Why am I still homeless

For those of you who are curious, I’ve been homeless off and on for about 10 years. Mostly on. Actually over those 10 years, I’ve been homeless or on the street about 8 of them.

Now to answer the question “Why am I still homeless”.

There is no simple reason for why I am still homeless. I’ve been asked that question by several people over the years. In the past my addictions and pride kept me homeless. Now it’s a different set of circumstances keeping me out here.

There is no one thing or reason unless you are a Christian and then the only reason is that He is keeping me homeless for a reason. Maybe He is not done teaching me something or because He has a something that I am to do for Him. I can’t say. The other day my brother asked me that question and the only reasonable thing that came to mind was that God does have a plan for me and that it included being homeless.

A lot of people would just say that using Him as an excuse is just a cop out. It’s not really, but then if you want to know all the other little details let’s try these excuses on for size.

1.     I’ve signed up for subsidized public housing. The problem here is that it takes a very long time before you are accepted. I know some people who have been on the waiting list for over a year and a half

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2.     Then if I am to pay my own way which for me is the preferred way to go, I need to find work. That sounds easier than it really is. I do look for work. I am listed and get postings from several job search sites on the internet as well as from the Texas Workforce Commission. I am also listed with several temporary agencies. With that being said there are problems here too.

a.       My lack of a recent job history.

b.      My criminal record. I’ve messed myself up with this one.

c.       My age. I was told by a friend at church, who works with their companies HR department, that age is a problem even though they cannot legally discriminate because of age there are many more people applying for the same job who are less qualified than I am but are much younger.

d.      What I am physically capable of doing. While am healthy I don’t have the body of a 20 year old.

e.      Transportation to and from. Public transportation is my only option here and the buses don’t go everywhere.

f.        The lack of available jobs of any sort that I can do.

g.       There are several other things of somewhat lesser importance.

3.       Another problem with being homeless is that you spend most of your time just trying to survive.

a.       I go to at least one food bank a week that takes at least one whole day per food bank.

b.      I collect aluminum cans along the highways for extra cash and that’s another day sometimes two taken up.

c.       Trips to the store, on foot because I don’t want to waste the money on the bus fare, for things I don’t get from the food banks, fuel for my stove and other necessities.  

d.      My camp is my home so there is another day sometimes two where I have to take care of it. Cleanup. Laundry. Maintenance and repairs.

e.      This time of year (fall) I have to gather the material to convert my tent from a summer shelter to something a bit warmer and more weatherproof for the winter months.

f.        Here’s one that everyone knows but fail to account for in my time equation. I walk everywhere. The places I go are not 5 minutes away by car but 1 hour on foot. On top of that there is nothing much that is less than 45 minutes away from where my camp is when I walk

So there you have it. Being homeless, at least my type of homelessness is a full time deal. I do volunteer work two days a week as well to stay busy and to network with other people. Why is it that I’m still homeless? Can’t say for sure. I do like the Christian answer but truthfully all of the above reasons are part of the equation as well. There are probably several other reasons I could list here that just don’t come to mind.

But before I end this posting let me say this to all of you who think that my being homeless is because I sit around and don’t do anything. You are mistaken. There are many other homeless people who do just sit around but I am not one of them. I am actively trying to improve my situation and to say otherwise is insulting to me. I can forgive someone who believes otherwise or thinks I could do more but until that person really understands what it takes to pick yourself up after sinking this low I won’t waste my time on them.

I don’t like being homeless. I am no longer too proud or too ashamed to talk about it. I am actively trying to change things. It does take time though. I’ve traveled a long way to get to where I am now and I have a long way yet to go. Send me an email if you have any ideas that may help me or if not I just hope that this post helps you understand my personal reason for being homeless. Keep in mind that this is the best answer to the question “why are you still homeless”. As for other homeless people you will have to ask them.