Do you ever think of yourself being homeless?

[Cha]

I once had a wierd and freaky dream some years ago. I dreamt that I lived somewhere outside under a large structure, with just a blanket and a fire. My mother was lying under the blanket. I wouldn't want my mother to go through that.

I think I had this dream because I saw lots of homeless people in San Francisco. In fact, I saw a homeless person lying across the street from my window.

Do any of you ever have this kind of dream? I hope I'm not the only one because it's scary.

[Silver Rusher]

+1.

[Vladimir]

+1.

Clever. I'm not sure what color scheme you're using but it works.

To answer your question: I have family and there are too many ways to climb out of homelessness; providing, of course, that there aren't any serious mental or chemical (i.e. addiction) issues.

[Samurai Waki]

Being homeless is pretty much a lifestyle decision. Most people who are homeless are there because of Chemical Addictions, or serious mental problems that they don't want to confront (or can't).

If in the event that I lost everything for some unfortunate reason, I know enough people that would give me a helping hand before I ever needed to go out for government care.

[Kekvit Irae]

+1.

https://forums.totalwar.org/vb/showthread.php?t=68450

[Blodrast]

Being homeless is pretty much a lifestyle decision. Most people who are homeless are there because of Chemical Addictions, or serious mental problems that they don't want to confront (or can't).

If in the event that I lost everything for some unfortunate reason, I know enough people that would give me a helping hand before I ever needed to go out for government care.

Weeelll... if they can't confront them, then it's not a lifestyle decision, is it ?
Anyway, to answer the question, yes. I am actually quite haunted by this thought, most days. I don't mean dreams, I mean thoughts. And no, I'm not kidding, being sarcastic, etc.
Although I guess there exist shelters... now, I don't know if that will still make me qualify as homeless, but I won't have my own place.
And I am afraid it's likely to happen in the near future.

Anyway, to answer your question: Yes.

[The Stranger]

well blodrast... i hope it is not going to happen.

im not very likely to end up homeless in the near future since im still young etc... but everything can happen

[Cha]

I think about it too, not just in a dream. It's because of guilt. I'm up in my warm apartment while I see a person lying outside. Another reason is that during the recession, I saw lots of people around me lose their jobs. When many of the dotcom companies went belly up, most of the residents in my apartment moved out. Among the people in my floor, me and a neighbor were the only ones left. I also hear about people losing their jobs because of over-qualification. It puts little hope in ones future. Of course they have relatives who can help them while they look for new jobs. Unfortunately, at that time, I was away from my parents to study in America. If I got a job in America, I'd be alone. Plus, I have relatives who have struggled, although they were never homeless.

Fortunately, the American economy had been recovering for a long time. Thus, I haven't been thinking about being homeless for a while.

[macsen rufus]

Being homeless is pretty much a lifestyle decision.

Complete and utter, arrogant, smug, holier-than-thou BS!!!!!

If you didn't know enough people, or they had your attitude and turned their back when you lost your home, or you lost your family, then what? You'd make that "lifestyle choice". What if your house burnt down and your insurance company "smallprinted" you? There's many ways to lose everything you own, and I'm very much aware of what a precarious thread it is.

A lot of people end up homeless because of abuse at home, and being too young or scared to access services or to cope alone, end up on the streets. Even where homeless people do have chemical dependency problems, it doesn't necessarily follow which came first. In some cases it's a coping mechanism. And mental illness hardly qualifies as a "lifestyle choice".

So, yes, to answer the original question, I do occasionally think about it. Especially at times when it looks like my current fortunate situation could all come crashing down around my ears.

[Samurai Waki]

I guess I don't have much sympathy for people who aren't willing to help themselves get out of the cycle. You give me the effort to get out of poverty and I'll give you whatever means necessary to help.
Irregardless of abuse, addictions, etc. There are millions of other people in the world who don't live on the streets that have had to overcome such extremities.
And those people that have mental diseases, well, it can be helped and I push for a strong system to give whatever medical attention is necessary for them to be able to cope.

[yesdachi]

If I was going to be homeless San Fran would not be too bad of a place to do it. I don’t understand why there are homeless people in the colder states (like Michigan). I’d follow the birds south where I could sleep on the beech!

[Blodrast]

Fortunately, the American economy had been recovering for a long time. Thus, I haven't been thinking about being homeless for a while.

This may be of interest to you - check the last paragraph, "Poverty falls": http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5296030.stm.

[Blodrast]

@ Wakizashi: Perhaps I may see where you're coming from, if you're referring to a certain kind of homeless people. Because I see some of those as well, and wonder what's their problem. I'm talking about relatively young people, in their late twenties or early thirties, most of them better dressed than I am (not kidding), smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee, and begging for money "for a cup of coffee".
With respect to those people, yes, I am "wtf ?!". Dude, I couldn't afford smoking if I was a smoker, and I definitely don't spend money every day on coffee... And I would gladly give them my sandwich (whenever I had one), if they were asking for food... but when they're explicitly asking for "coffee money"...

If that's the case, and it's this kind of people you were referring to, then I see your point; however, I hope you're aware that not all of them are like this, and some of them are really in trouble, and it's not "by choice". The "American Dream" is just that, a dream - it's not achievable by everybody. We don't all start equal, or are given equal opportunities through life. Yes, I am aware some overcome their problems and rise above the average, but there are also those who start well, but fall down below the average.

I have admiration and respect for those who DO manage to work their way out of poverty and such, but it's by no means a rule - rather an exception, and, while it does indeed depend much on one's abilities and willingness to make an effort, fate/luck/opportunities/environment play a significant part as well.

[The Spartan (Returns)]

nope.


but i had many where i fall off a cliff, waterfall, or high tower.
quite fun actually!

[Cha]

This may be of interest to you - check the last paragraph, "Poverty falls": http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5296030.stm.

I knew the bad times would return. Then this would be the fifth recession I'd be seeing, since the oil shock thingy, although I was too young to remember that one.

[Vladimir]

The board's present situation index, measuring how shoppers feel about the current economic climate conditions, fell 123.4 in August from 134.2 in July.

Well that's better than the 567.8 rise in housing prices here .

[Celtic_Guardian]

I've been having a lot of dreams about the end of high school lately, maybe because im going to college in two days?

[Togakure]

Had it not been for my family (my father and brother) and a few True friends, I would have experienced homelessness personally. There is bitter truth to the saying: "destroy a man's place in the world and you destroy the man." Now I am learning how to live with far less than I had before. I much better appreciate the life I had, and, the life I have. Before, I would walk past those who asked for coins with a cold heart and refuse them--"get a job," etc.. I remember having a similar attitude towards them as have been expressed by patrons here. Now, though I can't always give them money, I treat them with kindness and respect.

Imagine losing your job, the respect and involvement of family and friends, your self-respect, your things .... Self-actualization, social status, etc., don't matter much when you are cold, filthy, starving, and alone--Mazlow's Needs Hierarchy lived. We who are better to do take so much for granted. I think it's very difficult to relate to unless you've been there, or come close.

There was another thread here: what do you most fear?, etc. I would have to say, having come so close, that being homeless and alone is what I most fear at this point in my life. It was the faith and active help of those who still loved me that kept me alive. They were also responsible for helping me find the will within myself to get up and start over. It took a very long time. Ironically, during my recovery period, I spent most of my time in a virtual world--this one, with my friends here in the TW community. In a way, my virtual friends helped to keep me alive too, because I wasn't truly alone. You know who you are, and I thank you from my Heart for that.

We can walk through Life putting love and kindness out there, or we can look to ourselves and invest only in those who'll likely generate a return investment, or we can look to ourselves and to hell with everyone else. What's your choice?

Mine is compassion, kindness, Love. There will never be enough of these in this world.

Honor

Selfless open Heart
She gives all she has to give
then she gives some more

The right thing, he does
when no one else is looking
no matter, the cost

Her sincerity
What you see is what she is
such beauty, sublime

He rewards himself
unswerving rightmindedness
in the path of death

Always uphold Truth
Unconditionally, Love
even when it hurts

Love for family
Love for friends and foes alike
Love for all the world

Homeless, in darkness
the coins, warm smile, silent tears
Grace of the Valar

Leave this humble world
a bit better than it was
in our special way

- Toga, 11/24/03