How would you feel if y'all were Homeless?

by atomikmom Posted 2012/06/13 19:57:56
in Growing Hunger and Homeless...

Related Topics: God, Belly, Hell, Sad, Life, Poor, Word, Vietnam, Words, once, vet

23 votes
Read all 47 opinions
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	It's Bitter and Sad	6 votes	26%
	I survive	9 votes	39%
	Never been Homeless	7 votes	30%
	Undecided	1 vote	4%

)-: I have been there and done that!!! when i first came home from Vietnam!! and all us Vets got was spit on and slammed, just like the other poor homeless people on the streets of Hell. Mark my words, it was sad, dangerous and very lonely, and i cry for those who are facing the same Hell , that i once did. God was good to me, and brought my hope and a new chance in life, with a roof over my head and food in my belly. Have y'all been in this boat before or know someone who is or was on the Streets of Hell? I would like to hear from y'all.)-':

More polls by atomikmom

Michael=Constitution & Liberty 2012/06/23 22:37:47

I survive

+1
2+ years in Arlington TX. I had a part time job at the new cowboys stadium which provided me with food and even bought this laptop I am using now. Sad, dangerous and lonely is an understatement ;) I am from Seattle, all my friends and family are in Seattle. My baby girl who is 6 lives down there and why I refused to come back home. I would sleep under a bridge in the spring and summer months and use the shelter in the winter(it can get bitter cold down there). I do give much credit to the public library in Arlington. They allowed the homeless, as long as you obeyed the rules, to use the library in the spring and summer months to escape the heat, and winter to warm. People tend to assume the homeless are there because of drug/alcohol or laziness issues. Of course that is a cause, but found that is a much lower percentage than people whom have not been there shoes can grasp.
My biggest mistake was selling my truck to bide more time to find a job. Being from Seattle with awesome public transit system, I made the assumption it was the same. Not even close. My daughter never did know I was homeless, and her mom would bring her to meet me at the park some Sundays after church where we would all talk and play, bringing tears to my eyes as I type this...
Single mothers with kids, mom ...

2+ years in Arlington TX. I had a part time job at the new cowboys stadium which provided me with food and even bought this laptop I am using now. Sad, dangerous and lonely is an understatement ;) I am from Seattle, all my friends and family are in Seattle. My baby girl who is 6 lives down there and why I refused to come back home. I would sleep under a bridge in the spring and summer months and use the shelter in the winter(it can get bitter cold down there). I do give much credit to the public library in Arlington. They allowed the homeless, as long as you obeyed the rules, to use the library in the spring and summer months to escape the heat, and winter to warm. People tend to assume the homeless are there because of drug/alcohol or laziness issues. Of course that is a cause, but found that is a much lower percentage than people whom have not been there shoes can grasp.
My biggest mistake was selling my truck to bide more time to find a job. Being from Seattle with awesome public transit system, I made the assumption it was the same. Not even close. My daughter never did know I was homeless, and her mom would bring her to meet me at the park some Sundays after church where we would all talk and play, bringing tears to my eyes as I type this...
Single mothers with kids, mom and dad with kids, single dads with kids, people whose lives where derailed through no fault of there own...
and laws written to push the homeless into areas where they will not be seen by the "general public" under the guise of "public protection".
I am truly happy I went through this. I found a freedom I have never experienced. I have never been a "conformist" to society. With the state of the world, and this country as it is now, In the not to distant future, I will break away from "society" and strike out on my own. I want Freedom, and this corrupted, corporate/bank controlled government will never provide even those basic freedoms our founding fathers intended with the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Vietnam, Sigh...such a waste of so many lives.
atomikmom Thank You! Who would of thought these same people whom spat, disrespected and just plain treated soldiers badly would grow up to be the war mongers themselves.
Blessings!
(more)

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J 2012/06/14 20:15:15

I survive

+1
After my husband left, put MY check in some strippers g-string, and then proceeded to clean out our apartment, I realized I needed to go "home" because I couldn't make it with 2 small children and no help from him. When I got home, he had told my family all kinds of lies so I was sleeping in my car for 3 nights (in a hospital parking lot) before I finally found someone who would trust me for the rent on an efficiency apartment. Actually started working at WalMart the same week. You just do what you can. If you don't mind working, and you don't let your pride keep you from doing what you can, you will be able to improve your lot in life.

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beach bum 2012/06/14 11:23:19

I survive

+1
i would survive

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Soylent Green is people!!! 2012/06/14 08:21:02

It's Bitter and Sad

+1
I am not homeless yet, but on ssd. Social Security is going bankrupt, so eventually I will no longer receive monies. I live in public housing in a dangerous part of Baltimore. It is very close to being homeless when you are all alone trying to survive in this enviroment. I can't work to get myself outta here so I am already bitter and sad, but I am lucky enough to have shelter although it is pretty broke down so to speak. I guess I have a bad attitude. I grew up in an upper middle class lifestyle so this life sucks since I have tasted better. No way out = no hope. :(

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J to Soylent... 2012/06/14 20:06:13

If you can get on this website and type in your thoughts and ideas, you can get you a job. It might not be anything more than data entry or telemarketing for a while - and even those jobs have potential to "move up". But, unfortunately, there are VERY few handicaps that totally eliminate a person's ability to earn money.

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Beltazar 2012/06/14 03:58:50

I survive

I am surviving at the moment, but then again, ask me in a few more months.. We shall see how things turn out..

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bob h. 2012/06/14 03:53:50

I survive

+1
Yep, same story. I wasn't stationed in Viet Nam, but I wound up homeless going across the SW after I got my discharge. The was about 45 yrs ago though.

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atomikmom to bob h. 2012/06/14 03:55:28

So you are a veteran as well, Where were you stationed?

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bob h. to atomikmom 2012/06/14 04:04:44

Wichita KS.

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L K 2012/06/14 01:25:41

Undecided

+1
I can only imagine how horrible it would be. The closest I came to it was when I had to foreclose on my home after my husband died because with his medical bills and one income I went under and so I lived 6 weeks in a crummy hotel with my two cats and a lifetime of belongings were packed in storage. I was devastated. I went to work every day, came home to a one room place with a tiny stove and I thought THAT was horrible. but, to actually be without a roof over my head would have been beyond anything I can even imagine. I have had students whose parents lost their jobs and were homeless or living in their cars. It is demoralizing and difficult for good people to go through. I got myself a little condo and I am fine.....but for a time there I felt so displaced. My heart aches for those who have to face life on the streets.

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sandra 2012/06/14 01:13:40 (edited)

I survive

+1
Actually I Love it, lol

Total Freedom , no bills to pay.lol

I have always been an outdoors person to the max. lol
I used to live outdoors in my younger years, campsite, tent camping.

I always said to myself that the only reason I have a home now, is because I have kids and of course it is for them.

I mentioned to them that when they grow up and leave home my plan is to buy a small camper , live in it, continue working ,and put all my money into the bank. ha-ha-ha...

No mortgage ,no rent, no damn taxes....instead that money will go into my own pocket.

Of course I`ll do this until I get sick of it, lol, lol

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atomikmom to sandra 2012/06/14 01:22:02

+1
LOL!!! So you are Nature Girl!!!

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sandra to atomikmom 2012/06/14 01:32:39

ya, for some reason I have always been like that , even as a child I felt safer outside .
I always felt like an apartment or house is a burden for me and I feel trapped ,lol
Plus I don`t like that we have to pay outrageous rents....for something that should be granted to all humans for free.
We all should be free to build a house where we want with no costs.
The world, land, water, trees, ...belongs to all of us, I detest that some rich #@$%^`s
have the nerve to take that away from us. And decide for us. it`s such bullshit.
So for me, to live free for a few years or forever in a camper , I will have taken some of their power away. lol

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bob h. to sandra 2012/06/14 03:57:10

+1
That's great. Enjoy.

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sandra to bob h. 2012/06/14 16:01:00

thanks ! I`m used to moving around the country anyways, since the job market moves and changes locations alot to . lol
I`m not crazy about the town I live in now, but this is where the work is.

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Veritas 2012/06/13 23:52:35

Never been Homeless

+1
Well . . . I was between apartments a couple times as an emancipated minor (long, long ago!) -- there was always someone who would let me crash on their sofa, so it wasn't an on the street for days on end sort of thing.

I'd be really depressed if that happened to me. I think most of America who live in homes and apartments are just one paycheck away from being homeless.

A woman in my building was evicted last month and she was hysterical crying in the hall at the crack of dawn. It is very hard to evict people in NYC, so she must have known it was coming, but I felt really bad even though I'd never met her.

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atomikmom to Veritas 2012/06/14 00:18:35

+1
)-: You are right!! about a lot of folks ending up on the streets and losing their homes, and it is very sad.

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Lydecho Rain (Лидия) 2012/06/13 23:48:18 (edited)

It's Bitter and Sad

+1
Maybe commit suicide. I've never been homeless, though.

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atomikmom to Lydecho... 2012/06/14 00:23:39

+1
)-: At your age, young lady, you will face a lot of changes in your life, some good and some bad, and most of all, i pray that you never do end up without a home. It is sheer Pain and worry, and yes there are some people who take their own lives, because the pressure over takes them, and they become helpless with out hope. May God be with you, Young lady and keep you safe. You deserve it.

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Lydecho... to atomikmom 2012/06/14 23:27:47

Okay thank you. Even though I don't believe in god I still appreciate it and yes life has it's ups and downs but hopefully it turns out for the best. I hope you have good day

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Beccy 2012/06/13 23:45:57

Never been Homeless

+2
I have never been homeless but I went through a horrable divorce. On August 2, 1980 my ex came home and told me what A good wife I was but he couldn't handle being married any more. Three weeks later he left with his girl friend. He brought me a piece of junk car and left me with a half remodeled home, a 7 year old and hardly any food and no money. A few months before he had asked my not to work anymore because I was worth more at home then at work. The realization that I was going to be poor was chilling. I got angry and got help, found a job, went back to college and am now a social worker. It has been a slow and painful road out of hell. You take one step forward and two back.

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Veritas to Beccy 2012/06/13 23:53:21

+1
So sorry . . .

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Beccy to Veritas 2012/06/14 00:20:45

+2
Acctually although it was very painful it made me a better person.

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Veritas to Beccy 2012/06/14 00:27:57

+2
I get that. Found myself in a similar situation last fall. Married 22 years. You give me hope!

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Beccy to Veritas 2012/06/14 00:31:29

+1
I am really thankful he left when he did. I have worked with women who were married until they were in their late 50's and 60;s and they didn't have the time. Just never give up. I sent out 500 resumes everytime I needed a job. Flood the market with resumes. I got one job because I applied for every help wanted add the agency posted. I am so sorry it happened to you.

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Veritas to Beccy 2012/06/14 00:38:53

+1
I do have an excellent job. Part of the reason for the break-up. Had to move to another city and he just didn't want to come. NOW he is calling me, and really, I'm not in the mood!

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Beccy to Veritas 2012/06/14 00:40:31

+2
My ex wanted to come home three months later. I could never trust him again.

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atomikmom to Beccy 2012/06/14 00:25:44

+1
Good for you!!! I am glad you found a life and the streets were never yours.

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Beccy to atomikmom 2012/06/14 00:32:05

+1
None of us know what will happen to us during these economic times.

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atomikmom to Beccy 2012/06/14 00:35:40

+1
You are so very right!! and at my age today, i never want to go down that road again. I am 66 and not as young as i was, back in 1971, when i came back from Vietnam and ended up on the streets. NO!!!WAY!!!JOSE!!!

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Beccy to atomikmom 2012/06/14 00:52:49

+1
I know what it's like to not have work during a recession.

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atomikmom to Beccy 2012/06/14 00:56:38

+1
)-: It's a real BUMMER!!!

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Woman of many faces~ijm 2012/06/13 23:04:09

I survive

+2
Been there never want to go back. It was for a short time but it was also scary.

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atomikmom to Woman o... 2012/06/14 00:28:29

+1
Yes i can back up your words!! I was homeless for nearly 5 years, when i came back from Vietnam and i was disabled at that, but God Saved me. It scared the daylights out of me, more than enough, and i never want to go back either.

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the judgebigdogeagle 2012/06/13 22:30:20

I survive

+3
been down that road for a little bit.But I used my urban street skills.

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ehrhornp 2012/06/13 20:33:20 (edited)

Never been Homeless

+3
But would think it would be very depressing. Think it is no accident that many of the homeless has mental problems. If they didn't have them prior to becoming homeless, they would get them soon after.

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atomikmom to ehrhornp 2012/06/13 20:56:45

+1
)-: That's the sad thing about it!!! Some were normal as they say, what ever Normal is, before they fell off the cliff into Homelessness, and then their problem's really closed in on them. I saw many folks who went from one point in their lives to the mental Pits of HELL.!!!

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ehrhornp to atomikmom 2012/06/14 07:53:56

I think what is really sad and pathetic is that Vets have I believe double the rate of homelessness than the population in general. Shame this country doesn't take care of its broken soldiers. No excuse for them to be homeless. Great way to support the troops. (NOT)

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Jazzy 2012/06/13 20:32:31

It's Bitter and Sad

+3
I have been there more then once in my lifetime. The last time is was with my 5 month old. It was really hard but we both survived. Thank God for an old family friend that let us live her barn. We only walked down that road for a month before an even better door opened. It is not fun by any means. I always been bad when I see someone on the streets. Even more so when it is a Veteran. They gave their all for me and then they get treated so bad when they get home.
I am so sorry that you had to endure those things when you got back.

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atomikmom to Jazzy 2012/06/13 21:02:02

+2
(-': I am so happy for the safe keeping today of your little family. God Bless them!!! and yes )-': It was sheer hell for me and so many other Vets when we returned from Vietnam, only to be cast to the streets, but i am a Hard Nosed Survivor and a firm believer, that all things good are possible. I served in the US Navy, as a Retired US Navy Nurse in Vietnam.

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