portraits-of-america: “The craziest thing about being homeless is that everything you know how t
portraits-of-america: “The craziest thing about being homeless is that everything you know how to do—get a job, work—none of those things apply anymore. None of those things will keep you safe or help you get back on your feet. You have to relearn or rediscover how to survive. It’s really primal, animalistic, crazy. You have to use parts of your brain that you’ve never had to use: Where is the safest place for me to sleep outside? Where’s the safest place to get food without being harassed? Which shelter can I go to without someone doing something terrible to me? You don’t learn how to be homeless in school.” “Why do you feel that trying to get a job doesn’t really help you get back on your feet when you’re homeless? “Well, what do you put down for an address when you apply for a job? How do you show up for work on time if you don’t have money for a bus pass? How do you show up for work looking clean and presentable when you just slept outside in the park? Are you going to show up for work with a suitcase and a backpack because you have to carry your possessions with you all day? I had pretty severe post-traumatic stress disorder when I became homeless, so I couldn’t physically bring myself to get on the train. I would sit down and all of a sudden lose three hours. I was having a lot of issues disassociating.”Cambridge, MA -- source link