Being Homeless Isn't Just for Bums

How many people think to themselves, as they pass the seemingly homeless man on the corner asking for change, in his dingy clothes, "that guy is just a bum"? In my early 20's, I was able to experience being a homeless person, by choice. I will not get into all the details of how it came about. I want to share with you what came out from being homeless. I want to open your eyes to the people on the corner who are your neighbor, or even perhaps an attorney you used to know.

Some may have an idea that many homeless people want to work, or perhaps they have drug and alcohol issues. Some of the homeless do have addictions I will not argue that. However, that does that make them less of a person because their addiction prohibits them from being a functioning addict. Becoming homeless was the most eye-opening experience of my life. I realized how many good people are on the streets.

I was homeless on and off for 7 years. I am not blaming anyone for my situation. I take full responsibility. It really was a choice for me, not that I wanted to be homeless but moving about, unprepared, led me down this road. I was young, no family in a sense of someone to turn to and no goal in sight. When you are homeless, people look at you differently. I remember walking by cars that were stopped at a light and hear their door locks clicking. I thought to myself that this is ridiculous. I don't intend on robbing anyone, I am just walking to get some food.

I would visit the shelters or churches who would feed us and eventually you make friends along the way. You share your experiences with others on how you got to that shelter, what your plans are now, and who to look out for. I was sitting at a round table, similar to those in a lunchroom cafeteria, and a man sitting across from me pointed out, referring to another fellow, who was sitting in the corner by himself, with a long scruffy beard was formerly an attorney. His story was is that his wife left him and he started to drink and lost his zest for life due to the loss of love. Some others just end up at a shelter from losing their homes due to fires, or foreclosure. The other groups are the tweens that ran away from home or difficult family situations.

When you are homeless, showers are not readily accessible, not allowing you to shower when you please or even get a good night's sleep. If you came into the shelter with the clothes on your back, you have no option to change clothes to clean yourself up to look for a job. This can become a reoccurring nightmare for some, and can suck the life out of you if you let it. A sense of hopelessness comes over and many do turn to drugs and alcohol to suppress the pangs of being homeless and not being able to see a way out.

I will say men have it a lot harder than homeless women do. There are many more men in the homeless shelters than women, so many more men, that it is to the point where men sleep head to toe on the floor, in rows. Your head may be laying next to someone else's worn out, wet shoes from walking in the rain all day. Imagine waking up to that smell or even falling asleep to it. Homeless shelters cater to women more, obviously for a more maternal reason. More so, women with children get first in line for food and clothes.

Just think, as a man, if you're sleeping outside because you can't get a spot in the shelter that night, and then that means no shower either, how would you go look for a job the next day. What employer would even consider you as a potential employee? Yet, unimaginable amount of talent out there on the street goes to the waist side and men drown themselves in self-pity and disgrace. No one wants to look at them. Who is there to inspire them.

Homeless people need hope; some are so far gone from being homeless for years or even decades, they see no way out, so there they remain, on your corner asking for change. Some cities can offer more assistance to their homeless population than others. Some of the people who run these shelters even discriminate against the homeless they are caring for. As a woman experiencing this, there was an opportunity to become a prostitute, or to sell drugs, some way of making fast money to get off the streets. I did refuse these options. I am blessed. I was fortunate to get out of the vicious homeless cycle. I thank God for it.

Now, almost ten years later, I am a homeowner. I am in college and have a car, a warm bed, a shower, a bathtub, and a lot of insight I want to share on this part of my life. There is a lot to learn about America's homeless people. There is more to them than meets the eye. I aim to challenge you to talk to the bum who sits on that faithful corner day after day and see what his life is about. Ask what his goals are. Who knows, he or she could be your next CEO. Laugh aloud if you wish, but there are even college graduates stuck in this cycle. Now, even more than ever, with the economy the way it is, you never know whom you will see asking for change.