many different ways to prevent homeless people from just being noticed. Fines for sitting in sidewalks. Sleeping under bridges and refusing to serve them food from the garbage of restaurants. Filing police reports on homeless people dumpster diving. They make being poor a crime. And it needs To Stop!
7. Homeless shelters are dangerous and are first come first serve.
You have to be out by a certain time and arrive by a certain time. This is extremely inconvenient. Also, most people who go are former criminals or are dangerous people who aren't accustomed to living on the street or in their car. Drug dealers and abusers are often found here. It's a not a community center that can be a temporary home.
This is my first My Take, I know it's long. I'm sorry, I'm also undoubtedly forgetting something but my fingers are getting tired and my hands are getting sweaty.
Most Helpful Opinions