Has anyone been homeless?

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Eyenstyn

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It's probably amongst the top 10 fears a person might have. I just want to know how did someone get into that situation and if they got out?
 
well, you need to define your question.

Homeless denotes having nothing and living on the street. There is an attitude that goes with something like that.
I've been homeless, tho I have never lived on the street. I have always had a friend willing to give me a place to crash and a meal when times where hard. And because all my effort went into getting back on my feet (I even polished tyres at a car wash for R30 a day for a bit)I was always welcome there. I slept on a friends lounge floor for 3 months once. Most weeks I would not even get R100 from my endeavors, but because every cent I got went to my buddy to help pay for things he didn't mind giving me a meal a day and a place to sleep.

I have also been in contact with some people that expected a free ride and over stayed their welcome. Then the welcome wears out and you have to move on to the next, and then the next. Until there is nowhere left to go and you haven't put any effort into getting on your feet. Thats when you end up on the street.
 
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I recall a while back a forumite here posting that he was homeless, as in living on the street, and managed to bounce back. I think it may have been Raithlin (apologies if I'm mistaken)?
 
Edit: it was Myrrdin.

Myrrdin said:
That is half the problem isn't it. I see no problem with food and shelter in exchange for labour. That is essentially what I do every day. I work, I get money, I buy food and shelter and games and computers etc, but the bottom line is I work hard, I can have these things. These people want all I have for free. You ask any of them (and I know because I have done this) to come do some menial job like make coffee and clean your offices for a salary. They don't want to. So I have no pity for these people.

And before anyone makes me out as not knowing what I am talking about. My first business failed and I had over committed personal capital. I lost everything and I mean everything. No car, no house, no food, no job and black listed by the bank, vodacom, telkom, you name them. I was one step away from a hobo, no I actually was one step into being a hobo. I spent about a month sleeping on the beach in Cape Town.

Today I am what many people will term successfull. It's a mindset. I do lots of charity work through the Lions organization and the Salvation Army. I also give free computer support to various charities around Gauteng. I see people like this on a regular basis. They dont need a helping hand they need a firm kick up the back side.
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Respect to that man!
 
i remember a couple of months back a lady came on here.
she and her husband had lost their jobs and were about to lose their house and were in a serious amount of debt.
very sad.
 
I have been homeless before bumming nights to sleep on friends couches. Slept on the station a few times as well as in abandoned buildings. Was down and out for about 3 months...

It's not easy, things turned out OK in the end and as someone above me noted, it is a mind set.
 
Juggy said:
I have been homeless before bumming nights to sleep on friends couches. Slept on the station a few times as well as in abandoned buildings. Was down and out for about 3 months...

It's not easy, things turned out OK in the end and as someone above me noted, it is a mind set.
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Respect to Juggy too!

Awesome thread this, puts our lives into perspective and makes me see some of the posters here in a different light. I would never have imagined you having been homeless Juggy, especially after all your questions and advice on some cool gadgets.
 
Yeah, an eye-opener of note. I can only imagine how tough being homeless must be. But like some of you said, if you're driven enough then there's nothing you can't overcome. Well done.
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Respect to Juggy too!

Awesome thread this, puts our lives into perspective and makes me see some of the posters here in a different light. I would never have imagined you having been homeless Juggy, especially after all your questions and advice on some cool gadgets.
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Thanks Mike, as mentioned before it is a mind set to get your self out of the hole that you find yourself in.

That was all about 17 years ago though just after the army so maybe the mind wasn't in the right place at the time. Married now with 2 kids on the way and a very good senior sysadmin job with a large, successful company so life certainly has been kind thus far.

Weird thing was my family all lived close by but I didn't ask for help. Dumbass here has pride bigger than the mountains;)
 
I once felt like being homeless for about 3 months. I worked as a door-to-door salesman that didn't pay. I rented a room that was infested with fleas. I basically only slept there. Morale was quite low.
 
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I was homeless last weekend but she eventually forgave me and let me back in.
 
Juggy said:
Thanks Mike, as mentioned before it is a mind set to get your self out of the hole that you find yourself in.

That was all about 17 years ago though just after the army so maybe the mind wasn't in the right place at the time. Married now with 2 kids on the way and a very good senior sysadmin job with a large, successful company so life certainly has been kind thus far.

Weird thing was my family all lived close by but I didn't ask for help. Dumbass here has pride bigger than the mountains;)
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I must say your story is inspiring.
 
NO, thank god. But I know of people who have come close...the stress it causes is unbelievable.

Respect to anyone who goes through something like that.
 
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