Homeless Writers Showcase Talent on Associated Content
Austin Cooper: "I was homeless for 4 years."
Divinity Rose: "I was on the streets at 17."
Berrie Cable: "I was homeless with my then three year old for three months once."
Anne Ominous: "I have often thought about writing about any of the many times I have been homeless (beginning at age 13....) but have not found a good angle on it yet."
Tina Krause: "I have been there in my past as well, and it is a way to learn from and grow from your experience..."
Tiffany Riley lived out of her truck: "I had no choice but to stick it out a few months at the "river".
Michelle Cox does not say she was homeless specifically: "Well, believe it or not, I was just like you in my 20's...I am now 40, and although most of the time it was a very humbling and frightening experience, it gave me much appreciation for the things and opportunities, I was later given."
Chris Shultz: "My sister was homeless for a little while, at it was nothing that she did." I think he meant "and" not "at"
Some of the comments expressed disbelief that the author was actually homeless. Each of those CP's that left comments quoted above, know that homelessness can affect people from all walks of life. They are not the only Associated Content writers that are or have been homeless.
Janet Hoffman wrote:"Inside a Homeless Shelter - An Insider's View".
Jeanne-Sparks-Carreker does not specifically say she was homeless but writes about her"Personal Experience at the Hannah Home in Alabama: Homeless Shelters Are Not Necessarily 'Rock Bottom' "
LeiLani Dawn briefly mentions becoming homeless due to an abusive husband and poverty in "My Biggest Secret".
Kevin Barbieux is homeless in Nashville, Tennessee who wrote three articles for AC using a laptop computer that was given to him. Ironically Kevin's last article is titled "How to Start a Writing Career when You Are Homeless on Associated Content". Sad that he did not pursue his AC writing career. I counted a 509 word blog post worhty of a paying article at AC: "Dogs Add A Human Element To The Homeless".
The main focus of Milton Jordan's articles is using his prior experiences which included homelessness, to help people change and build better lives.
Navy Vet, Arthur Daniels article, "No College Degree? No Problem! A College Degree Is Not the Only Path to Success" mentions experiencing homelessness on his path to success.
22 year old Nicky Allen is another Associated Content Producer who has been homeless
"I have been homeless. Yup yup yup, that's right." commented Brant McLaughlin on my article "What is it Like to Be Homeless?". He went on to say the story made some good points but was exaggerated. Explaining what it is like to be homeless to someone who has never experienced it, is rather like a woman explaining to a man what it is like to have labor pains. I use the analogy that a man who has experienced kidney stone pain has a fair idea what labor pain feels like.
On an article by Michelle Williams: "I Refuse to Be Homeless" subtitled "And as God is My Witness, I'll Never Go Hungry Again", one of my favorite CP's commented: "Oh, Man. I have been thinking about a similar article...only I have indeed been homeless twice in my life, as well as pretty darned rich a time or two."
Another AC homeless writer had this to say: "I always thanked god for a job and roof over my head. Bible tells us "if you love your life you lose it" (in some such words) I thought about that every day I woke up living on the streets." on Chuck Hinson tale "What's Like To Live On The Street".
Associated Content gives homeless and former homeless people a place to showcase their talent, share their tales, educate others and earn some spare change in the process. Do I hear a round of applause for Associated Content for providing this service for the people?
Authors Note: I have seen articles and comments from other Content Producers mentioning their stint with homelessness. I apologize to those of you I missed when writing this article..
Published by Alyce Rocco
How Homelessness Changed My LifeThis is a true life story of how things got worse after my father died.- The Problem of Homelessness in the United States of AmericaEstimations of the homeless population in the U.S vary, causes of homelessness are structural and deep-seated, and the solutions to homelessness would require a nationwide concerted effort to make fundamental changes...
- Associated Content: An Opportunity for Stay at Home MomsAfter trying a number of unsuccessful business ventures I thought that my luck had run out and that I would soon have to return to work. That was until a fellow work-at-home mother introduced me to Associated Content.
- Homeless Problem: No Problem for Those Not Homeless
- How to Teach Kids About Homeless People
- Why I Don't like Homeless People
- Let's Dress Homeless People Up in Funny Costumes
- Free/low-cost Health Clinics for the Homeless in Maryland
- Portland's Clark Center Homeless Shelter
- Putting a Face on Homelessness
32 Comments
Post a CommentGreat job spotlighting a difficult and often silent issue.
melpol: Not sure of the reasons for the "typical" Shelter occupant. In yesterday's news read that homeless students in Oregon has risen 18%, which 'they' blame on the rise of Prime Mortgage rates. 15,517 kids without a permanent home is rather sad. That figure does not include runaways who flee domestic violence. Once on the streets some do become chronically homeless. Emotionally cornered might describe the Veterans of war who became addicted to alcohol or drugs, because many of those are "typical" of shelter occupants as are Carnival workers who are homeless in the off season.
Wonderful article.
Sundance: Kevin's 4th article was considered "prose" and "AC does not pay for prose". He had considered how long it would take him to write 400 to 500 word articles at the lowest pay scale and did not feel it would earn him enough to make a difference. That is why I copied and pasted that poignant story about the dog (pets & homeless) and did a word count. The link is there to track him down and that would make a good interview.
That was a pretty great article, nice follow up.
Nice article. :-)
I was just thinking about Kevin Barbieux since I live near Nashville and wondered what happened to his AC career that he was pretty worked up about. Since he expressed himself so well I thought we'd see more on AC. I think I read on his blog that he was thinking of heading North for the summer. I might have to track him down for an interview.
Nicely done.
Yeah, I was homeless for two months and survived with the help of YMCA, Red Cross, and the Plasma Bank. That was when I found AbleBody workforce, which comes out to pick you up for daily pay work. It took an additional three months before I was back on my feet working 60 hours a week.
Now I live in another state with somewhat of a good job, a house, and a truck of my own. God blesses those who are diligent and not sluggards. I hope others can learn from this.
Great article. Very well written. This brings light to how so many people can become homeless. I hope the homeless people will continue to publish articles on AC. So many of us need to be educated on this matter. Attitudes need to be changed toward the homeless.