ROCK BOTTOM (Life in a homeless shelter)

First of all, I am sending prayers of positive energy your way, and hugs to you for your strength and courage in writing this. I cannot offer much in way of money or a place to stay, but I will keep you in my thoughts, and wait for your updates. You are doing your best for your kids and they know this and love you.

I have had to use food pantriesbefore when my kids were younger, charity and good will of friends and family. I hope your situation turns around for you soon. ((((hugs))))

The generosity of the members here never ceases to impress me.

If you live in Louisville I can give you rides or help out, like I said not much, but something.

First of all,..

AccessDenied,.... Been there, done that.

It aint so bad starting from the bottom. Where else can you go but up, no?

(and I am not speaking metaphorically. Trust me, even from the library)

But you will be surprised what you can accomplish, given the resistance to negative vibrations.

Believe in yourself, and accept the offerings from true friends.

Nothing better than the feeling of success, given the cards dealt prior.




It is worth it.


[edit on 5-8-2009 by smirkley]

Wish I could do more than just send you positive thoughts and best wishes, but geographically speaking I'm out of the equation.

Keep posting if you can and let us know how you are getting on. Hope things get better for you real soon.

Best luck and best wishes, hoping things improve. Stay positive if possible and know you are never alone.

Best luck and well wishes to all other members in similar situations.

Firstly i wanted to share my support and thoughts for you and your family AD.

Secondly i don't mind admitting it brought a lump to my throat seeing fellow ATSers offering a place for AD and family. Thats probably the most generous thing i've seen someone do for a long time.

As i say to my kids, it's always dark in the tunnel before you hit the light, so i hope this is the case for yourselves too.

Take care,

CX.

I’ve been homeless, afraid, not sure where my next meal would come from and my last so far behind me my stomach was sticking to my ribs.
Lowest point?
I walked by a McDonalds and the smell made me insane with hunger.
Outside on the park benches a woman sat with her poodle (yes I know it sounds like a cliche but...) - Anyway she was breaking up pieces of this cheeseburger and giving pieces of it to her dog.
I just stopped in my tracks and stood their watching her with tears running down my face and I couldn’t of talked if I’d tried.
She gave me the *shoo shoo* hand, the flick of the wrist to go away and turned back to *FiFi* with a look on her face as if to say, pay no attention to the homeless.
I was a 14.
Later when I found some yummies in a dumpster I THANKED GOD and cried so hard I couldn’t see straight.
I promised myself I would rather go hungry then end up like her.
Of course I’ve had an eating disorder since, lol, but, I’m working on that too.

Now, years later, life is better.

I’m telling you the story so you know I’m not just talking out of my hat.
I’m trying to give you hope so you know things will change and to let you know there is hope...There is always hope.
Do all you can to resist giving in to despair...
Never, ever ever, no matter what, give up hope.
I can say that - I earned the right to say it.

I’m sorry I’m so far away from you that I can’t help physically, but, I’ll keep you and yours in my prayers and hope your life takes a turn for the better, much better soon.

I think we’re going to be hearing a lot more of these stories on ATS, and sooner than people think, but, no matter people, don’t give up hope.

Sincerely and with love and a profound respect for you in your situation,
gracie

I wish only the best for you my friend. You'll be in my prayers.

You know, it's very inspiring to see that people with least luck and in the worst positions take a positive or optimistic view on life. Many people could learn from this post and how to look at life. Some people complain because they don't have a new car, a great job or money to play with, but living in a shelter with a family and maintaining that positive attitude is what we ALL need focus on.

I for one applaud you. Simply making that 40 minute walk to the library to post and show that you still have steam in your engine to keep going is SO much more than many others would do. We, as an ATS family so to say, are here for you in whatever way we can be, whether it be advice or as one poster mentioned, a place to say.

God Bless you and I know you'll be back on your feet w/that mentality in no time.

AD I wish you all the very best, I also wish that i could give you more than well wishes, but from where i am that's not possible. Hang in there, take each day as it comes and look up (being at the bottom, that's the only way you can look)

I hope that one of the ever so kind offers that's been handed to you, is a good one that you can take. And I hope that from there, your life goes from strength to strength.

Take care of yourself and your family. Love is the strongest thing you have right now, so go with that. I truly wish you all the best, it will get better, believe it.

You're in my prayers, my freind. You and the kids. I wish to God there was more I could do for you.

[edit on 8/5/2009 by seagull]

please accept these words with a grain of salt, but the way you mention the homeless shelter and library, i am assuming that you are in a decent sized city. what i am about to say is not for everybody, but judging by your situation, my best recommendation is to get the hell out of dodge. the chance of finding work and a safe place to stay is much greater in urban america. ask for help if need be, bus tickets are cheap. research ideas like i posted before about caretaker jobs. ranch owners are in general very kind people, have x-tra houses and the like, don't mind kids etc.....
the frame of mind out west is much different than eastern urban areas. like i mentioned where my empty trailer is, my closest neighbor just went through hell in a custody battle gaining custody of his kids. he works on the ranch down the road, neighbors have gotten together in a coalition and are all homeschooling their kids. the area has all sorts of different humans, from ranchers to hippies and it is a wonderful atmosphere. i hope i'm not making it sound like i'm trying to convince you what to do, but digging out of a hole in a major city is a completely different story than digging out in a small town where people do know their neighbors.

Even with all of the crazy topics and contentious debates, ATS boils down to people - people who are up, people who are down, people who hope, people who doubt, people with families, people who are alone, people with information and people who are searching for answers. We are all just learning from each other and for some reason we need each other or we wouldn’t log in each day.

We’re with you AD. You’re part of our extended family. You have an entire world full of positive energy coming your way. And for those who are able to do more, what you give out in this world will come back to you in kind.

[edit on 5/8/2009 by kosmicjack]

AD, it is obvious that you love and care for you children very much, so you have certainly NOT failed in life. You are a success as far as I am concerned. Straighten you back and be proud of yourself. You will get through this.

I live in Norway, so I can't offer you shelter. But like whaaa I would like to help you financially. Send me a U2U too as soon as you read this.

My best goes out to you and yours.

Having been in dire need a few times myself as well as homeless I can understand to a certain degree how you must feel.

I never had to to do it with kids though...that would be simply terrifying for anybody.

My advice is to stay safe and stay away from any one who may want to use you and/or your kids for profit as we live in a dangerous world with some very dangerous people.

With that in mind we also have a world of great loving people who are willing to help. I hope you can find a place for you and your kids.

Stay aware and safe.

Maybe ATS can somehow organize a gift package for you with members chipping in a 20 or two.

WR

I am relatively new to ATS and i have truly come to admire the sense of community that exists on this site. You are tvery brave Access, for putting down in writing the hell you are already living. We are being screwed over by a fraudulent and corrupt system and only with the light and love of people like yourself and your fellow ATS's, will the human race overcome this very dark period in our history.

On a side note, perhaps just to contrast some of the people who have said that they have "been there before", I would like to say that I have led a very, at least from my perspective, privileged life. I have never lacked for anything, pretty much had all the latest gizmos and gadgets and was essentially spoiled by my parents. I don't blame them for this, as they have always said that when they were growing up, they were very poor and never really had alot.

As a child, what made me any different to a child born to a famine plagued family in Africa? Why did i deserve clean water, a warm and safe home and a constant lavishing of attention, compared to a poor, mal nourished child in any part of the world?

There are many things i do not understand but this causes me the most pain. Are we repaying some kind of Karmic debt?

Finally, my thoughts are with you and your children Access, as they are with all who are in dire situations around the world.

May we find a way out.

Peace.

being homeless isnt much fun
i been homeless my self.
i wish you the best of luck in making things better
having read this thread & the replies, ide like to point out
their are no shortage of homeless people, you can find them in every town & city in every country all over the world.
please remember being homeless & on the streets can be & often is a very soul destroying experience.
the next time you see a homeless person in your local town/city please remeber it could easy be you on the street,
if you cant help that homeless person then at least try to offer help to a local homeless charity in some way.

when i was homeless their was this old lady i dont know her name, but every day 365 days a year without fail she knew the homeless would have to move off the streets at 7:30am so she would always be on the street with hot tea & a snak at 7:00am, that old lady started many many homeless people`s days with hope & a warm cup to hold on cold early mornings.

reply to post by AccessDenied


Sorry to hear all that bud.

When you're at the bottom, it looks like you'll never drag yourself out of it.

But rest assured, you will.

You'll get back on your feet. Inch by inch, rung by run, you'll drag yourself up. And your luck will turn -- nobody's luck stays the same forever.

Hang in there, bud-- it's all peaks and valleys. You're just in one of the valleys right now.

Dear AD, about 7 years ago I was in a womens shelter and like you went to the library to use the computer. Just want to say hang in there. Keep a positive outlook and know the ATS community cares.

Wish I could offer more than prayers, but know that you are in mine.

It's not the end, it's a beginning. Sometimes what seems like a curse turns out to be a blessing.

ATSers: You guys are awesome. Your compassion reassures me that spending time here really does matter.

reply to post by AccessDenied


I feel your pain. I’ve been their too – homeless that is.

Please, try reading the “Handbook for the New Paradigm.” Read it with an open mind. Don’t give up on it. Read it over, and over, and over again. It will teach you how to employ the “Laws of the Universe.” If these laws are applied from moment to moment, and applied for the “highest and best good for all concerned,” they will enable you to manifest your dreams.

www.cco.net...

Volume three holds the magic key, that will empower your life!


[edit on 5-8-2009 by seasoul]

having been there a few times (with out kids though) with no 1 in this world to call apon for any support, I feel your pain.

Only thing I can offer you is a few words, accept the situation, and flow with the situation. It doesn't make it any less horrible but it helps to make it thru the situation...
I wish I could do more, but I'm not in the us.

Love on those kids, and while it may sound stupid you are lucky to have some thing to love....
Trust me that is a real gift...!!!


I remember being in a city I didn't know in hospital with a brain injury and fractured skull after being attacked with a baseball bat, now homeless due to failed relationship, with all my possessions in 1 bag under my hospital bed with no visitors or any person to call for a chat knowing that once I was released I would have to sleep on the street as there was no vacancies in any hostels or shelters.....and I didnt have 1 coins to rub together. If it wasnt for the mighty unsung work of the nurses I would have just given up...

Originally posted by whiteraven[/i

Maybe ATS can somehow organize a gift package for you with members chipping in a 20 or two.

WR

I will throw in 100 bucks to start it off.