Homeless for spiritual reasons

Hello,

I am 26 years old and I am considering being homeless for a while for spiritual reasons for a short period of my life. I don't drink or use drugs and don't plan to, but know nothing about homelessness and where to get info. Can anyone tell me how one just walks out of life onto the streets?

Usually becoming homeless isn't a choice you make, usually a chain of circumstances just place your there such as debt, domestic abuse, mental illness, lack of support or addictions or a combination of these caused by one another. There are many more reason people become homeless but this will give you a general idea.

Just out of curiosity what spiritual reasons are compelling you to be temporarily homeless?

As for getting information this board is full of it from people with first hand experience and should be able to help you out.

Hi Vpopov81,

Welcome to the forums. Thanks for your post, I think it's great you've posted on the forums as if you're making a choice to be homeless you need to know what you're getting yourself into. You should be aware that I'm definitely not going to judge you but I wouldn't really blame any members who had a go at you for choosing homelessness when you've got accomodation and no drug issues, whatever the reason. I'd also be really interested to know what spiritual reasons are influencing you to make this decision, must be something really important to you.

Homelessness is something that until you're there, on the streets, an addict, with mental illness, with nowhere to go, then until you're in that situation you could really have no idea what it would be like. I'm going to paint a bleak picture here, of course not every homeless person uses drugs or has a mental illness, or is trapped in the cycle, but many many are, it comes with the territory. This is the reality.

I can see you said that you don't use drugs or alchol, congratulations. Then I hope that you're ready for a fast track to being an addict. I know of one - one - person who has lived on the streets and not used drugs. I definitely wasn't a user before I became homeless, I hated alcohol and had never touched drugs, and I was sure when I was out on the streets that I wouldn't use anthing, but then the streets got the better of me. I ended up in detox 3 times before I was 19 to try to get off various substances. Then of course I developed the associating mental health issues, now I have chronic anxiety and depression. I found that once I had been sleeping out for some time, it was incredibly hard to get off the streets. I couldn't live in a flat by myself because my mental health and drug abuse meant I was a danger to myself, and I couldn't guarantee I'd still be alive the next day in my own place. I hopped around shelters for awhile until I had stayed in so many that I couldn't return, you stay for a bit then can't come back for awhile, to give others a chance, but I had exhausted my options for normal youth shelters in the end. I also couldn't get any welfare at all, I applied twice but even though I'd been on the streets for some time the social worker at centrelink decided twice I could go home anytime I wanted. So no income either. I was also seriously traumatised on the streets and ended up with complex PTSD to add to the depression and anxiety, and was also arrested for possession of drugs and a knife (that I had for protection). Finally I got into just about the last shelter I could access, a heavily supported accomodation program, and worked really hard on myself for a year - went to detox againa and started counselling - then moved in semi-independant housing, where I am now.

Homelessness is not about needing accomodation. That's houseless. It's about all the other issues that compound to make the "homeless experience" - mental illness, drug abuse, feeling worthless, sleeping on concrete, having a criminal record, having no money, dv and child abuse... the list goes on. Of course this isn't everbody's experience of homelessness, but it fits the picture for most people. So if you really want to be "temporarily homeless", go for it, just know that you may ruin your life. You may already know all of this, and I'm not sure where in the world you're located. I'm not judging at all, but this is my reality. Are you sure you want to choose homelessness?

Sk8r girl.

Hi,

I wouldn't blame people for having a go at me either. The reason I don't use drugs is because they ruined my health, I think I might've come across as someone 100% straight edge, no. I've done alot of drugs in the past and know 1st hand what they lead to. I am not saying to just go on the streets for the rest of my life as a choice, no just a couple of months.

One of the foremost reasons I wanted to leave is because my family life is very difficult, and I don't know many ways to get the hell out of here for some time. Like I said I lost the last 3 years of my life to illness. I also have some depression anxiety issues which is why I cant hold down a job. I guess I might have a notion that theres some romance in it, and Im sure the reality will definitely snap me out of it, but how about for just a week or so? How would a person survive for a week homeless? I just need some sort of break from my daily life and I would have no idea how to survive even for a week so I guess I came here askin for advice on that. I'm sure you guys must have hardships of your own I know God tailors hardships to each of us so plz don't get upset at this post.

The problem with what you are saying is it rarely works like that.

Saying,
"I just want to be homeless for a couple of months"
is like saying,
"I just want to step out of this (airborne) plane for a few seconds",
You may find it harder to get back on than it was to get off.

Regards,
Konstantin

I guess what I shouldve asked is "If one was thrust onto the streets abrubtly, never mind the reasons and circumstance, how is one to survive?" I thihnk this is the better question.

Well before you head onto the streets you should research on the net the services for homeless in your area. Shelters, Food Vans, Food Organisations, Support Groups, Free Clinics and Other Volunteer Organisations that support the homeless.

Secondly if you plan on sleeping it rough it might be an idea to have a look around at an area close to some of the above resources and find somewhere safe to sleep.

As Konstantìn mentioned that coming back up out of the streets is a lot harder than going in.

You could always look into an alternative to going and living on the streets.

Im not sure if you are in Australia but the Byron Bay and Mullumbimby areas have Communes and things where you are seperated from most of civilisation and get to live in a very minimalistic atmosphere. If you are over seas there is one in UK called Coventry Peace House which is supposed to be very nice.

Also Hare Farms are an Idea you would need to take part in prayer times etc but they are very welcoming people and you get fed really well. My best friend was raised on a Hare Krishna farm (cant spell it -_-) and he is not a hare anymore but its a very simple life and you get fed really well and sheltered while you are there.

This is the farm where my friend grew up it is about 30 mins south of the Qld Border on the coast.
Hare Krishna (ISKCON) Temple and Farm
New Govardhana, P.O. Box 687 Murwillumbah, NSW 2484
Ph: 066 795375
Email: stoka@nor.com.au
http://www.nor.com.au/users/stoka/index.html

And here is their main page.
http://www.hindunet.com.au/hindu_foundation.htm

There are alot of alternatives aside from becoming homeless to get away from family life and escape.

I wish you all the best on which ever journey you choose to take but heed the advice ppl have given you on here as they have lived on the streets and as for myself I am just a big data bank of information :P

Keep posting though I would love to hear what you do and how things work out.

Oh btw If you could give me information on where you are located I can do a much more specified search and get you some better information.

Well that's a totally different question, Vpopov81. I understand the difficulties you're having at the moment, when your family and accomodation is not going so well it creates a lot of stress and instability in your life, throw in depression and anxiety and everything's heightened tenfold. I know it can be really hard to cope when you don't have the basic things that hold most of us together. I can definitely understand why you'd want to get the hell out of there.

But obviously you're not going to be "thrust onto the streets abruptly" because you're thinking about being homeless, it's not sudden, and you know you might be heading onto the streets so you have a choice in accessing shelters, other accomodation and support, so you would be the one choosing to put yourself in a position of homelessness.

I would advise to at least consider a shelter or accessing government accomodation or getting some support before going onto the streets. I can totally understand somebody thinking they have no other options but homelessness, I did, and I wish and wish that I had never started sleeping out and talked to somebody about options. I couldn't have stayed at home, but anything would have been better than the streets. But I was way too clouded by serious depression and anxiety, I felt so worthless, couldn't see any other option. Don't make that mistake Vpopov81!! You have other options! If you've been an addict in the past, don't put yourself in a position that makes it incredibly hard for you to obstain, because of course drugs are everywhere on the streets. Don't put yourself in a position to make your mental health worse or take a chance that it's more likely than not that you'll become trapped in the homeless cycle. Put yourself in a place where you've got a roof over your head, you're safe, you're not being offered drugs, you've got support to help you cope, and you're away from your family. You have that choice to do something positive in your life and still get away from it all, or to get away from your family but find new struggles on the streets.

sk8r girl.

Vpopov81

You need to speak more to the truth of your situation. You are asking for a lot from us, but being very vague yourself.

If you want to exit your current situation, could be we know a way of skipping the step of living on the streets and could help you out with that.

Or, as you say you really want to know how to live on the streets and that's what you want to know, but just for a bit.

That doesn't make sense... if you want to for just a week or so... what is your exit strategy? How could you drop in like a tourist and then skip off on out of here off the streets?

From what you say there is no doubt you need time away for yourself or to move on from your family situation... but if you want to know about living on the streets... more options need to be talked about before we go there.

My advice to you would be to look up your city ordinance on squatting rights.. in some places it is illegal to sleep outside and you will probably be arrested for the night if you encounter an asshole cop, in which case you would have a warm place to stay, which really isn't that bad I guess. I would never recommend an adult homeless shelter if you don't absolutely have to go there, I could never get any sleep in those places. You're usually put out in a large area with around 50 other homeless people who snore so loud, sometimes they'll wake themselves up, unless they're too drunk.. then they'll only wake up to piss or puke. Although, I do enjoy there discussions sometimes when they say how well they did in panhandling that day.. where they went.. who they talked to.. sometimes they'll gloat about who received the most amount of cash from one person.. quite comical. I have been homeless for two years now at the ripe age of 19 and have seen more than most people living what I would consider a normal life. I guess you could say that I was seeking the same thing.. a spiritual journey... I have traveled as far as the states will allow, from the east to the west coast.. despite the fact that I am still homeless, I feel like I have found my home in the city of Portland... for a while, I thought Denver was my calling, but there was something unsatisfying that I couldn't quite place, so I decided to get up and leave, as I often did every month or so. Take this opportunity to travel. You will be sure to discover something about yourself you didn't know before. Pack the right gear.. sleeping bag, backpack, hygiene supplies, FRESH SOCKS.. on the way, you're likely to find other people on your same path to guide you to your next destination. Even if you decide not to become homeless, I still wish the best for you and hope that you find your way.. good luck.