Homelessness is not always a choice
"Homeless people ... they just WANT to be living on the street!"
Anyone who has ever said that, out loud or to themselves is just a heartless bigot. What human being would CHOOSE to live outside and not eat or sleep or bathe?????
When I first lost my home, I was instantly terrified! I was so stressed my whole body shook and my mind was a blank! Where do you go? There are no guide books to refer to when you're suddenly homeless. It's not a condition that one can just take in stride and say, "Oh! Damn! I'm homeless! I guess I'll just have to do all the things street people do now."
The first shock is the realization that without a home or money, you have no food. When you have no food on you and no money for food, your stomach instantly feels like the Grand Canyon. You can almost hear the "echo of hunger."
"Go to a soup kitchen," some might say, "or the Food Bank." Well, thanks a bunch, but where might they be? Are there maps on every street corner with all the soup kitchens marked on them? Can you ask a pedestrian where the nearest food bank is? No! And if you find out the address of a food bank, the next dilemma is ... how are you going to get there and back? If you have the $5.50 on you for the TTC, you could easily afford to stay home and buy a few days worth of Kraft dinner!
And ... where to cook it? There's another glitch in the homeless plan. If you want to live on the street you also need a place to store your food, cook it, as well as find somewhere to sleep and a place to go to the bathroom. So many places nowadays have signs that read, "If you're homeless, by all means, come on in and make yourself at home in our public restrooms! No purchase necessary!" Right? lol
I've stood at street corners before and thought, "This isn't the safest part of town! I'd better move along or get shot or stabbed!" Now, imagine a homeless person, in the middle of the night, on a street in the largest city in the country, lying down to catch forty winks. If they weren't setting themselves up to get shot or stabbed, they sure are sitting ducks for getting robbed or beaten up.
So, doesn't it only makes sense that being homeless is not a choice? Neither is being gay. A lot of people have accepted the latter. And yet, there are still people who think the homeless WANT to be that way. Go figure.
hey Katgrrl,,,thanks for all your posts\contribution to the sight..cheers..J.H.
I was one of those who CHOSE to be homeless. Why? I had my reasons, less responsibility, being able to travel from city to city with no thought or planning. I was not one of those trying to nurse an addiction or mental illness, therefore I was lucky. I enjoyed sleeping under a blanket of starts and when the rain or snow would start to fall, I would simply head south for the winter. Working where I could but mostly relying on the kindness of strangers, it seemed my stories and care free attitude was payment enough for them to buy me a cup of coffee or a meal at a truck stop. It was a more real way of life. A way of life without having to be caught up in such a system of control and red tape, I lived below the radar and was quite happy with that. I understand this is not the way of it for everyone. I was one of the few that enjoyed my lifestyle choice. But to say that no one chooses to be homeless is untrue, some of us dont want to deal with rent, bills and 9-5 jobs. We would rather live and be free.
better to die on your feet then live on your knees
fraggle, you are a genuine "hippy," bohemian, free spirit. In my youth, I always wanted to travel and just wing it as I went but I was raised by very controlling parents who demanded I get an education and then a career. I was, deep down, a fine artist and a journal-writer. I've always worked in the creative fields. Being homeless when you're older, through no fault or choice of your own is a shock and a nightmare that never stops.
I wouldn't consider myself to be any label, although some concepts that I believe in have been labeled as such.
As I said, I was lucky and was able to make that choice for myself. I can only imagine being thrown into a cold and callous world without having any choice. Especially with some form of mental issue impeding me from gaining the stability that I so desperately needed. Sadly, this is the case for all too many people. Its sad that we live in this, a 'first world nation' and dont take care of the people that need it most.
better to die on your feet then live on your knees
I agree, fraggle. Although I don't hold to any specific religious doctrine, I sincerely believe we all are "our brothers' (and sisters') keepers." It's our duty to help. It's our purpose.
i say u have no idea
have u walkd a 10,000 kms in my shoes ...... no didn't think so
i say fuck u and yer anti-bullshit people have addictions that is another reason why people live on the streets i chose 2 goto the streets after a familt feud thats my story ... whats yers????
don't tell me 1 world 1 power 1 problem ......
HOMELESSNESS IS EVERYWHERE POVERTY IS EVERYWHERE
have a nice day
bynkie
Yeah, thanks, punx, for reading my blog and "getting it." Nice language. So glad you offered your objective, personal opinion.
punx, watch that kind of posting - we will delete the next one as it violates our terms of service, which basically follow the golden rule about acting like a jerk and treating people how you'd like to be treated.
bynkie,
not sure what your post was intending to say, knowing you i know you are a good guy who contributes alot to the homeless nation community. please try to remember everyone has a different story and the point of the site is that everyone is respected and able to have their own voice. please try to make sure your voice does not put down others in the future, even if it is different from your opinion or experience.