Have you ever been homeless?

I was forced out of an apartment once because of unlivable conditions. I basically lived out of my car and couch surfed at friends places for a few weeks until I found a new place. It was a lot easier than I would have thought. It was early fall so it was still hot. Not having friends would have drastically changed that situation though.

I have not been homeless. I’ve always had a safe place to sleep.

But people live in the cold under the bridge about 100 yards from me. I appreciate how thin the line is between us.

The past five years are the only years I’m which I have lived on my own. I’ve been in a homeless shelter for 20 or so days since I turned 18. I’ve been in a group home, and used my university as a homeless shelter for two years. I’ve spent 14 days in summer truly homeless because I forgot my keys and the landlord wasn’t available to let me in until school started. I slept under the stars. It was amazingly beautiful and I recommend it, under a star filled night. I really appreciated a hot shower running water and a working toilet and abundant toilet paper.

Also I really appreciated peanut butter on toast, at snack time. It was the highlight of my day from when I was In the hospital in October 2012 – May 2013.

I was homeless for two months when I was 18. It was in Las Vegas. With the help of a few friends we scammed people in casinos and brought enough cash in to pay for a cheap motel room each night.

Currently.
I lost all my belongings after the last hurricane. The house I was living in apparently is more prone to flooding now, so after this last flood, I left. I’m staying with my parents, but I am going to be talking to someone about a house coming up for rent soon. Hopefully, I can start over there…

I’m not sure if coping is the right word, but I’m doing the best I can…

When my marriage broke down I flew from the States to the UK though I had nowhere to stay. I didn’t have a home to go to or a relative with whom I could stay. It felt odd waiting for my flight and having no house keys in my pocket and nowhere to go. I flew from the deep south of America to the far north of the UK which was like flying from summer to winter.
On my arrival in the UK the local council gave me temporary accommodation in a homeless shelter where I stayed for a couple of weeks before finding rented accommodation. It was all quite stressful and unpleasant. Never again.

Thankfully, I have not.

I do have this odd habit of scoping out potential places I could sleep if I were to become homeless. A bit of paranoia mixed with “hope for the best, expect the worst.”

@cookieman I do the same thing. I have a place scoped out in three different towns, just in case.

@chyna: I thought I was the only one. I’m just finishing a job for a place that is going out of business. They still have a few years on the lease that is all paid up with no plans to do anything with the space until the lease runs out. I have a master key to the whole place. I actually thought, “Hmmm, if they don’t change the locks….”

No. On the brink a couple of times in my life, but I held on desperately.

We were nearly homeless twice, but someone rescued us both times. That’s why we saved up, and last year completely paid for a trailer and a vehicle to move it. That means even if we lose our home we will still have a safe place to live. Woot!

Nope. I’ve been lucky.

I kinda lost my shit when my mom was released from prison early. You would think everyone would be excited. I was not. I was a junior in college and struggling. So fucking great. One more thing to deal with. So fuck it quit life. Dropped out of school.

Sold my computer and VCR and CRT TV and bought a sleeping bag and a ticket to Eugene. I told noboby. I just vanished. Looking back this was a really fucked up thing to do.

So I just hung around the river with the fellow homeless for a few months. It was during the winter and was cold but doable.

Oregon is pretty good with food stamps. I got 154 a month for spending a hour in the office applying. That was enough to feed me. And more importantly, it was enough to prevent you from getting shot in the back if I was hungry. Food stamps don’t help the poor. They protect the affluent.

But through a weird turn of events my sister found me and literally dragged me by my hair into her SUV and made me live in her garage. Haircut, shave, shower, new shoes, new outfit for job hunting and I was employed a week later.