I Used to be homeless AMA

[2under3]

Was homeless for about 2 years on and off and was wondering if anybody wanted to know Anything

Glad you're no longer homeless.

What significant things enabled you to move away from this situation?

@MollyHuaCha thanks a lot, it was pretty dangerous the situations I was living in. I lived in a drug dealers shed for or a while a where cannabis oil was produced, sofa surfing, getting in relationships with people who I know would let me stay and occasionally just wandering around all night to keep up but eventually got a place in YMCA as was only 16/17 at the time

How did you end up homeless OP?

I'm sorry to hear you had such a sad experience when you were so young. I hope your life is much better today.

I often get approached for money on the street by homeless people...I want to help but I'm not sure if it's right to give them money - from your experience, what would be the most effective way of helping someone that a member of the public could offer?

I would like to know:
How did you manage to get a permanent home?
What's the best thing we (as individuals) can do for the homeless when we see them - money, food, smile (all three)?
Are the homeless charities effective?
Thanks for sharing your experiences by the way....

@itchyfinger I suffered with undiagnosed manic depression as a teenager and would be impossible to live with. I have younger siblings so my parents asked me to leave for every bodies sake. I can understand why they did it though

Have you been involved in social services like being in care?
Sorry if this is invasive; I'm doing a project on homelessness and social care

Are you in a good happy place now?

@SarfE4sticated I managed to get housing through the ymca which is a charity’s for young people who are homeless and stayed there for a while until I started dating someone and moved in with them. In regards to homeless acknowledging people or chatting with them goes a long way. There’s a man in my home town who’s been a big issue seller for years and I’ve chatted to and asked how he was who helped me when I did become homeless which was a massive help and there’s always a massive stigma around giving money as they will ‘buy drugs’ but I’d prefer to give them the money than they get it dangerous ways

@SonEtLumiere I’m very close with my parents now. We used to struggle for years but since I’ve had my children They pop round weekly and see the kids

I met a young woman outside a large supermarket on Wednesday evening - she wasn’t actively begging, just sat very folorn with a paper cup in front of her .
When I came out she was still there so gave her a fiver . First thing she said was “are you sure “ . Her back story was she fell out with her Mum four years ago when her Dad died and had lost touch completely. She was homeless but sofa surfing and didn’t seem to be on drugs . She filled up with tears when I said if you were my daughter I’d want to know how you were . She said my Mum isn’t like that . How did you mend your relationship with your Mum , Dad, and siblings? Are you getting the right treatment now for your illness ?

@userxx yes thank you, im engaged and got 2 toddlers, and a job i really enjoy. I can look back mostly fondly of the time I was homeless. I ALso always have a story when drinking games 😂 I Couldn’t I imagine being anything but independent though now.

what's the weirdest thing you ever experienced?

What could have been done to prevent it from happening? Was there a point where intervention from CAMHS or Social Services would have helped?

Interesting thread. Thank you OP

Are you sure you're in a happy place with two toddlers 🤣. Good on you, you've clearly turned things around, I hope other homeless people get that chance.

@presthoney, usually with young people is they tend to sofa surf between friends and not everybody classes that as homeless. my college tutors knew the entire situation and i'd turn up with a backpack to class and put three chairs to sleep on sometimes but nothing was done because I wasn't sleeping in doorways. Social services were not involved at all and the two times I went to the doctors was prescribed anti depressants within 5 minutes each time so I think that speaks for itself

@Majorcollywobble Do you have a YMCA where you live? They have a shop type place where I live where you can walk in and ask for help. If you do they would definately be able to pop round, you could drop her some leaflets if you're going that way or write down a couple of phone numbers. I don't suffer with manic depression anymore just a sprinkle of PTSD and OCD which I am getting treatment for but don't effect my day to day life thankfully

@userxx yes thankyou. Ever since I found out I was pregnant with my eldest. I am completely tee-totale. I haven't touched cigerettes, alcahol or drugs since. My mum said that having kids made me and the routine and responsibility really put things into perspective. It was only 4 years ago that I was homeless but looking back it feels so much longer ago, I think if i didn't go through homelessness then had kids as a teenager I wouldn't have been able to cope as I would have been too naive

@vraimentvraimentI dated a boy in a flat share and stayed with him for about 2 weeks. one day his missus just showed up who I had no idea about and everyone looked out for me so I just pretended I was one of the other boys girlfriends and slept on his floor for about a week, there was also a schitzophrenic boy who was also homeless who we had mutual friends with who was convinced I was his girlfriend and i'd just pretend I was because he'd been in prison for gbh

In what ways did the manic depression make you impossible to live with?

@GymKitJen Would go from sleeping for days and ignoring all of my a levels to being out for days and coming home after binge drinking

Thanks 2under3 sounds like you needed support you didn't get

Interesting thread. Glad you’re in a better place now OP