posted on Oct, 2 2009 @ 03:10 AM
I have myself been homeless, it was a long time ago, but I will always remember.
When I was just barely 17, I did have a job and was living at home. Family life became so violent I had to leave. I had no one to count on, as we
had just moved to a new area a few months before, and basically I did not know anyone, so I ended up on the streets.
I would "bathe" in the bathroom of grocery stores or wherever I could find before I would go to work, at the time, fast food. I was also still
hiking my butt to school every day as I wanted to graduate.
The money I was making, was not enough to afford anywhere to live, though I did look. Some nights I would have friends sneak me into their rooms to
sleep in the warmth. A few of the parents let me stay a day or two, but then would make me leave, not wanting the responsibility of another teen in
their homes.
After a few weeks of this, word got back to my boss at the fast food restaurant, he fired me as "he could not have an employee who was homeless".
In confusion, I tried to explain, that I was still going to school, that I was looking for a place to live, but without a job, I would not get a place
to live. He did not care and fired me, leaving me without the one thing that was at least allowing me to continue going to school and feed myself. A
job.
After I was fired, I still tried to go to school, but it was becoming harder and harder. I would stand in front of the grocery stores, and not ask
for money, but for food, things like fruit or sandwiches if I saw those items in someone's grocery bag. Nine times out of ten I would be ignored,
and the worse was those that would yell at me to get a job. That one person in ten, would have compassion and give me something to eat.
I lived this way for two months, it felt like 20 years, fighting to go to school, fighting to stay warm. I admit, I started becoming, what people
were telling me I was, a no good bum. I started stealing groceries instead of begging for it as I was much more likely to have a meal if I stole it.
I started telling people to "f off" if I asked for money and they said no. I started drinking heavily, I stole that too, at least it made sleeping
on a bench somewhere much more "comfortable". I became, what they hated.
Finally, someone offered me assistance and allowed me to stay at their place until I got a job, got myself together and found a place to live.
Without that one person who offered me assistance, I have no idea where I would be right now. Who knows. Maybe dead, or that true drug addicted
alcohol drinking "bum".
I graduated High School, and fought my way through college.
Those on here who are not compassionate, you are the one who fired me for being homeless. Knowing that would make my situation worse.
Those of you here who are not compassionate, you are the nine that denied me that sandwich sticking out of your grocery bag as you climbed into your
brand new SUV yelling at me to get off drugs and get a job, even though I did not do drugs. Even though I had had a job, even though I was 17
fighting to finish school.
Those of you here who are not compassionate, you are the ones who in the middle of winter, refused me a warm place to sleep.
Those of you here who are not compassionate, get a heart and get an efn clue. If it was not for that one person, who noticed a 17 year old in need,
and offered her real help, I would have truly become, what you hate. So stop and think. Many times, we just need someone, one person to stop and
say, you look like you need help, come, here is a meal, here is a warm bed, here is a shower, here is a ride to a place to work, and here is a ride to
school.
Harm None
Peace