Have you ever been homeless?

[Doctor Amadeus]

I think the title and question are simple enough have you ever been homeless?

Me yep, I was went a couple months, stayed in a shelter and had to sell everything I owned. Until I did enough daily labor to where I could get a hotel on a cheap bi weekly rate. Then I got a job as a tow truck operator.


Follow up:

When you were homeless, assuming it was for economic reasons, what was the lowest point, what kind of experiences did you have, and ultimately how did you finally get out?

The way people define you is more or less based on how they perceive you, regardless to who you are for better or worse.

Lowest point is when I had to pawn a few items so I would have enough to eat an save up, it's amazing how much stuff you think is worse when someone is on the other end of the counter estimating it's value and yours.


Any ultimate life lesson?

The lesson for me was Trust less of what people tell you, and pay attention to their methods. Respect should be an automatic even if it's people you hate, but trust is something that should be earned through time and experience.

[cubby]

I think the title and question are simple enough have you ever been homeless?

Me yep, I was went a couple months, stayed in a shelter and had to sell everything I owned. Until I did enough daily labor to where I could get a hotel on a cheap bi weekly rate. Then I got a job as a tow truck operator.


Follow up:

When you were homeless, assuming it was for economic reasons, what was the lowest point, what kind of experiences did you have, and ultimately how did you finally get out?

The way people define you is more or less based on how they perceive you, regardless to who you are for better or worse.

Lowest point is when I had to pawn a few items so I would have enough to eat an save up, it's amazing how much stuff you think is worse when someone is on the other end of the counter estimating it's value and yours.


Any ultimate life lesson?

The lesson for me was Trust less of what people tell you, and pay attention to their methods. Respect should be an automatic even if it's people you hate, but trust is something that should be earned through time and experience.

I haven't, but I feel like my life could have taken a turn where I might have been - if that makes any sense.

Do you mind me asking what caused you to become homeless? And serious fucking kudos for clawing your way back up - that CANNOT have been even remotely easy.

[Heladys]

Good for you digging yourself out, OP. Respect.

[Doctor Amadeus]

I haven't, but I feel like my life could have taken a turn where I might have been - if that makes any sense.

Do you mind me asking what caused you to become homeless? And serious fucking kudos for clawing your way back up - that CANNOT have been even remotely easy.

Thanks Cubby, and yeah so many people really underestimate how a single life can be effect like you said. But when you fall OMFG as I am sure you probably know, that is when you realize who your friends really are.

Arrogance, stupidity, not having any support from any of my family not all of those things directly having to do with the other but as a whole it did, I worked a lot, but never saved, I wasn't very responsible, and when the time came that I needed to be on my own I wasn't able to deal.

Nobody was to blame for my circumstance but me. I also had personal issues also mostly Anger, really, really angry. Anger is a good place to hide.

[Ghostpanther]

Good to hear you made a better life for yourself.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Good to hear you made a better life for yourself.

Thanks GP, but that wouldn't have happened also without there being things to grab for though. I am sure I am not alone and there are those who deal with far worse. Some people really kind of don't think of the details like.

Not having access to a shower to clean yourself properly, trying to apply for a job no online, and not having a phone for them to call you, filling out applications and people noticing an odor coming from you, some who only see you as dirty or a nuisance, never mind if you should run across anybody who might recognize you.

It's a lot more than just not having a place to live, shelters are NOT the most safest places to stay, because some people have far worse problems many of them medical who have been homeless for years.

When you have limited access and not a lot of prospects, it can make human beings some of the worse animals.


That is why I take poverty so seriously

[Ghostpanther]

Thanks GP, but that wouldn't have happened also without there being things to grab for though. I am sure I am not alone and there are those who deal with far worse. Some people really kind of don't think of the details like.

Not having access to a shower to clean yourself properly, trying to apply for a job no online, and not having a phone for them to call you, filling out applications and people noticing an odor coming from you, some who only see you as dirty or a nuisance, never mind if you should run across anybody who might recognize you.

It's a lot more than just not having a place to live, shelters are NOT the most safest places to stay, because some people have far worse problems many of them medical who have been homeless for years.

When you have limited access and not a lot of prospects, it can make human beings some of the worse animals.


That is why I take poverty so seriously

Well said and my experience, while different from yours, was still dealing with extreme poverty. I understand your points. I really am appreciative of what I have now in life and I certainly can see why you do now too. But rather than wallow in our condition, we made a decision to turn things around. My choice of something to grab onto for help at the time was the US Army.

[Sanguinezor]

Started from the bottom....

[Doctor Amadeus]

Well said and my experience, while different from yours, was still dealing with extreme poverty. I understand your points. I really am appreciative of what I have now in life and I certainly can see why you do now too. But rather than wallow in our condition, we made a decision to turn things around. My choice of something to grab onto for help at the time was the US Army.

In your life YOU paid back dividends to everyone around you and life itself, by raising a beautiful family, working and being a great neighbor.

I just understand that as bad as I had it, there were still some sending a life line, I just feel eternally unworthy and grateful. Along with burdened to pay it forward you know.

Cause Honestly I wouldn't wish poverty on anybody, seriously it soul crushing.

[Fencers]

Yes, for a few months. At first I was living in hotels trying to stay afloat. Then I ran out of money and stood with friends for a bit. But I couldn't wear out my welcome so I tried to spread it around while looking for jobs. Then I just ran out of money and opportunity.

Had to sleep in the park for a few nights and in an alley way. I also "broke in"/trespassed into a nice backyard or two to sleep on the lawn furniture.

After a couple of weeks my friend was back in town, I was able to stabilize and find a job after a week or so.

It was pretty crummy but I wasn't necessarily depressed. More frustrated that I couldn't find anything and everything was so expensive. I needed money to make money, basically.

The lowest point was trying to stay clean by 'showering' in gas station bathrooms. Uuuuuugggggghhhhhh.

Whenever I had the chance to stay a night with someone I always asked for just a shower at the least. I preferred a shower to food most days as I was very good at rationing my food supply and was never too hungry. I also made sure when I bought food that it was fairly dense and something that could give me a lot of energy compactly. I didn't buy like potato chips and slurpees, etc.

I carried two backpacks; one with food/clean clothes/supplies and one with dirty laundry/tools. I didn't have acar either so it was just walking/buses where possible. Spent a lot of time in public libraries; beat the heat, look for work online, relax my mind by reading, take a nap relatively safely, stocked bathrooms.

Got a job in a grocery store finally. Saved up some cash, paid rent to my friend. Kept looking for better jobs. Didn't find any. Moved back to NYC with my mom when I had enough banked.

Eventually I moved out to California with my sister after working in a few restaurants in NYC. She was already there. We were roommates and she introduced me to a friend from work. I started working for Sony a few months later through that contact and I ended up traveling the world.

[Torrasque]

I have. I was screwed royally by the Army. Long story short, I received severe injuries during AIT from a drill sergeant overplaying his role with some serious bias. Ended up getting a permanent back injury that only got worse with time, an injury which stemmed to extreme pain in the lower knees, effectively crippling my ability to walk to about 10-15 minutes of movement per day. Got an honorable discharge, went to get back surgery as recommended from that discharge only for the VA to discover that my entire medical history had been "misplaced" and without data that the original specialist had on my back, he would have to re-evaluated the findings... that appointment was scheduled and I "awaited" my appointment to no avail after it getting pushed back time and again over the course of three years for some seriously stupid reasons. Eventually, I got an appointment at a VA hospital that was 4 hours driving distance away, for whatever the fuck reason, my wife at the time drove me there for the medical assistant to say that with no history, regardless of my discharge and the notation on the discharge, that he would not service me, period. Went to get another opinion, and that ass of a medical assistant instead of "declining my treatment" lied and stated on my report that I was entirely fine without even looking at me. So, I went through several more hoops with JAG reps and I hired a lawyer who got me a deal that if I could get a civilian doctor, which I would have to pay for, to show data that I was injured all this time, that I would have a case... I did, many thousands of dollars later, and got an appointment which will apparently be mailed to me at such and such a time... It's been years and they have yet to offer me a static slot to appeal to my original benefits that I deserved since my honorable discharge.

That said, I've been working on what I could since then, taking strength training courses to realign and strength my back over all of these years. Since then, despite what initial doctors threatened about me losing my ability to walk entirely over 5 or so years, which I still have the records of, physically, sadly enough. I've since regained the ability to walk, even jog a steady pace for a brief amount of time, and I can say "fuck you" to the system that betrayed me, condemned me, then forgot and ignored me.

I've been steadily working, self-employed as a computer repair / technician / and teacher with my own business that also trades and salvages computers resources which I've used to fund my life and lifestyle, as well as pay my own medical bills that the Army has forced on me with their sickening negligence.

[cubby]

Thanks GP, but that wouldn't have happened also without there being things to grab for though. I am sure I am not alone and there are those who deal with far worse. Some people really kind of don't think of the details like.

Not having access to a shower to clean yourself properly, trying to apply for a job no online, and not having a phone for them to call you, filling out applications and people noticing an odor coming from you, some who only see you as dirty or a nuisance, never mind if you should run across anybody who might recognize you.

It's a lot more than just not having a place to live, shelters are NOT the most safest places to stay, because some people have far worse problems many of them medical who have been homeless for years.

When you have limited access and not a lot of prospects, it can make human beings some of the worse animals.


That is why I take poverty so seriously

I'm in recruiting and I am always on the lookout for people that others have passed over for the dumbest reasons. I couldn't agree more with what you said, and I think solving poverty is the silver bullet (that and education, but if you know enough, as you do, you know they are intertwined).

Do you mind me asking what you do now for a living, and how you got there?

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Thanks Cubby, and yeah so many people really underestimate how a single life can be effect like you said. But when you fall OMFG as I am sure you probably know, that is when you realize who your friends really are.

Arrogance, stupidity, not having any support from any of my family not all of those things directly having to do with the other but as a whole it did, I worked a lot, but never saved, I wasn't very responsible, and when the time came that I needed to be on my own I wasn't able to deal.

Nobody was to blame for my circumstance but me. I also had personal issues also mostly Anger, really, really angry. Anger is a good place to hide.

Of course - it is amazing looking at some people's lives, you can see almost exactly where the wrong turn sent them down a bad road - either accidentally or because of their own choices.

I really appreciate you sharing this with us.

[Doctor Amadeus]

Yes, for a few months. At first I was living in hotels trying to stay afloat. Then I ran out of money and stood with friends for a bit. But I couldn't wear out my welcome so I tried to spread it around while looking for jobs. Then I just ran out of money and opportunity.

Had to sleep in the park for a few nights and in an alley way. I also "broke in"/trespassed into a nice backyard or two to sleep on the lawn furniture.

After a couple of weeks my friend was back in town, I was able to stabilize and find a job after a week or so.

It was pretty crummy but I wasn't necessarily depressed. More frustrated that I couldn't find anything and everything was so expensive. I needed money to make money, basically.

The lowest point was trying to stay clean by 'showering' in gas station bathrooms. Uuuuuugggggghhhhhh.

Whenever I had the chance to stay a night with someone I always asked for just a shower at the least. I preferred a shower to food most days as I was very good at rationing my food supply and was never too hungry. I also made sure when I bought food that it was fairly dense and something that could give me a lot of energy compactly. I didn't buy like potato chips and slurpees, etc.

I carried two backpacks; one with food/clean clothes/supplies and one with dirty laundry/tools. I didn't have acar either so it was just walking/buses where possible. Spent a lot of time in public libaries; beat the heat, look for work online, relax my mind by reading, take a nap relatively safely, stocked bathrooms.

Damn Fencer you speak the language.

But if this was in New York, haha no wonder you are so damn tough. I was in Minnesota so not nearly as expensive as all that, but yeah, everything you said to a T, I think I was one of the few who realized where I was at WHY places required you to go up front for their bathroom key.

I think the worst of it those was the stereotypes, well you are homeless, you're a junkee you will do anything etc, and unfortunately being homeless you begin to understand why people think that too.

Feeling stuck in the middle between other peoples shame and guilt. As for the Bus route thing, YEP same take the long route use the transfer sit in the back try to take a nape before the next daily labor shift.

Libraries were ok too, No Park Benches

But now they have these



HARSH!

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Why the hell do mods keep letting Amadeus spam these stupid, mindless threads?

What's mindless about being homeless or talking about homelessness?

[cubby]

Why the hell do mods keep letting Amadeus spam these stupid, mindless threads?

Class with a capital "K".

[rewhaha]

technically yes, but i chose a temporary period of homelessness instead of numerous alternatives that I just wasn't willing to put up with. And this entailed sleeping in a car that I owned outright, with plenty of credit cards, and a 3 month traveling adventure. I could have elected to purchase housing numerous times, but chose not to.

this was very far removed from the traditional homeless stereotype. And a big part of me wants to go back. In fact, my plan is to trick out a sweet van, abandon all the BS of american culture, and roam around indefinitely. This time, I have a much better idea of what I need to do to be comfortable.

The hardest part for me was the heat

[Fencers]

But if this was in New York, haha no wonder you are so damn tough.

This was Florida. Miami specifically. If I was in NYC I would never have been homeless. I was trying to get back to NYC at the time.

[Celista]

I was technically homeless at 16 when I left home. Stayed in a shelter for runaway teens, and they had a housing transitional program. I never slept on the street though. I also stayed with friends' families. I was lucky as there were multiple people/families interested in helping me.

[Doctor Amadeus]

I'm in recruiting and I am always on the lookout for people that others have passed over for the dumbest reasons. I couldn't agree more with what you said, and I think solving poverty is the silver bullet (that and education, but if you know enough, as you do, you know they are intertwined).

Do you mind me asking what you do now for a living, and how you got there?

Security, before I didn't have a job, before I became homeless I worked in a Call Center at Comcast.

I eventually got a job driving a tow truck, the guy who hired me used to be a missionary, took pity on my situation. When I wasn't taking calls, I would learn to work on cars, started with changing oil, until eventually helping rebuilding engines on the weekend. The guy who hired me was a bit of a Mentor and owned a few wreckers and what not too. Great guy he passed away some years after, but he was a real honest guy, never over charged people, did work for free sometimes for people, and felt it was more important to take care of people who would do something with it, rather than how much was in their pocket.

Probably didn't hurt that he was well off financially, He taught me how to invest and budget. Not like other people, most of whom spent money to buy something they could never have. Just little things here and there and saving money.

[cubby]

I was technically homeless at 16 when I left home. Stayed in a shelter for runaway teens, and they had a housing transitional program. I never slept on the street though. I also stayed with friends' families. I was lucky as there were multiple people/families interested in helping me.

Do you mind me asking what caused you to leave home? Did you enter the foster program? We're you aged out?

[Doctor Amadeus]

This was Florida. Miami specifically. If I was in NYC I would never have been homeless. I was trying to get back to NYC at the time.

Florida well at least it was Warm? Yeah been to Florida, I don't know about back in the day, but went to Miami, HOLY $$$$$$$ I heard everywhere else is cheap because of no State taxes but damn!

Dedicated to you Glad you moved up!



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I was technically homeless at 16 when I left home. Stayed in a shelter for runaway teens, and they had a housing transitional program. I never slept on the street though. I also stayed with friends' families. I was lucky as there were multiple people/families interested in helping me.

Yeah, honestly I don't think I would ever allow my anger to push my daughter out if I can help it, or son. I understand disagreements, but I would much rather know my kid is obnoxious and safe, than learning some kind of lesson that I would also regret.