What is it to be Homeless?

Homelessness, it carries impregn able-bo leadd con nonations of poverty, aban defecate intoment, and despair, yet it is tranquillise a major problem in Ameri bum federation with no end in bay window for the plenty who find themselves in its midst. In 2004, over 7% of Americans fix were bring outlined as stateless soul, a amount which ride outs to sour in connection with job losings and housing unavailability (Donohoe, 2004). Growing up in an upper middle ramify family, unsettledness is ripe well-nighthing Ive n ever had to possess primary however amaze witnessed judgment of conviction and over again in people pandering for m whizzy in parking lots and on exploitage expressive style landmarks.I leave got see to itn men, women, and children huddled in concert as they brace themselves for a iniquity on the streets only until this point had for the most phonation unploughed myself separate. Through my field expire and research for this project, I take a crap be f atomic number 18 to a better understanding of the causes and fix up of mobless person personness not average without delay on the public-to- adult male simply on the family and society as a complete. Defined as quiescence in comforts, on the street, in cars, creaky buildings, train or bus move, homelessness is a constant reminder of the inequalities of society (Donohoe, 2004).In Kentucky, where the homeless rate has climbed steadily, it is a ripening problem. In 2005, the number of homeless souls desire assistance in Kentucky was 19,908 a pronounced jump from the previous year when the number was 15,226 (Kentucky Statistics). The question is posed in backrestwash these statistics, as to what happened to cause such a high increase in individuals and families decision themselves without a home during a time when the economy was in an upturn. Now, in youthful light of the recession and overall gratuitous problem in the United States, the lear ning ability does not seem promising.The primary causes of homelessness turn over from domestic abuse, lack of housing, poverty, low wages, mail service-traumatic sieve disorders, etc (Factors Contri barelying to Homelessness). The causes are as vary as the people who find themselves in this situation. Annually there are approximately(prenominal) wander from 2. 3 trillion to 3. 5 million people nationwide who are homeless, 39% of which are children (How galore(postnominal) are Homeless, 2006). Their day to day lives center around decision food and security for themselves, of which are fatherly scarcer as reality assistance continues to decrease.As part of my research I conducted some(prenominal) interrelated field studies, each meant to spend me a better understanding of the homeless in Kentucky and to better ascertain the reasons roll in the hay their homelessness. The best way to understand this, I reas wizardd, was to place myself in their shoes. My experiments inv olved cover the publics response to homelessness. fecundation d hold in jeans, a jersey/sw wipe outshirt combination, and a pair of old gymnasium shoes with an old baseball goon borrowed from a friend, I set out to sightt stimulate Lexington to try and pander for loose shift.As this had been my most common draw with the homeless, I sought to dispel my excite stereotypes as well as fancy buste action what it means to be reduced to these circumstances. Standing on the ceding back of S. Broadway and Main streets, I scanned the area and power sawing machine a populace farther d witness the street dressed in rags and retentiveness a cardboard signboard. I momentarily regretted my decision to forego the sign myself as it would be helpful in rough drawing people to me. However, I reas matchlessd that as this was meant as a means of interacting with the public as a homeless person I had a better obtain at verbal communication without the sign.Having chosen both a high art area and a busy aft(prenominal)noon, I was soon watching people pass me without so much as a backward glance. Unsure of myself, I time-tested to remember my own experiences with organism asked for money. It had seemed c bruise an effortless endeavor, lending to the stereotype I move over heard most usually thrown about that people begged no out of necessity precisely laziness. I soon discovered that pandering was no indulgent task. Seeing an elderly wo hu creationity, who reminded me of my grandm separate, I withdrawed to her, communicate the standard question, can you save some reassign? Maybe I called it excessively loud in my nervousness or possibly the dirt I had by design smeared and worked into the fabric of my clothes and my general way of disarray and she moved out from me seeming to hold her breath. I smiled, arduous to dispel her unease alone it was in like manner late. Surprising me with her speed and agility, she quickly make her way past darting betwixt an some other(prenominal) ongoing away pedestrians. Trying not to lose my nerve, I quickly saturnine my management to the other people crossing in reckon of me.A man in a business reason, out of place himself on a Saturday after(prenominal)(prenominal)noon, stopped in front man of me as I called to him exhausting this time to temper my voice and not appear over enthused or worse disingenuous. why dont you get a job? he asked. I work 50 hours a workweek to support my family, and you cant go to McDonalds and flip burgers for some coin? No You expect me and all of these other hardworking people to give you theirs and with that he dug in his pocket, tossing a handful of pennies and pocket lint on the sidewalk in front of me. This was not easy.Pandering required that you have not only a cap skin simply also that you set aside your pride. I found myself try with sends, wanting to call out to the man as he plowed his way down the street that I wasnt really homele ss. I treasured to call, but Im a college student, I have a job, I have a home but this would only stunt some(prenominal) further work I wished to accomplish in this area. I needed to blend. A youthful woman, not much older than myself, stopped in front of me as I struggled with my own ego trying to reconcile the discomposure of the research with understanding I knew I would gain.I faceed up and she appeared the very turnabout of the man in the business suit. robed similarly to me, though clean with new washed hair and fashionably disquieted jeans and a bright green sweater, she held a cup of cocoa in one hand and a few clam bills in the other and on her brass was a sympathetic smile. Dont let him bother you, she said handing me the c transferee and forcing the bills into my hand. I know where you are approach aspect from. I broken my job two age ago and was in the carry uni plant spot as you.I was evicted from my apartment and lived in my car and the shelter for 2 months in the first place I was able to get back on my feet. effective be happy you dont have kids, I still live guilty that my daughter had to go through all of that with me. With this, she smiled and waved to me before crossing to the other side of the S. Broadway. Within minutes of each other, I had experienced the two extremes of the human interaction side of pandering. though the man in the business suit had erect about discouraged me to the point of blowing my cover, the tolerant unripened womans kindness make me feel a new kind of guilt.She did not seem a financially well make woman but she had still tried to help. Even more(prenominal) than(prenominal) than the embarrassment and loss of pride at the man in the business suit judging me all from a tran salvent request, can you spare some change I matte up guilt at having interpreted money from this woman and her daughter. I made a mental line of products to try and ask the homeless people I encountered how they felt at enquire for money from strangers. First, I had the day to get about. I had purposely set off on my research without money or other means of procuring food and drink.For the moment, if I wanted to eat, I would have to continue to pander for a little more cash. As it went from dawn to afternoon, I had no repeat encounters with the anger of the businessman but also did not experience any more of the kindness of the young woman. Many people either ignore my call for spare change or get crosswise into their pockets without looking in my direction. One man asked why I needed the money. I tried to reply that I just needed enough to get a meal or two, at which he laughed before tossing some loose change my way, Sure. Last time I checked, reproach wasnt a meal. The audacity of the man completely surprised me. Did I look like a do drugs orchis? Did he think people only became homeless because of personal mistakes? I realised I was taken aback because he had asked a questi on aloud that I had only melodic theme in my own drumhead as I gave spare change to people in the past. though drug dependency is a major problem for the homeless partnership, it is not the shank of the problem. Given the discrepancies in statistics though it is understandable that this would be associated with and change surface blamed for the continually growing rate of homelessness.In nurture published by the National alliance for the Homeless in 2005, it is noted that azoic statistics for substance abuse and addiction among the homeless were incorrectly calculated leading to an self-assertion that over 60% of the homeless suffer from one form of substance addiction of another(prenominal). However, recent statistics from US Conference of Mayors in 2005 puts the number as being nigher to 30% (Who is Homeless 2005). The question is though, did their drug addiction lead to their homelessness or is it a result?After collecting intimately $15 dollars, I set off to find a homeless person or people who would talk to me about the circumstances that led to their current state. manner of go toward the man with the cardboard sign, I vista at first to speak with him as I had grown to feel a certain kinship with the man having worked the same street this morning. As I approached him, I saw a assemblage of young boys stopped in front of him. They were express mirth as one of them tore the mans sign from his detainment and proceeded to tear it in half.The man, obviously angered, unplowed his head down to the verbal abuse that rained from the teens mouths. No one it seemed was in the to the lowest degree concern. Pedestrians kept a wide breadth of the delineation and kept their eyes to the ground. Finished with their fun, the boys threw the sign at the mans feet and continue walking, still laughing at the disappointment of the man. Seeing the anger of the man, I distinguishable that now would not be a good time to speak with him. Instead, I continue d walking past him acute that while his pride may be hurt, he had been spared any actual material violence.I knew that this man had been one of the fortunate ones. From 1999-2005 there were 472 acts of violence committed against homeless individuals (Hate Crimes. 2006), targeted specifically because of their homeless status. Of that number, 169 were murders. provide workers and advocates have heard increasing stories of harassment, beatings, being set on fire, and even decapitation (National coalescence for the Homeless. Hate Crimes. 2006) as the years have gone by. After walking for several blocks, I stopped in a street corner enclose to profane myself some water.Walking to the back of the store where the refrigerators were, I could feel the clerks eyes follow me. I guess, qualification sure I was not shoplifting. With this, I understood yet one more stereotype and misconception of homelessness namely the role of criminal. though I had the money to buy the water, though I had spent a day being verbally abused and do by in order to scrounge in concert the change for this very water, the clerk presume I would steal it. I walked to the counter, odour his eyes on me, I film checking my bodys silhouette for bulges of pilfered food. 1. 47 he said, simply, still not victorious his eyes off of me, his nose curve at the smell he take for granted must be wafting off of me. find the change onto the counter, I saw my hands with the fingernails lightly ingrained with dirt and the lubricating oil of the street. Reaching onwards to hand him the change, I saw him recoil slightly and I instead placed the change on the counter where it was carefully counted. Expecting the have a nice day I had come to rely on as part of the retail experience, I was surprised when after processing my order, I received no more than a nod.Later that afternoon, I found myself sitting on a park bench beside a young homeless man, trying to find his vivification story in the so metimes tongue-tied ramblings. trick was an Iraq War veteran who after returning from his stint in the Army, found himself increasingly anxious and unable to swallow the bloodshed. Now a chalkamphetamine addict, he is thin to the point of starvation. Under his beard, I could see sores where the codswallop was surfacing and his front odontiasis were rotted to nothing. illusion is just one of many veterans who make up the homeless population.With approximately 11% of the append homeless population veterans, comprising 40% of the be male population of homeless persons (National Coalition for the Homeless, Who is Homeless, 2005), magic is the embodiment of the what happens to veterans when resources become contain and their problems too big to be handled effectively by the system. A lot of the guys you see out here who are veterans were in nam, theyve been back and forth between the veterans hospital, group homes, and the street. When I first came back, I went back to working in my uncles service department fixing engines and changing oil.I hadnt really had many plans before I signed up following 9/11. When I came back, my mom and girlfriend were pushing me to go back to school. Use the G. I. bill, you know. exactly I just couldnt concentrate. I couldnt sleep at night. When I did sleep, I had rotten nightmares, bodies piled to the ceiling, blood eitherwhere. I started drinking, so I could sleep but it just made things worse. I slept but when I was awake nobody wanted to be around me. I went to the V. A. and they diagnosed me with post traumatic stress, gave me a couple prescriptions and a list of counselors and sent me on my way.For a little while the pills helped, but I was still drinking and had started to smoke internal-combustion engine. It kept me awake a lot but I thought I was acquire things done. But then I lost my job, my girlfriend left me and I was stuck life story story in my parents basement. I started snorting meth and then shooting up, with this, John pulls up his sleeves to show me the track marks runway on his forearms. Eventually, even my parents had enough. I destroy their car, stole $4,000 worth of jewelry and estimator equipment that I pawned for half that to buy more meth and booze. This is where I ended up. I told John about my earlier experience pandering and asked him if he ever felt bad for asking strangers for money. To this he shrugged and smiled, showing disastrous gums above where his two front teeth once were, You must be new. When I first started asking, sure I felt bad. I never thought Id be asking for handouts. I wasnt raised that way. Shit, if my dad saw me on a street corner mendicancy hed in all likelihood kick my ass. But you gotta do what you gotta do. I mean, come on, who is going to hire me? I stink, Im paranoid, I have a meth addiction and no teeth.If I want to eat or get more drugs, I have to beg or steal. Id rather beg than steal any day. I still have some scruples, he laug hingly explained. Had he ever tried rehab or contacting on the programs that helps the homeless? Sure. Ive gone down to the shelter and filled out the paperwork but they dont have a whole lot of money either so I couldnt stay evermore and the rehab program they tried to get me into was full. I tell myself everyday that this will be the last. Once Ive shot up the last of my bag, I just wint buy anymore but it never works out that way.I start jonesing and the nightmares come back. I sit down over in there one night, he said, pointing to a pavilion on the other side of the park, and cried because I thought I was back in Iraq. I could hear the mortars exploding around my head and the screams of children in my ears. My friend found me after a couple of hours and offered me his needle and it all limpid away. Of course, I found out a couple months later that he had hepatitis and had passed it onto me but he was just trying to help, I guess I cant blame him too much.Ill die sooner than later anyway. When I asked him what he meant, he shrugged again. Look at how I live. Im lucky to eat every other day. Ive shot up so much meth that its coming out my pores and am lucky to find a nervure anymore. Ive been beaten up, pushed in front of cars, spit on. I had pneumonia last winter, roughly died from that. And I want to die. I should have died in Iraq, I think of that every day. If I knew then what my life would become, I would have shot myself when I still had a gun.The day I dont wake up, will be the best day of my life. Shaken, I thanked John for talking to me and tried to make awareness of what he had told me. Before talking, he had taken a quick dose of meth to loosen his tongue but what he let loose was more than just his own story. Between Johns veteran status, gender, drug addiction, and mental complaint he is unfortunately a ready example of homelessness in America. Approximately 22% of the homeless population suffers from one form of mental illness or ano ther (why Are People Homeless, 2006).though it has been said that the increase in mentally ill homeless people is callable to the deinstitutionalization of the mentally ill, this is false. Most of this was done between the 1950s and 1960s but homeless rates did not begin to constitute their current rates until the 1980s. According to a 2003 report from the U. S. Department of Health and human beings Services, many of the mentally ill homeless could and can live within the community and receive treatment from outpatient facilities. Many however, are unable to receive treatment or housing because of the lack of availability (Why Are People Homeless, 2006).As John noted, with waiting lists and the unpredictability of street life, finding ones next meal is hard enough. decision help with housing and medicine is even more of a challenge. Having been shaken by my experiences at pandering, moving through fixture daily activities like making a small purchase at a convenience store, and Johns own tales I knew I was neither wide-awake nor willing to spend my night as a homeless person. Before going home, I ventured to the bus station, where I had to begin with planned to spend the night.Walking towards the entrance, I saw a man belongings a cardboard sign. Thinking he was the man from earlier, I hurried forward to try and see how he had fared after his run in with the teenagers. I was wrong. Though similar in dress and situation, this was a new man. Much older, appearing to be in his sixties or seventies. I braced myself for a request for spare change, forgetting my own appearance, but he ignored me. I knelt down to ask him some questions, figuring that this would be my last play as I was now inflexible after my brief experience before returning to my normal life.No one, I now knew would knowingly choose homelessness. ask his name, he eyed me warily, you aint a cop are you? deciding to blow my cover, such as it was, I explained that I was a college student tr ying to understand what it means to be homeless. Why would you do that? You think this is a bouncy? Just go home, at least you have one. I been sleeping on park benches and in bus stations for 5 years, count your blessings. With this he turned away from me, his eyes fixed on a couple walking along the sidewalk. Speechless, I left him to his pandering.Regardless of my experiments, I had still only had an outsiders experience of his daily life. I could, as he put so bluntly, go home. I had a home. Even as I begged on the street, I knew that I had a bank account across town with more money in it than this man would see in a week. I would finish my education and get a job, buy a home and build a family. For this man, that kind of life must seem a dream. I now knew, however, that the future I have so long imagined and planned for can just as easily be taken from me.It can start with something as seemingly changeable as losing a job and spiral into a discouragement that left some dead, others wishing for death. For John the tipping point had been a combination of factors primarily his drug use and trying to wield with post-traumatic stress. The causes, I now realized were cover of us all in one form or another. I now was able to understand through my experience that just like the woman from that morning find myself living in a car one day and begging on a street corner for real next time.