How do the homeless carry on?

[eternalmelancholy]

I see these people on the streets and I can't imagine how they manage to keep going. I know a lot of them are drug addicts and mentally sick.

I already have enough problems to deal with. Due to health problems I am having a hard time. My job only covers the bare essentials like rent, food and utilities. If I lost this job I would have a hard time finding a replacement. I know I would end up homeless.

The future is so bleak. I feel like a hostage under the threat of homelessness and starvation. I want to escape this before the inevitable happens. Suicide would be saving myself from future humiliation and misery.

 

[everydayiloveyou]

My grandmother is homeless, she is also an alcoholic, and has been that way for 20+ years. She genuinely feels that she is better off on the streets.

A lot of homeless people with severe mental illness have illnesses that involve a lack of insight. My grandmother is one of those people, she doesn't see anything wrong with her lifestyle and thinks that it's everyone else who's trying to control and take advantage of her. So her condition isn't humiliating or miserable to her. She was most unhappy when she lived with my family, with fresh food and a warm bed every day, all because we didn't let her drink or collect garbage in the house.

If you have insight into your condition and know that you aren't doing well, you are already in a decent position to meet your basic needs. What country do you live in? If you're in the USA, you have food stamps, homeless shelters, pantries, Medicare, and Section 8 which could help you survive. Someone like my grandmother cannot utilize these resources because they don't feel that they need them, or they have a persecution complex (schizophrenia and other delusional disorders can cause this) and don't trust government agencies. But they're there in case you need the help. You will never be living in a mansion while on welfare of course, but you can be alive, clothed, fed just enough to survive, and have shelter from the rain.

Also, are you actually at risk of losing your job due to your health problems? If there's no valid reason to suspect that your job is at risk, then you are causing yourself undue stress.

The average American is closer to homelessness than wealth, oftentimes the distance between them is a paycheck away. I know that's certainly the case for my own family, we are definitely on the streets if even one of my parents lost their job. But there's a lot of paths you can take if you do end up reaching rock bottom, and not all of them stay hard for all that long. Ultimately, it'd be your choice, but that's a bridge you can cross when you get to it.

 

[motel rooms]

But there's a lot of paths you can take if you do end up reaching rock bottom, and not all of them stay hard for all that long. Ultimately, it'd be your choice, but that's a bridge you can cross when you get to it.

Wow, you make homelessness sound almost lovely.

 

[WornOutLife]

They are mentally prepared to live no matter what.
They just don't considered CTB an option for different reasons. Maybe they believe in hell or some kind of punishment if they ctb, or perhaps they think things could just improve some day and life will get lovely.

 

[SN-chan]

If you have some powerful demons they won't let you escape even while taking everything from you.

 

[signifying nothing]

Maybe go and ask some of them? I think you'll find that there are lots of reasons for why they're in the situation they're in and also how they feel about it.

 

[Superdeterminist]

I'm in a similar spot. Yeah, I've no idea how the homeless manage. I guess they don't really, they often live poorly and then die early. I'm also terrified of becoming homeless. I want to get out this cruel and wretched existence that threatens me with that possibility.

 

[FuneralCry]

I think people survive because they have to. The only other option is ctb which is hard to do, so I guess they just try and deal with existing. I have seen people sit in the town center and spend their days asking passersby for any spare money. There is also free healthcare in my country and resources to help. Its sad what this life can do to people.

 

[NormaJeane]

There are people who commit suicide the day before they will be homeless. I would also kill myself in that situation because nothing can be worse than to live on the street in a town. But in stone edge, in nature, all people were homeless. Life is programmed to live, so that must be the reason people choose homelessness before death. Or maybee they can not kill themselves.

 

[Butterfly65]

I see these people on the streets and I can't imagine how they manage to keep going. I know a lot of them are drug addicts and mentally sick.

I already have enough problems to deal with. Due to health problems I am having a hard time. My job only covers the bare essentials like rent, food and utilities. If I lost this job I would have a hard time finding a replacement. I know I would end up homeless.

The future is so bleak. I feel like a hostage under the threat of homelessness and starvation. I want to escape this before the inevitable happens. Suicide would be saving myself from future humiliation and misery.

I am facing the same issues. My health is in shambles, I'm extremely disabled and loosing my income soon.

My grandmother is homeless, she is also an alcoholic, and has been that way for 20+ years. She genuinely feels that she is better off on the streets.

A lot of homeless people with severe mental illness have illnesses that involve a lack of insight. My grandmother is one of those people, she doesn't see anything wrong with her lifestyle and thinks that it's everyone else who's trying to control and take advantage of her. So her condition isn't humiliating or miserable to her. She was most unhappy when she lived with my family, with fresh food and a warm bed every day, all because we didn't let her drink or collect garbage in the house.

If you have insight into your condition and know that you aren't doing well, you are already in a decent position to meet your basic needs. What country do you live in? If you're in the USA, you have food stamps, homeless shelters, pantries, Medicare, and Section 8 which could help you survive. Someone like my grandmother cannot utilize these resources because they don't feel that they need them, or they have a persecution complex (schizophrenia and other delusional disorders can cause this) and don't trust government agencies. But they're there in case you need the help. You will never be living in a mansion while on welfare of course, but you can be alive, clothed, fed just enough to survive, and have shelter from the rain.

Also, are you actually at risk of losing your job due to your health problems? If there's no valid reason to suspect that your job is at risk, then you are causing yourself undue stress.

The average American is closer to homelessness than wealth, oftentimes the distance between them is a paycheck away. I know that's certainly the case for my own family, we are definitely on the streets if even one of my parents lost their job. But there's a lot of paths you can take if you do end up reaching rock bottom, and not all of them stay hard for all that long. Ultimately, it'd be your choice, but that's a bridge you can cross when you get to it.

Is just surviving enough though? Barely making it? In California the wait list for section 8 and low income housing is 11 years! You get $150 a month for food stamps. I spend that every 2 weeks. For SSI you get $700-800 a month. You can't even rent a tent in someone's backyard for that and if you are older over 50 and disabled there just isn't enough help for people! It's not just mental illness that keeps people from getting help.

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

If my parents go 100% boomer-mode and get tired of my shit I guess I'll find out, lol.

 

[Thatdude]

If you have insight into your condition and know that you aren't doing well, you are already in a decent position to meet your basic needs. What country do you live in? If you're in the USA, you have food stamps, homeless shelters, pantries, Medicare, and Section 8 which could help you survive. Someone like my grandmother cannot utilize these resources because they don't feel that they need them, or they have a persecution complex (schizophrenia and other delusional disorders can cause this) and don't trust government agencies. But they're there in case you need the help. You will never be living in a mansion while on welfare of course, but you can be alive, clothed, fed just enough to survive, and have shelter from the rain.

While I agree most don't use the system. I have to argue with you since
1. you're making it sound like a cake walk
2. there is some people who legit try and can't get help
3. there is some people who can't get help for their mental condition. Like lets take mine as example. I'm autistic. There is no cure for this, and many found things like behavior training ends up giving the person PTSD. And even if training gets someone 70% there (the best that will happen) society won't try to go that 20% so to speak. Many people who are autistic have extremely hard time in work places, getting a job, and keeping a job. Workplace harassment is highly highly highly highly common to an extreme. In the USA if you try to apply for disability when your only thing is being autistic the best you can get is SSI. For SSDI they say you were autistic before, during work, and after. Therefore you don't need it. And since SSI hasn't changed since the 80s, if you have more than $2k or make a few hundred a month, then you disqualify from it. Statistically speaking we are THE most discriminated group out there in workplace, economic, legal, and most other parts of life. Companies are extremely open about not having autistic people and there is even policies against us from joining things like the military. The reason why is some of the harassment was so bad some of the autistic people that joined prior to the policy can't walk anymore and have permanent mental and physical damage due to that.

My point is, no matter how you sugar coat it. There is a ton of people screwed over and the system won't help them no matter how they try. That or it's such a uphill battle that it's not worth it. Lets take this covid crap for example. I known some homeless that are in limbo because the health department won't help them get on the list to get a shot, they need to be on the net to sign up for the shot, but since they are homeless they don't have access to a computer or internet. And for them to get to and from the health place and where they give a shot that is about 30 miles round trip, and some had to make 4 trips before giving up.

Or maybee they can not kill themselves

I think this is a massive reason along with something like thinking they will go to hell. The fact is, to kill yourself isn't that easy. This site kind of proves that.

 

[BlankUser]

I don't know. I guess different people cope in different ways. I was homeless for a while. Well luckily me and my boyfriend had a car, we slept there, but it was a pain not to be able to shower etc... I just think people have different priorities in life. Where I live it was a very cold winter this year, and I know some homeless people lost their toes due to cold. One homeless man got frostbites so bad, that he sliced off his gangrenous toes off with a knife. Hospital didn't took him in because of Covid.... So sad:(

 

[Butterfly65]

Is just surviving enough though? Barely making it? In California the wait list for section 8 and low income housing is 11 years! You get $150 a month for food stamps. I spend that every 2 weeks. For SSI you get $700-800 a month. You can't even rent a tent in someone's backyard for that and if you are older over 50 and disabled there just isn't enough help for people! It's not just mental illness that keeps people from getting help.

 

[motel rooms]

If my parents go 100% boomer-mode and get tired of my shit I guess I'll find out, lol.

Keep pumping that iron, I prefer my homeless hustlers buff

 

[BeansOfRequirement]

Keep pumping that iron, I prefer my homeless hustlers buff

Such a disgusting person.

 

[Acopia]

They don't have the restriction of responsibility. They don't have to worry about making money to pay rent/bills/etc.. Plus, alcohol and drugs make the time pass quicker and keep the cold at bay.
They find a way to survive, that's the beauty of humanity if you want to see it - the ability to survive in unsurvivable circumstances.
-A

 

[Beachedwhale]

They have a high rate of suicide so...they don't.

 

[motel rooms]

They don't have the restriction of responsibility. They don't have to worry about making money to pay rent/bills/etc.. Plus, alcohol and drugs make the time pass quicker and keep the cold at bay.
They find a way to survive, that's the beauty of humanity if you want to see it - the ability to survive in unsurvivable circumstances.
-A

Yeah, I'm sure that they don't have to do anything humiliating or dangerous to pay for their booze & drugs

 

[Acopia]

Yeah, I'm sure that they don't have to do anything humiliating or dangerous to pay for their booze & drugs

Ooh I'm sure they do!

 

[eternalmelancholy]

They don't have the restriction of responsibility. They don't have to worry about making money to pay rent/bills/etc.. Plus, alcohol and drugs make the time pass quicker and keep the cold at bay.
They find a way to survive, that's the beauty of humanity if you want to see it - the ability to survive in unsurvivable circumstances.
-A

I'm sorry but this sounds awfully like the empty platitudes that I hear from pro lifers.

There are posters in here making it sound like being homeless is a jolly adventure. When we all know truthfully it is frightening and humiliating.

 

[Ardesevent]

I guess that some just don't want to die yet, while others don't have the means. If you're not in an area with a lot of water or bridges there's not really any easy way for you to die without throwing a few bucks at something to get it done.

 

[IsThisTheEnd?]

I've often wondered this, probably some of them get into a pattern i.e they seek drugs and this keep them busy, some are probably healthy in a way but been treated badly so avoid living in a house etc.

but yeah if I found myself in that situation I would hardly find any reason to motivate myself to carry on unless I was hooked on something that kept me going that's about it.

 

[Acopia]

I'm sorry but this sounds awfully like the empty platitudes that I hear from pro lifers.

There are posters in here making it sound like being homeless is a jolly adventure. When we all know truthfully it is frightening and humiliating.

I've never been accused of sounding pro-lifer before.

No, here's what it is.. in a previous life I was an alcoholic, never really street homeless but I didn't have a fixed address, I just went from place to place. My bf at the time was a street homeless heroin addict, we'd spend every day together, I used to sit and beg with him for money (people give to women more readily than men) people would shout at us, swear at us, give us all sorts of abuse - but there was a camaraderie on the street. You did what you had to do to get by, you had friends, and people who weren't so friendly.

Anyway, things happened and (another example of the gender difference) I got offered help, he didn't. While I now enjoy a stable life, sometimes I miss the old days - you could call it nostalgia.
As far as I'm aware he's still on the streets, and probably not having a great time of it. It's not all fun and games, it's desperation and shit nights but.. idk.. it's hard to explain.. you just get on with it, & it's not all bad.
-A

 

[alown]

It is for this reason that I now have my N in my possession, because I risk losing everything and being homeless for legal reasons.

If that day comes I will drink my N without any hesitation rather than rot outside like a dog in mental and physical humiliation and torture.

 

[eternalmelancholy]

It is for this reason that I now have my N in my possession, because I risk losing everything and being homeless for legal reasons.

If that day comes I will drink my N without any hesitation rather than rot outside like a dog in mental and physical humiliation and torture.

I don't know why we have to put up with daily humiliation and suffering. Once you see the world for what it truly is it is impossible to go back.

I just want to escape this hell while I still have a shred of dignity left.

 

[alown]

I don't know why we have to put up with daily humiliation and suffering. Once you see the world for what it truly is it is impossible to go back.

I just want to escape this hell while I still have a shred of dignity left.

absolutely my friend and I can understand you better than anyone else, that is why it is more honorable for me to drink the N that you find me in this humiliating and suffering situation.

we all have the right to happiness and love, and true unconditional love more powerful than lies and hate is on the other side, behind this simulation that is life, where we come from, without judgment, without hatred, without human absurdities.

 

[motel rooms]

While I now enjoy a stable life, sometimes I miss the old days - you could call it nostalgia.

Why are you on here if your life as a homeless person was kinda okay & you "now enjoy a stable life"?

 

[everydayiloveyou]

While I agree most don't use the system. I have to argue with you since
1. you're making it sound like a cake walk
2. there is some people who legit try and can't get help
3. there is some people who can't get help for their mental condition. Like lets take mine as example. I'm autistic. There is no cure for this, and many found things like behavior training ends up giving the person PTSD. And even if training gets someone 70% there (the best that will happen) society won't try to go that 20% so to speak. Many people who are autistic have extremely hard time in work places, getting a job, and keeping a job. Workplace harassment is highly highly highly highly common to an extreme. In the USA if you try to apply for disability when your only thing is being autistic the best you can get is SSI. For SSDI they say you were autistic before, during work, and after. Therefore you don't need it. And since SSI hasn't changed since the 80s, if you have more than $2k or make a few hundred a month, then you disqualify from it. Statistically speaking we are THE most discriminated group out there in workplace, economic, legal, and most other parts of life. Companies are extremely open about not having autistic people and there is even policies against us from joining things like the military. The reason why is some of the harassment was so bad some of the autistic people that joined prior to the policy can't walk anymore and have permanent mental and physical damage due to that.

My point is, no matter how you sugar coat it. There is a ton of people screwed over and the system won't help them no matter how they try. That or it's such a uphill battle that it's not worth it. Lets take this covid crap for example. I known some homeless that are in limbo because the health department won't help them get on the list to get a shot, they need to be on the net to sign up for the shot, but since they are homeless they don't have access to a computer or internet. And for them to get to and from the health place and where they give a shot that is about 30 miles round trip, and some had to make 4 trips before giving up.


I think this is a massive reason along with something like thinking they will go to hell. The fact is, to kill yourself isn't that easy. This site kind of proves that.

Yes, I understand that. OP had asked what makes the "drug addicts and mentally sick" keep going on with their lives, I was trying to explain that for some people in that particular situation, there can be a lack of insight, resistance or refusal of treatment (which is within everyone's right to do, as it should be) and thus they keep on keeping on because they want to. People can respond to these situations in all sorts of ways. I guess maybe I phrased it weird the first time

I know with mental illness it can be difficult to see the help that is available for you, and get an accurate perspective on the world and the paths that lie ahead of you. As you said, lots of people suffer with depression and other mental illnesses and never reach out. It's sad, because there's a slim chance those resources could be both accessible and effective for someone who feels they have no other options. I think it doesn't hurt to offer a brighter perspective, because it's easy to get into a depressive spiral, come onto SS, and see no other solutions but to ctb or else face a tougher and sadder life ahead, because all the recovered and happy people tend to log off of SS and spend their time somewhere else. So sometimes it can get echo-chamber-y.

In the off-chance that OP (or someone else reading the thread) maybe didn't know these things were available to them if the worst were to come, and that there's no shame or harm in attempting to access them, they might take the chance. If they end up homeless, they can have a game plan so that they don't turn to dangerous ways of dealing with it. It's their call to make and who knows how it will turn out. I understand that it doesn't always work and it could fail or backfire, as most recovery attempts do.

Again, I believe everyone has the right to refuse treatment, and also to end their suffering as they see fit. None of us are ever gonna recover from our mental illness(es). There is not even a cure for common depression after all. Still I personally don't like to come on here and say all the depressing things about a scenario because I'm sure OP knows it all already. And someone else will inevitably comment with that side of things.

I realize my grandmother's case is a more uncommon one since her homelessness was not a result of job loss or anything, but just her mental illness and addiction getting so bad that she could not maintain a home, so she lost it. In general though most homeless people don't just choose to be vulnerable in the streets, and they deserve dignity and safety just like everyone else, always. I just hope no one who ends up in that situation feels they have no other option but to either wait for death or turn to an unhealthy way of dealing with it. Not everyone is utterly beyond help, and it wouldn't be your fault, even if it may feel like that when life keeps on kicking you while you're down.

 

[Acopia]

Why are you on here if your life as a homeless person was kinda okay & you "now enjoy a stable life"?

Ha, as if I need to to provide justification to you upon demand.
We all have our own reasons for being on here - sometimes our specific reasons are none of other people's business, nor are they for public consumption.
If you want to put the time in to review all of my previous activities to better understand my story, then you can crack on. Enjoy!
-A