homeless by choice

Goodness, that is sad. Is it a myth or a true story? Sounds like one of those legends that make the email circuit. Is she still alive?

It is a true story. My husband had talked to her when he was stationed in Alaska with Air Force. She stayed off the main streets and dressed in rags. It came out what she owned and her story when she died.

That's an odd phobia, but it is rational.

Living in houston when I was a young man, there was a group of homeless men that huung out where I worked in a warehouse. They were nice enough guys, most people would call them drunks. They would, at times, become industrious. Working odd jobs, they would gather up enough money to buy charcoal, hot dogs and buns and condiment packs likely 'borrowed' from somewhere. I remember broken hibachi and a three wheel grocery cart hot dog stand where they sold hot dogs to business men in suits. The next day, there was enough money for them to sell sodas on ice. But after a few days, the riches of successful business ruined them.

They reminded me of the cast from Sweet Thursday and Cannery Row.


But living in Seattle years later, I experienced a different kind of homeless. Hoards of panhadlers in Seattle made it a difficult place to work and live. I discoered that there is a difference between what I call 'true' homeless which is the single mom living in a car and showering at friends' houses to make it to work versus the mentally ill, or alcoholics, or dug addicts, or low end criminals between sprees that take to the streets.

'True' homeless are almost invisible while the rest are unnerving and demanding. Some were comic, though. There was always this one guy working the bus stop at Third and Lenora during rush hour. "37 cents people! 37 cents is all I need to buy another bottle of wine to shut me up - 37 cents! 12 cents now! 12 cents is all I need - people! Somebody's got a dime here, I can smell it!"

Your comment is very interesting. I have seen both. A church here feeds the "hungry" on Thursdays. Either people with money are driving them there or their food money is going to run some very expensive vehicles. Thanks.

It is hard to generalize, since every single one of us human beans has own unique history, strengths and limitations.

I agree. Until you hear their individual stories you just don't know. To just fill in forms and make judgements is quick but you just don't know the individual, what their true needs are, where they are coming from.

I heard of prince William spending the nights with the homeless but to hear that someone actually does that for a living is rather unusual. But if I have been in her shoes, I probably can understand the pain.

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