I grew up in a very small town in the upper midwest. Growing up, my father was disabled and
we just got by with what we had, which did not include the conveniences that so many people
today think they can't possibly live without.
After graduating from high school I went to a trade school as I felt that it was a good way to
quickly get into a paying profession, and paid for the tuition entirely myself with a student
loan. My objective was simply to make a reasonable living doing honest work. For many
years I thought that would be enough.
we just got by with what we had, which did not include the conveniences that so many people
today think they can't possibly live without.
After graduating from high school I went to a trade school as I felt that it was a good way to
quickly get into a paying profession, and paid for the tuition entirely myself with a student
loan. My objective was simply to make a reasonable living doing honest work. For many
years I thought that would be enough.
I was hired for work at a major corporation even before graduation, and went to work
immediately. For the next 13 years I had no problem with finding work. One company I was
with grew quickly, due to having new products utilizing the latest technology. Pay was good
and it looked like there was a future in it, but after working there several years I was
terminated, along with hundreds of others, due to corporate reorganizing (closing all US
facilities). Corporations dumping employees like that is common today.
immediately. For the next 13 years I had no problem with finding work. One company I was
with grew quickly, due to having new products utilizing the latest technology. Pay was good
and it looked like there was a future in it, but after working there several years I was
terminated, along with hundreds of others, due to corporate reorganizing (closing all US
facilities). Corporations dumping employees like that is common today.
Being suddenly without work, and with other local companies laying off too, I couldn't find
work that would pay the bills. I had debts and quickly lost all that I had, including my car
(making it even harder to get work). In following years I had a variety of jobs, but none that
paid as well or lasted for long. Eventually I ended up on the street and had to learn how to
get by the hard way. Until this I had no idea of what being homeless meant, and never
thought it could ever happen to me.
work that would pay the bills. I had debts and quickly lost all that I had, including my car
(making it even harder to get work). In following years I had a variety of jobs, but none that
paid as well or lasted for long. Eventually I ended up on the street and had to learn how to
get by the hard way. Until this I had no idea of what being homeless meant, and never
thought it could ever happen to me.
I would like to see more programs that really help people, instead of just giving them
handouts to keep them alive on the street. The easiest thing someone can do is tell a
homeless person "I will pray for you". Jesus didn't teach us to just pray for people and then
walk away. He taught about doing something. The "Good Samaritan" he talked about didn't
just tell the beaten man on the side of the road "I will pray for you" and continue on his way
feeling holy. He took action and did something about it, while those who considered
themselves righteous walked past on the other side avoiding any responsibility.
Perhaps if I can explain what being homeless is like, and more people realize what is really
going on, then more people will take actions which can actually help in providing constructive
assistance to the homeless.
This website is my small attempt at making people aware of the facts, and provide some
connections which could result in more assistance to those seeking help.
Clyde
clyde@homelessamerican.com
handouts to keep them alive on the street. The easiest thing someone can do is tell a
homeless person "I will pray for you". Jesus didn't teach us to just pray for people and then
walk away. He taught about doing something. The "Good Samaritan" he talked about didn't
just tell the beaten man on the side of the road "I will pray for you" and continue on his way
feeling holy. He took action and did something about it, while those who considered
themselves righteous walked past on the other side avoiding any responsibility.
Perhaps if I can explain what being homeless is like, and more people realize what is really
going on, then more people will take actions which can actually help in providing constructive
assistance to the homeless.
This website is my small attempt at making people aware of the facts, and provide some
connections which could result in more assistance to those seeking help.
Clyde
clyde@homelessamerican.com
While being homeless I became very aware of what the homeless go through, camping out in
all kinds of weather and doing what I could just to get by. In also realized how much
information presented by the media, which the public tends to accept as truth, ranges from
simple-minded "feel good stories" to outright deception.
all kinds of weather and doing what I could just to get by. In also realized how much
information presented by the media, which the public tends to accept as truth, ranges from
simple-minded "feel good stories" to outright deception.
I stayed at a night shelter at times, but without any other support didn't find any significant
work. During this time I was hospitalized for pneumonia and other problems. For years I
camped outside, out-of-sight and away from the trouble on the street. I tried going to a rehab
program, but they told me that I didn't belong there and I wasn't worth their time.
work. During this time I was hospitalized for pneumonia and other problems. For years I
camped outside, out-of-sight and away from the trouble on the street. I tried going to a rehab
program, but they told me that I didn't belong there and I wasn't worth their time.
The opinions expressed in this website are my own. While I
make every attempt to relay factual information which may be
of help to some people, I admit that there may be errors. If
you find any statements or statistics to be wrong, please
notify me and I will work at correcting them.
email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com
make every attempt to relay factual information which may be
of help to some people, I admit that there may be errors. If
you find any statements or statistics to be wrong, please
notify me and I will work at correcting them.
email me at: clyde@homelessamerican.com
A walkway under a bridge where I used to go to get out of the
weather when I was homeless up north. Sometimes there
would be several people sleeping here at night. The white
stuff is snow on the ice.
weather when I was homeless up north. Sometimes there
would be several people sleeping here at night. The white
stuff is snow on the ice.
Florida isn't just sunshine and sandy beaches, like some
homeless people moving here expect to find. Much of the
coastline is brush like these mangroves. Mud, mosquitoes,
and alligators. Much of the population here is also very
hostile toward the homeless, and Florida has been number
one in the nation for assaults on the homeless.
homeless people moving here expect to find. Much of the
coastline is brush like these mangroves. Mud, mosquitoes,
and alligators. Much of the population here is also very
hostile toward the homeless, and Florida has been number
one in the nation for assaults on the homeless.
For quite a while I just accepted things as they were. Observing society as an outsider, and
watching other people trying to just get the most toys before they die, why should I strive to
be like them? I thank God for what I have realized while being homeless.
watching other people trying to just get the most toys before they die, why should I strive to
be like them? I thank God for what I have realized while being homeless.
A little about me...
One of the places where I used to camp, as did many other
people, along the railroad tracks in Florida. This is about the
most "woods" you are likely to see in the area.
The picture at the bottom of this page is at the same location.
people, along the railroad tracks in Florida. This is about the
most "woods" you are likely to see in the area.
The picture at the bottom of this page is at the same location.
 | |  |
I used to camp at a spot in the far back of this view, not visable
to the hundreds of people passing by on a busy street.
to the hundreds of people passing by on a busy street.
At one time I went to a "mission" in St. Petersburg, Florida. They were housing people, four to
a room in bunk beds, in a run-down old motel. Broken windows, dirty, maybe a cup of coffee
as "breakfast", and you had to pay to be there. Those of us staying there realized that they
were making more money from us than the motel had made, plus collecting donations from
generous people at the same time. It wasn't the first time, and certainly not he last, that I
observed con-artists running "missions" for profit.
a room in bunk beds, in a run-down old motel. Broken windows, dirty, maybe a cup of coffee
as "breakfast", and you had to pay to be there. Those of us staying there realized that they
were making more money from us than the motel had made, plus collecting donations from
generous people at the same time. It wasn't the first time, and certainly not he last, that I
observed con-artists running "missions" for profit.
Finally a small independent Christian program allowed me in, and provided a rare opportunity
to get off the street. Soon I was working again, and paid to stay at the program until I was
ready to get back on my own. I'm now back to working in a skilled profession, though jobs are
hard to find, instead of just staying alive with occasional minimum-wage jobs.
to get off the street. Soon I was working again, and paid to stay at the program until I was
ready to get back on my own. I'm now back to working in a skilled profession, though jobs are
hard to find, instead of just staying alive with occasional minimum-wage jobs.
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