Homelessness: What Should Be Done (A Personal Experience)
I was sixteen when I first went out on the streets and became a runaway. I would try to sleep on the sidewalk, under bridges, down by the river, in skyways, and any other place which seemed available at the time. I would steal, rob, and lie just to try and get by. I would be cold and scared at night, because I didn’t know who would come along and try to do the same things to me what I was doing to others. I was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and became a womanizer. I tried to commit suicide numerous times. I basically gave up, because it seemed as if no one loved me at all.
I was going through some rough times. To try and gain some protection, I joined a gang and did bad things to try and impress others. In 2002, I was involved in a robbery. We conned some people into going down to the river with us, pretending we were going to smoke weed with them. We went to the river, robbed them, made them take off their clothes, and walk into the water so we could escape. We were caught, not even 5 or 10 minutes later, trying to cross a bridge. We were taken to jail and let out almost the same night. I was going to be convicted and sent to prison to try and do a 3 ½ year sentence. Thanks to God, though, I joined a program and received only 60 days community service/STS.
After that, I went down to the shelter called Salvation Army Harbor Lights to receive a place to eat and sleep. I would also go to Mary Jo’s and try to get a free meal and whatever benefits were there. I was a thief and a liar, but this was a choice I made. I went out on the streets and became a runaway, because I was angry about past things which happened to me with Mom and all. She sexually and physically abused me when I was between 4 &5. I was trying to escape, but was going nowhere fast and in a hurry. I needed help.
God is so good. He picked me up, dusted me off and started me on the right path. I am very grateful and thankful for His grace and mercy. Without Him I would have been in prison, in the grave, or still out there on the streets.
In 2002, October, to be precise, I was given a “second chance”. I went to the Salvation Army and joined the Spiritual Growth program. Through this program, I was made into a better man. With God’s help, I quit smoking, drinking, cussing, hustling, and many other things I used to do. Then in August, 2005, I was blessed with an apartment, along with more food clothing and shelter than I needed.
There are many people in this country and throughout the world who are homeless or eventually will be. Homelessness is not always the homeless person’s fault. This can happen to anyone, through not having a job because there’s a felony on the record. Many don’t have a choice but to be homeless, and some choose to be this way because they would rather indulge in their drug or alcohol idols, rather than trying to be better people and better parents. But when there is a problem there is also a solution. In this essay I shall be used to touch base, talk, and write about this problem from statistics and past experience, and I’ll also be used to bring to light some solutions that are already in place and those that need to be.
The following four parties need to be involved in order for there to be any breakthrough at all: the government, businesses and people with money in abundance, homeless shelters and programs, and education programs and agencies. The government should be used to motivate the following into being involved more and into at least try to lend a hand, so this problem doesn't become worse. People who were blessed with business and those with more money than they can handle should be willing to donate or fund programs that have been designed to be used in dealing with this problem. There should be cleaner and more humane shelters and programs, so those who are currently on the streets can be cared for properly and with Love. Then there can be more educational programs where someone who is on the street can be enrolled into and receive an education, without worrying about tuition or harassment.
I believe the first point is we have fallen from being humane to each other, and now we just choose to try and get by, not caring about who we “step on”. Thus, the results become, there are homeless people, uneducated people, hungry and thirsty children, and more crimes and deaths.
A solution to this ongoing problem would be reaching out to those who are less fortunate than us. We should also be used to open up more free educational facilities, more job opportunities. If there are fewer jobs, there will be more homeless people, more crimes as a result to being homeless, and more deaths; thus, there will be more people in jail and no parents to be with the children. If we go along with the solutions stated, the results would be less poverty, more jobs, and more education programs, less crime. We just have to want a better future; we should try to be sure the problems will be handled in the right way.
First and foremost, we should all turn to God for help and guidance in the particular situation, so we can be more prepared and able to solve and/or deal with this problem. Then we should not only be used to make and prepare more jobs for those who are currently unemployed, but we should also be used to make more educational programs so people can receive a high school diploma or GED, and be given a chance to go to college, so they can actually be employed and stay at the job.
What I believe is that, if I could go through all the crap I went through and still come out being better than I used to, others can be used to do the same and even more. I’m not going to lie. Sometimes I back-slide and make mistakes, but I was given a second chance and I won’t give up. I am a new creation, and I want to be used by God to free and help others with this essay, with these words, and to motivate them into believing that there is a way out, and life doesn’t end with homelessness. May God bless you and keep you safe!
p.s.: i need help on paying rent and electric bills.
rent:$550 monthly electric:$15-$20 monthly
6122146134
2815 pleasant ave so, apt#5
