The way our society distributes wealth and power, is widely acknowledged as being a pivotal factor in homelessness.
The failure of our infrastructures to support those most vulnerable in our society has resulted in high levels of poverty, rising unemployment, social exclusion, and the lack of affordable accommodation.
These external social factors generally result in increasingly negative effects of de-institutionalisation ultimately creating pathways into homelessness.
My family grew up in a small town in Phoenix Arizona. I was born in 1956 and my family moved from Memphis Texas in 1965 when our baby brother died of crib death.
When I turned 18 years of age, I experimented with homelessness. Although living with my parents at the time in San Diego California, I took to the streets to see how the other side lives. My mom thought I was crazy and bet that I could not survive on the streets. Six months later, My mom was proved wrong.
Although, it was difficult, I brought back with me some very valuable lessons. There was a sense of real community among the homeless. Information and support was given freely. People banded together to help their fellow man or woman. And, as sad as it was, many did not cry but made the most of a bad situation.
There were some there because they chose not to want the responsibilities of life. Others were there due to economic reasons. Yet, still others for physical and emotional restraints. None the less, an entire community was being ignored.
I hadn't given much thought to that time since I left the life. I tried many times to make changes, thereafter, but could not get the support needed to help.
In 2001 I found myself in a postion that threaten my own way of life. Divorce, financial hardship from the loss of a job and unable to help my aging parent living. Because I had no children, no illnesses, and was not on parole, it was difficult to get help even from our charities.
It angered me to know that all those years of giving support to others in other countries, that I could not get help at home without a mountain of paperwork. And by the time the paperwork is done, most people won't have a home to receive the assistance.
One day while sitting in the back of my pastor and his wife's car, my pastor said, after looking at a homeless man holding a sign on the street, (I will work for food) ... "Get a job!"
I said to the pastor, "Do you know the difference between me and that guy standing on the street?" The pastor replied, "No." I answered, "I am sitting in your car,"
"Help yourself when you help someone else."
Email: jacorrales@netzero.com
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