The Simple Joys of Being Homeless!

One of the things I've been hearing a lot of is “You're homeless by choice” or “You like being homeless.”

Where does this come from? Seriously! It's not simply insulting, it's down right ridiculous. I often question the intelligence of those making those comments.

“When I grown up I'm going to be homeless! Cuz it's just cool!” Sure...

Okay, so you look around and you see people who don't look homeless, but are. You'll see guys like Nick, who served in the Air Force, is extremely organized, good guy. He's has a little issue with relating to others, but other than that, why is he homeless? Then there's Kenny. Kenny tried very hard to get out of being homeless. He had a job for a while but was unable to save enough to get a place to live. Or Roger, who has since moved back to his native Boston where he found work. He had a full time job for years at the movie theatre on First and Railroad, but he was still homeless.

My good friend Gary is a prince of a man. I've never met anyone more industrious, generous or forgiving. If Gary doesn't like you: you probably need to figure out why you're such a horrible person. He's about the best barometer there is for character. Gary's had a job for four years (or is it five?), working 40 hour weeks, but he simply does not make enough to get a place to live!

I could, by the way, get into why housing is so expensive... but I won't digress from the issue at hand except to say: it's a government created problem! (Maybe I'll get into that some other time... )

All four of these guys would be the first to jump up and grab a job helping the volunteers wherever they happen to be. Trash needs to go out? Gary's on it! Truck needs loading or unloading? There go Roger and Nick! Don't ever accuse any of these guys of being lazy. Not in front of me! Do and I'll prove you're a moron in front of everyone!

Funny thing is this: the people who say “you must like being homeless” are most often women. The services available for women, not just here in Livermore, but anywhere, are legion! Women can get just about anything they want if they care to look. Housing for a woman is pretty easily obtained. Being female and homeless for anything but a short period is more about laziness than anything.

But if you're a man, and homeless, forget it. There's no Sheppard's Gate, no Tri-Valley Haven, nada... You're a man, you're pretty much on your own.

Is that as it should be? Maybe. Personally, I'm of the mind that we men need to learn to be men. It's a process that can take years, and some of us fall by the wayside.

Of those men who are homeless and don't appear to be (for the most part) it's not about a choice, it's about circumstance. Getting a place to live is expensive! Simple biology and the culture expect men to do it on their own. Again, part of me thinks this is as it should be. Did God place us here where we are for a reason? That, of course, is between you and God, but it is something to consider.

Nick, Kenny, Roger and Gary are people I have a whole lot of respect for. They're doing it however they can. They're not out flying a sign begging for your loose change and expecting a C-note. They don't call the the volunteers and say that their motel bill needs paying and the volunteers never did enough for them (yes, folks, Keith and Nancy, who used to sit on the rock flying a sign over by Safeway, actually did that!).

You won't find any one of the four men I mentioned complaining about where they are at or pontificating about what the world should do for them. That does not mean they chose to be homeless or like being homeless. It means they've accepted it and are dealing with it. Those of you out there that are of the opinion that this is what they want... your opinion is based on some personal fantasy that has no basis in reality.

And I'd be very interested in Gary's opinion of you.

For those of you who are interested in me, personally, Jim Schnitter interviewed me last November and posted the video on You Tube:

Part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF3hEOxWrWE

Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIARc1BU344

Part 3
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8cnPovY3cQ

Part 4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI1GtLMLpWg