Two Homeless Women Explain Why It's So Hard To Get Off The Streets

Two homeless women spoke with us about the challenges of being on the street, and why it's so hard to escape.
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[@istavagustes9574]

As someone who went homeless by means out of my control at a young age the ONLY reason I escaped it was because I was fortunate enough to find a partner that saw the good in me and wanted to help me. Now with that being said I worked endlessly a full time job. Doin that with no shelter or anywhere to go and feel safe or call “home” will tear you down inside make you hurt and hate and feel pain you can’t describe. Life is brutal and unforgiving. Don’t talk shit about people that already feel shitty about themselves.

[@erinmeggik391]

IMO some people are in a homeless situation due to a misfortune like sickness, job loss or sadly betrayal. That said in this wicked society it is better to Trust in the Lord and not mankind. Verse >> Psalms 118:8-9 KJV 🙏

[@troyodette1740]

“People have the vision that homeless don’t work, but they are working all day long.” Amen to that, I’m homeless for three weeks and am 21yrs old, and everyday I worry about how I’m going to make enough money to eat, what I should eat, where to eat, how I may not make any money at all… etc.. and I am walking all day long, checked my average steps for the month on my phone and I average 40,000steps A DAY so to those who think we sit on our asses all day (some of the homeless do) there are those who work all day like myself washing car windows all day

[@ciel222]

I wish them all THE BEST . I hope things will work out for them one day.

[@cyoung460]

All these people who think they would rather walk away from their shelter and sleep on the sidewalk than miss a day of work need to spend a night on the sidewalk with nothing between you and the murdering psycho walking around out there and you need to spend that night as a female, unprotected. Go ahead, you who knows so much. I dare you.

[@cavsomecadence6117]

I am not brave enough for homelessness. It could happen to anyone.

[@allanreford1440]

If I was homeless i'd rather keep my job. That tent isn't going to get you off the streets.

[@alegiraldo599]

That's what I was thinking. Money buys food, medicine, clothing, and water. A tent merely protects from the sun or rain.

[@maryshaffer8474]

A tent gives a measure of privacy. KZbin has many videos of people sleeping, eating, drinking and other normal human activities.

[@allanreford1440]

mary shaffer Yes, but making money would be my main priority.

[@thealize808]

Lot of times you can get a job if you don't have an actual physical address. They won't hire you.

[@allanreford1440]

thealize808 I don't think a tent would count as a physical address. The point is she had a job and she made a bad decision.

[@morlandoemtp]

We have so much open land in the US, why not create communities for less fortunate people, where we could house, educate, treatments for abuse/trauma, etc.

[@danielsanichiban]

+morlandoemtp money and real estate .. land owners would laugh at you for suggesting that .. even people that try to make more compact, self sustainable communities, legitimately in land they have bought within the united states, get shut down by the local government. the establishment doesn't want it. they want to make money from their land and maximize the profit. welcome to the tax farm

[@morlandoemtp]

Dan Elleson The more productive we can make people the better for world, giving people an environment to thrive even at a loss now, will make future generations of productive people/greater tax base. The money we spend on law enforcement, courts, and prisons would also decrease/help offset initial costs.

[@9175rock]

You dont know why?

[@mattthenewfie1]

ive been there, theres only a pay check between us

[@MorgaineRiddlePrince]

Same

[@NaturallyKristen86]

If you believe that. Then start saving money to insulate yourself against homeless less. If you save equivalent to one pay check now your 2 Paychecks away from being homeless and keep going

[@mattthenewfie1]

@@NaturallyKristen86 and I am! Cash! Got locked out of the bank once. Family in Europe got locked out of the bank completely! The whole country did! Work hard save money and learn to garden is what I tell pple!

[@tracyskitchenandappalachia2954]

We women HAVE to buy property, to control our own economy.

[@dahlonegagold1515]

Tracy's Kitchen and Appalachian Adventures You are so right. Property is everything even if you live in a shack on it. At least you can garden and have a place to live.

[@9175rock]

@Ashok Hegde 🙄🤦‍♀️

[@winning3329]

Agenda 21 - the elite bought up all properties and jacked up the prices so they can be unaffordable to average people are by doing this they force people to rent their properties and the elite sit back and get rich off the backs of the poor.

[@tracyskitchenandappalachia2954]

@@winning3329 the elite can't buy ALL properties In the US. There are plenty of abandoned, tax Delinquent property all over the us. There are Àbandoned projects, hotels, restaurants, shacks, Sky scrapers ...the elite could care less about These properties,

[@tracyskitchenandappalachia2954]

@jay c. smith yes, they HAVE to. Never be Homeless again!

[@OsirisMalkovich]

Nationalized health care would raise the standard of living for all Americans. People are a lot more productive when they aren't sick and trying to find ways to get treatment.

[@illumardimago2307]

Ya u forgot. Some people living with abusive step parents verbal abusers. That destroys ur. Dreams. Im referring to those kids adult young adults that have abusive step parents. That also. Reason to be homeless Its better to be homeless alone then. With kids. Its even harder.you feel me..

[@rgdstranger]

i am from India...trust me when i say this... these ppl r living a luxury life when i compare to homeless ppl in India.

[@Smileyyy21]

Exactly. And even people in these third world countries work. They are lazy bums all fully healthy without a missing limb.

[@loutenant2817]

In America you're expected to be at your best at a job place. Proper hygiene, an address, transportation, a cell phone, etc. Those standards are likely lowered in India, which makes it easier for a homeless Indian there to find a job than here. No doubt being homeless is worse there, but there's not much of a comparison when we're living by different rules and standards. A lot of homeless people here want to work but they don't control who decides to hire them. Show up late for work a few times because you have no alarm clock to wake you? Fired. Sick? Fired without a doctor's note, which you probably can't afford if you're struggling. It may be a luxury compared to a shittier situation, but it's not a luxury at all to be homeless.

[@MorgaineRiddlePrince]

Stop gaslighting. Because someone seems to have it worse doesn't mean they don't have it extremely bad and is in an undignified situation.

[@kaylacynne]

That's like saying you can't be happy because someone else has it better than you 😬

[@aliendroid1]

I always said that if we allowed indians to come to the USA without a visa easily and we shared a border, no American citizen would ever be able to find a job again because an indian will work more hours, work for less money, work in worse conditions and be happy and... Grateful.

[@timmc8444]

Right on..24 hour a day job being homeless!

[@micheleotero1516]

It's hard been there good luck. IAM happy now in apt with best friend. I still take my meds. For bipolar

[@jeffalan6339]

Life on the street is tough, hide from the police or go to jail, to stay clean and proper hygiene, finding a place to sleep if able to get sleep , must deal with weather and temperatures, most look at being homeless as a choice, lazy, uneducated, drugs or alcoholic, not me my mother was dying of cancer stay with her to be her care taker my company collapsed in the 2008 housing market can not get another place to live for now no address, no credit closed all my cards long ago, tell anyone go to jail in my town consider you a vagrant, hear from others just get a job not that easy.

[@kevinday5008]

That tent set up is awesome thoe

[@ymeekins6357]

why not the working homeless come together like a group of six ppl, that also gets disibility checks and work checks, or whatever income they get, instead of being out on the street, get a 4 bedroom home for rent and live together? They can make it that way, until they can do better, and not have to be outside and all that scary stuff. (I've known lots of ppl who does this). Especially if there not on drugs or really off there rockers or whatever, but just trying to make it? They can have bunk beds, couches, or fold up beds if it's not enough room, just until things get better. Pulling together, strategy and getting along, determination,sharing, etc, is key to certain things. (Survival) it's a hell of a lot better then being out side, begging for food, scared shitless about freezing in the winter or burning up in the summer and being hungry,sick,dirty, and no were to sleep, but constantly harassed by the police or business owners.

[@winning3329]

Would you live with a homeless person you don't really know? Neither would they.

[@anakinskywalker9129]

This must be the stupidest question I've ever seen, do you think 6 people with no housing can band together and afford living expenses like its nothing? Homelessness is more than that

[@pattyrowe4971]

My Christmas 🎄 would be brighter if all these people got 🏡 homes please Jesus Christ bless them with a 🏠😢❤️💕☝️🙏

[@winning3329]

Thank you

[@THEHARMONIKZ]

...Inspirational.

[@leshiaweekes-hart1066]

Shouldn't no one in the world with support systems should be homeless not in America.A lot of agencies,and organizations keep lots of individuals in a homeless situation where citizens are being discriminated against, where complaints have been filed,and investigation weren't being done.

[@OneEyedLion]

Looks at it this way, it's better to homeless than married, right? I'm happy for these women. At least they're not being exposed to toxic male behavior.

[@josiahemrick]

you can get a job if you try your best. i promise you! try small privately owned companies and show you want the job.

[@MorgaineRiddlePrince]

Yes. If u CAN try your best. But if u suffer a mental trauma due so sexual abuse since childhood it is not as if u can bring the same A-game as others.

[@9175rock]

The ignorance of the privileged

[@cyoung460]

@@9175rock So true. People who weren't sexually , emotionally and physically abused from age 2 up probably have a different A Game than those of us who were. Twenty years of therapy and I still am the person I was molded into being at the hand of a monster.

[@krissyhanna-ox6nz]

once you've been in the shoes of a homeless person ..you can say something..because it's not easy getting a job with no address no transportation and no proof of ID.

[@josiahemrick]

see thats where yall are wrong. if you muster up the energy and try your best to straighten yourself out, and conduct yourself properly in front of an employer you CAN get the job. ive heard of many people sleeping at the office or a few blocks from work in a tent or something. sure it cant be ANY job but like washing dishes or doing landscaping is a possibility. employers are just people and people have hearts. i know theres a lot of people out there that would love to get a homeless man or woman on their feet again. you cant let past traumas control your life. im sure its hard but you HAVE to overcome it. those who dont stay homeless. if theres a will theres a way.

[@brendabosfield7610]

As women its alittle easier ro.find housing faster then men

[@arakashmahale1]

If your dad thought of this world as cruel & selfish, If he wasn't capable of providing a rudimentary roof over your head & impart decent education, he should've thought twice before giving birth to you!! Let's be real! Enough of this irrational appeasement of incompetent & frivolous! Let's accept that we live in deeply unequal, unfair society! Everybody who's at some decent socio-economic level today, had to fight for their survival & betterment in the past. People who took rational & pragmatic decisions by scientifically educating themselves, doing profitable trade & professional practice, by understanding/manipulating world economics & politics, prospered & became a ruling class. Let's not forget that our ancestors started together as hunter gatherers! In the beginning, nobody was a born master or born slave, It was the intellect & intrepidness of our forefathers that differentiated & made them into masters & slaves!

[@shreedhar333]

+Akash Mahale Darwin's survival of the fittest or the most adaptable is best way of explaining human evolution but is the worst way of continuing human evolution.

[@jackcarter3944]

+Akash Mahale So you missed that whole part where men have no reproductive rights? Pay attention, man!

[@arakashmahale1]

+shreetron Your inference is non sequitur & intended profundity is spurious! My argument works without reference to Darwin's Theory Evolution. You don't have to read Darwin to understand that society rewards & bows to intellect & intrepidness, or you must strive for physical & mental strength to lead a healthy & prosperous life. Any widely accepted theory doesn't tell us what we should do (it's just a successful scientific explanation of the framework & driving forces behind a phenomenon, which can be objectively applied with predictable outcomes, & does not depend upon or invalidated by subjective interpretation or application), anybody misinterpreting or misusing such a theory is equally foolish as the person blaming or holding that theory responsible for his/her weakness/failure or purported social injustices!

[@arakashmahale1]

+Jack Carter These so called "rights" are superficial & overrated social constructs to keep gullible masses under a delusion of an impotent grievance redressal mechanism. It's one of the most spurious ideas (after God/religion) to dissuade people from critical thinking & rational/pragmatic assertive actions. Rights are not absolute. We've to fight for them & It's not the fight that can be fought on streets or courts; it's a battle against our frivolous, irrational, mediocre selves. If you can fight that battle & survive, then you don't need such superficial social constructs or stupid supernatural assurances (as excuses for your failure/incompetence) to live or demand a dignified life. You earn/create your rights & your morality!

[@arakashmahale1]

+Jack Carter But if you think that rights are absolute because they're "God given" or are printed in some overrated "books" or can be used as an excuse for your irrational/frivolous/impulsive decisions & actions, then even God or any Govt. can't afford to award you with any rights! The irony of this rights business is that it seems to have become a craven excuse for frivolous & incompetent; so if you do drugs, have unprotected sex & get AIDS, produce more children than you can properly feed & educate etc....its societies/governments fault! directly accusing & blaming people who are living intelligent, pragmatic, rational, diligent life & telling you to grow up for doing so! Seriously!!

[@BigBroTech4U]

Boutta have medical bills now too 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@tumbox9204]

San Francisco. Glad they used the most expensive place to stay as an example. Pfff!

[@trisha9697]

I'd rather have a job than my tent

[@leticiaquinonez9628]

So true

[@baebanxx6942]

but where would you sleep after work?

[@anakinskywalker9129]

But where would you sleep after work? where will you keep your belongings?

[@rachelbonnar]

Good Christians. I am an Educated anti-theist and I have spent THOUSANDS of my own dollars ( I barely get by) and let a woman with her dog and rat get MUCH better accommodations, at my own cost. I got her a Massachusetts ID, which no other of the 49 states would offer her one. It takes an ID to even take a bus! I took the time to make this severely battered homeless woman into a USA Citizen able to be legal MOTHER to her 4 kids. All praise be to me, I am The True Jesus. Be your own Jesus, not a fool.

[@user-vw4vp5gm2c]

find yourself a jail cell, free accommodation, free food, and free exercises room, what are you waiting for, all you have to pay is your freedom!!

[@chekchamon]

HARROWING...

[@mrbillyb1966]

I hate " DIGGING A 50 (FEET)HOLE!!

[@zipzap7923]

why not talk about how about 90 percent of homeless are male and most of them are vets

[@iPolitely]

Source?

[@eca3101]

+iPolitely look at _any_ statistic bro, what he's saying is true

[@Artbug]

+iPolitely Literally everywhere

[@jackcarter3944]

+william karrier Here are the numbers. for the National Coalition for the Homeless, from www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/veterans.html "DEMOGRAPHICS The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) says the nation's homeless veterans are mostly males (four percent are females). The vast majority is single, most come from poor, disadvantaged communities, 45 percent suffer from mental illness, and half have substance abuse problems. America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, or the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts in South America. 47 per cent of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam Era. More than 67 per cent served our country for at least three years and 33 per cent were stationed in a war zone. Here are some statistics concerning the veterans homeless [2]: 23% of homeless population are veterans 33% of male homeless population are veterans 47% Vietnam Era 17% post-Vietnam 15% pre-Vietnam 67% served three or more years 33% stationed in war zone 25% have used VA Homeless Services 85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans 89% received Honorable Discharge 79% reside in central cities 16% reside in suburban areas 5% reside in rural areas 76% experience alcohol, drug, or mental health problems 46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans 46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans Female homeless veterans represent an estimated 3% of homeless veterans. They are more likely than male homeless veterans to be married and to suffer serious psychiatric illness, but less likely to be employed and to suffer from addiction disorders. Comparisons of homeless female veterans and other homeless women have found no differences in rates of mental illness or addictions.

[@VixenAurora]

Yes because giving women the same rights men have means hatred for men... smh

[@fatkid6383]

but she has a cellphone?

[@SuviTuuliAllan]

+FaTKidS LovECakE Ever tried to get a job without a phone?

[@jackcarter3944]

+FaTKidS LovECakE You know that the basic phones cost about 10 bucks, right? How else the hell is she supposed to get a call back for a job, genius?

[@Smileyyy21]

Lol that's the government phone. I went to metro and some woman told me to get a government phone if I wanted. I qualify for it as I only work part time.

[@t10events11]

Should she have saved those $10 and bought a house instead...?

[@9175rock]

They out give free phones

[@markstansbury6795]

Men are the majority of the homeless! Our sympathies and tax dollars should be spent on them.

[@modestmoxie2477]

#AllHomelessLivesMatter I just wish I knew the solution. I know many are mentally ill, but so many are Veterans, that's such a disservice to them...

[@dahlonegagold1515]

Did you seriously say that?

[@pinkgal206]

Shut up

[@joselazo3219]

bullshit. I was bouncing from family member to family member . during this I was respectful and helpful so they they could allow me to stay . finally I got my own place . this pieces of shit rather survive out of handouts.

[@howdydutt1e]

You are extremely privileged, maybe there families are in the same position? You just luckily have a support net

[@danielsanichiban]

+jose lazo aaah hey not everyone has family members, you know? that's a very naive comment

[@shreedhar333]

+Keith Buckson +jose lazo sounds like the kind of guy who kicks down and kisses up, the worst of worst, I tell ya!

[@joselazo3219]

tomorrow when you wake up the world will still be the same . no will care about that bunch of homeless human waste that live on the streets.