Has anyone been homeless?

Jip. Been there. Done that. Took the lowest paying job and crawled my way back. ( in a factory )
Like Mac said thanx too friends I only had too sleep in a shopping mall for a couple of nights. Still my friends and I had the privlage too help them out after that ( nobody in the size off doodoo I found myself though :D )
 
@mad i actually meant someone who lost everything and not just someone sleeping on the street.

Its common to say that you've been through hard times but how do u compare that with someone who has nothing - maybe nothing to live for?
 
Thanfully, I have never been in such a position.

Respect to all has and overcome it.

very inspiring and it puts things in perspective
 
Mila said:
Jip. Been there. Done that. Took the lowest paying job and crawled my way back. ( in a factory )
Like Mac said thanx too friends I only had too sleep in a shopping mall for a couple of nights. Still my friends and I had the privlage too help them out after that ( nobody in the size off doodoo I found myself though :D )
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I know exactly what you mean. I took a job flipping burgers at the Spur at R180 a week, I did a chefs course in the army and became an officers chef so I figured I should get into food somehow. 3 months later I started waitering then 8 months after that I was a manager. Kept that going for almost 4 years and the rest is history.
 
Eyenstyn said:
@mad i actually meant someone who lost everything and not just someone sleeping on the street.

Its common to say that you've been through hard times but how do u compare that with someone who has nothing - maybe nothing to live for?
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yea, there is that. There was a guy living on the street here in Springs. One of the local pastors found him and it turned out he had lost his wife in a house fire in Roodepoort. Just couldn't cope with it. Went for a walk and (unlike Forrest) he didn't come home. He had family and they did help when they found him. Last I heard he had just disappeared again.

Tho I had nothing more than a kit bag of clothes. I was suffering serious depression and utter lacking in self confidence/self worth. I just couldn't understand why anybody would want to employ me, I didn't think I was worth anything. And although I eventually found a job, I ended up working for years doing a job and handling responsibilities for less than a quarter of the salary I should have been getting. Took years for me to understand what I am worth, and I still struggle with self worth issues today. My wife was a huge part of the change. Its incredible what a little encouragement from the right person can do!
Like Juggy said. Its a mind set. And also like Juggy, Spur was a large part of me getting back on my feet. (and falling off them at McGinty's across the hall :D)
 
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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Well done lad. I's a pleasure reading your story!
 
I have never been homeless. However, everyday when I see these people begging on the street I always say "thank you" to myself thank you for my car, petrol, food, roof over your heads, security, loved ones all this stuff. These homeless people on the corners of the street are for me like awareness beacons. Reminding me to be thankful for what I have. each and everyday.
 
I'm glad i have loving parents and a bursary for my studies T_T i have not actually pictured myself being homeless, but after reading this thread... eish. and most of my friends are the kind of friends who wouldnt mind me staying for 1 week, but a month?? wow i need new friends lol
 
some of these stories are hair raising, i can't imagine living on the street. I think i would go positively mad.

But then again i think i may have a support system around me which would not allow me to live on the street unless i totally decide to go way out and let pride get in the way.

I just realised again how thankful i must be! Thankful for everything i get in life, everything i have, Just plain thankful, i don't think i am nearly thankful enough...
 
A small black kid with a dog was begging outside of Spar one day, really scruffy looking kid, doubt he had a home.

Anyway I had a really kak day at work and just walked past him thinking in my head go ask ANC for money, they piss it away, that's why I pay tax etc etc.

Later that evening whilst sitting on my coach I felt kak hey.....really kak, I could of easily bought the kid a meal and even bought food for the dog.
His just a kid!
This Government just get's under your skin most days!! and people suffer for it.
 
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Eyenstyn said:
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?
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Yeah, I was homeless for a month. Turned my low point of my life into an adventure.

Was in 97 and I just got married (we had not cash) and we where on our way to Pretoria from Cape via PE. Car broke down in PE (Kings Beach Parking lot) and we had no cash, not even R1. We where selling stuff a flea markets and street stalls and still had about R300 worth of stock.

Thank goodness it was in November and the fun fare had just set up shop at Kings Beach. We moved our car to one of the trading bays by chance and got the rights to trade their. We made very little and often only had money every 2nd day for food. We even got a warning for illegal "squatting" as we where sleeping in the car. The fun fare guys felt sorry for us and would often invite us over for dinner. I also got to work in exchange for dinner as an extra hand at night. My job was to fill an empty seat on some of the rides if there where not enough people - it was awesome.

After 5 weeks we managed to get more stock from family, made enough money to get the car fixed and got ourselves out of trouble. Even though we still had the car to sleep in, we where homeless.
 
There are some really inspiring stories in this thread. Much respect to all of you who have overcome such circumstances!
 
I will be homeless from the 31st March 2011

I have been living with my brother and sister-in-law for about 3 years now. I am not well educated and can't seem to find a decent paying job that will allow me to pay rental on flat and provide for food savings and the like. I am 40 years old & a female - never married - no children. Previously we lived in the house that my dad built and it was ok as when my sister in law threw tantrums regarding my living there I went downstairs and slept on the garage floor. Now they have sold that house and bought in an upmarket area - and are paying a very high price - bond - rates and maintenance. So my brother asked me to lave as he can no longer afford to keep me. I have paid them whatever I managed to earn and bought food when I could. Otherwise didn't eat or ate bread, tea and the like. On Thursday I have to go to the state hospital to pick up my chronic medication and then I don't know. My possessions in this world: a laptop, one suitcase of clothes - not a cent right now. What should I do on Thursday.
 
iamwhatiam said:
I have been living with my brother and sister-in-law for about 3 years now. I am not well educated and can't seem to find a decent paying job that will allow me to pay rental on flat and provide for food savings and the like. I am 40 years old & a female - never married - no children. Previously we lived in the house that my dad built and it was ok as when my sister in law threw tantrums regarding my living there I went downstairs and slept on the garage floor. Now they have sold that house and bought in an upmarket area - and are paying a very high price - bond - rates and maintenance. So my brother asked me to lave as he can no longer afford to keep me. I have paid them whatever I managed to earn and bought food when I could. Otherwise didn't eat or ate bread, tea and the like. On Thursday I have to go to the state hospital to pick up my chronic medication and then I don't know. My possessions in this world: a laptop, one suitcase of clothes - not a cent right now. What should I do on Thursday.
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Firstly, i'm sorry for the situation you're in. I think you need to beg your brother for a little bit more time and plea with your sister-in-law to agree to this. That will allow you to really think deeply about your plan to get out of this rut. Every single one of us is capable of extraordinary things, and perhaps this is the big push you needed. Be more proactive than you've ever been, and try work as many jobs as possible. It's sad that in the years gone by, you didn't find a time to further educate yourself but don't let that be your excuse for not being able to stand on your own two feet. You need to dig deep and find that inspiration thats going to take your life from bad to great...

Good luck!
 
Pavan said:
Firstly, i'm sorry for the situation you're in. I think you need to beg your brother for a little bit more time and plea with your sister-in-law to agree to this. That will allow you to really think deeply about your plan to get out of this rut. Every single one of us is capable of extraordinary things, and perhaps this is the big push you needed. Be more proactive than you've ever been, and try work as many jobs as possible. It's sad that in the years gone by, you didn't find a time to further educate yourself but don't let that be your excuse for not being able to stand on your own two feet. You need to dig deep and find that inspiration thats going to take your life from bad to great...

Good luck!
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Thank you for the kind words. I have spoken to my brother but his wife had the final word. And I do not wish to be a cause of friction between them. They have a young son and don't need marital problems. I was hoping to get some concrete first hand advice as it seemed people on here went thru homelessness. Is there a shelter for woman I can go to to sleep at until I have options.
 
iamwhatiam said:
Thank you for the kind words. I have spoken to my brother but his wife had the final word. And I do not wish to be a cause of friction between them. They have a young son and don't need marital problems. I was hoping to get some concrete first hand advice as it seemed people on here went thru homelessness. Is there a shelter for woman I can go to to sleep at until I have options.
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Sorry, but what do you think is going to change? How will you suddenly have options later if you have none now? Sorry to sound nasty, but it seems to me like you have lived with your family your entire life and have never looked after yoursef for one single day. Now you have to leave and you want a shelter or something untill you have 'options'?

I don't think you are telling us the entire story. I cannot see how your brother would just kick you out onto the street without there being more involved. Honestly, if you had taken a low paying job and paid some kind of rent and board to your brother maybe things would not have gotten to the point they are now. On top of that if you had a job its much easier to get another, and increasing your skills, then another. I think the real problem here is your 'Victim' mentality.
Your first post is filled with reasons why you cant and therefore you don't. You sneak arround the house making everyone feel bad. You need to find reasons why you can. I know from experience how tough it is raising a small child, and I can think of a hundred ways in wich you could have made yourself usefull arround the house, but it seems that you have not made the effort.

If you read this thread you will find one thing in common between all of those who hit rock bottom and climbed up again. They all worked their asses off to get there. Change your mentality.

You need to be brutally honest with yourself. You could be a waitress or a domestic worker. I'm sure you will come with some or other 'victim' reason why you cannot do any of these. Or anything else for that matter.
You need to find ways arround that victim mentality. If you don't you will end up on the street. And you will stay there.
 
1.Looking after the baby for the last 2 years is what got me by when I had short time and couldn't make enough to pay them. Now he's in creche and there is no need.
2.I haven't lived all my life with family. Lived alone in JHB for 10 years of it. Then was hit by a chronic illness that hospitalised me for long periods of time and prevented me from holding down the long term employment that I had there. With no income and need recuperation I returned to Durban.
3.Have offered domestic services door to door to community in return for "live-in" position. Thus far no response.
 
iamwhatiam said:
1.Looking after the baby for the last 2 years is what got me by when I had short time and couldn't make enough to pay them. Now he's in creche and there is no need.
2.I haven't lived all my life with family. Lived alone in JHB for 10 years of it. Then was hit by a chronic illness that hospitalised me for long periods of time and prevented me from holding down the long term employment that I had there. With no income and need recuperation I returned to Durban.
3.Have offered domestic services door to door to community in return for "live-in" position. Thus far no response.
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If you had a job for 10 years, why not go back into that profession? surely if you held it for 10 years you must hold some kind of skill set.
 
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