Sometimes things happen in life that comes to roost right at our back door or inside our family. Family is so important especially in this day and age and there are times when a family member falls down and struggles for years to get their footing again. Those times can make it hard on those who love them.
It’s hard to write about hard subjects that might cause discomfort for those who are reading what has been written. I’m writing about a hard subject because I think it needs to be discussed. I know I am not the only one who has family members struggling in this current atmosphere of our world. Life has been hard on so many and many want to escape not having to read about it but at the same time I’m hoping what I write about will hit home to others who feel the same as I do about this subject. Please remember I did not write this to cause anyone to feel sad or bad.
Circumstances can affect how a person handles life from the present to the future. It only takes one catastrophic event to affect the future of a person’s life. Some people take those catastrophies in stride and continue to move on in life while others struggle from the moment it started. Events can lead up to the catastrophy and then it starts to move down hill from there.
My family has been through so much over the last few decades. And for the most part all of us have moved on, however, my son has seen so much struggle since the death of his father. He has struggled to move forward while making good decisions. His decisions weren’t bad ones but it also made him a prime target for predators that live in our world. I’m not going to write about what I’m talking about because it’s too deep and mind boggling even for me to write about much less have the ability to articulate in the right way. I have trouble just understanding how people can be so cruel and mean to one another.
Ten months ago my son who is also a single dad became one of the percentages of people who are currently homeless in the United States. I never thought I’d see the day when one of my own would be homeless. This is super hard on all of us not to mention hard on me writing about it. There is such a vitriol attitude in our world towards those who have no home to live in not to mention most think that homelessness is caused from drug abuse or alcohol abuse or any other number of excuses of those who see homeless people in such a negative way. I can tell you that my son isn’t homeless because he has an addiction. It’s not that at all.
He’s homeless because of circumstances that started back to the loss of his father, along with being involved with the wrong kind of people. He has separated himself from those who were an influence on him. But he’s been struggling since then. My son suffers from depression as well as PTSD and anxiety. These issues have been untreated off and on over the years. He’s back in treatment for both while he’s raising his son. He’s a single dad raising his son. His sons mother is a drug addict! So he has custody of his son despite all the hindrances and roadblocks that had been thrown in the way of him moving forward.
Ten months has gone by while he’s been looking for work so that he could get a place to live for him and his son. Ten months!! All these so called job openings and still they don’t hire those who apply. It’s like the employers are being picky on who they hire! The longer this continues the more unemployable he becomes! People bitch and complain that those who are homeless or dependent on government help are lazy and worthless! I disagree with that notion! My son didn’t ask for this! Yes, he got involved with the wrong person but he had no idea what he was stepping into until it happened! He’s applied for hundreds of jobs and still doesn’t have one! He’s not trying to get a job that is special. His niche is unloading and loading stock on trucks. Stocking shelves and merchandising. This isn’t some special job! He’s even tried applying for washing and cleaning cars! So a lot of what is currently occurring has added to the stress of being homeless!.
Here’s a list of all the things that can happen to someone who becomes homeless: Reality check here:
1. Losing funding by using it all up to stay in a hotel to keep from having to sleep on
the street.
2. Sleeping in the car as long as one can have a car. Now keep in mind what is needed
to drive that said car.
A. Insurance, current tags, current driver’s license
1. No income, insurance lapses. Tags become invalid due to lack of insurance. (Do
you see the trend here?) Driving becomes illegal. Owner of car may take the
chance and drive anyway up until they are caught and their car is impounded.
Now you’re taking away mobility to look for a job!
2. Now they’ve lost their ability to get around to look for work, go places like
foodbank’s for food and/or other places of help.
3. Now you have them sleeping in tents and other makeshift shelters.
4. Then to add insult to injury, because of losing the car for driving it illegally they
are required to pay fines and show up in court, and if they can’t, then an arrest warrant
will happen. When they get picked up, if they are a parent, then their child goes to
foster care while parent sits in jail waiting to go before the judge. So you tell me how
any of this helps people in a time of need?
So before anyone thinks about degrading the homeless, remember someone in your family can find themselves in that same boat! Remember it could be you! People are living on the streets with stories none of us know about. I’m so thankful that there are programs out there to help but there are not enough! There isn’t enough money donated to go around to help so many who need help. So if you can afford it, please donate to homelessness programs. Every place in our country has programs that can use donations to help those in need. Donate to your local food bank! Every little bit can help someone in need. IN NEED! Think about that concept.
Currently my son and grandson are receiving help but they continue to need additional help from other avenues as well. I’m hopeful that my son will hear from a potential employer on when he might get to come to work. They are currently holding up things for a background check.
As a mom, it’s hard to see your children and grandchildren struggle in life. We as parents want all our children to thrive, be happy and live the best ever life. I know one day that will be so for my son and grandson. I have faith things will get better!
I wrote about this because I think there are so many parents watching their children struggle in life especially in this day and age and feel so helpless to help. We can only help as long as we have funds to help. Not all of us are loaded with money to support more than our own personal household. So when we run out of funds to help, that makes us feel even more inadequate. So my advice to any parent who is having this same struggle, research what is out there locally to help your homeless family member. Reach out to programs and people who host them to find out how they can help. If you can’t house them, be supportive of them until they can find housing. Being there for them means all the world to them because it helps them realize someone does care and that they are being heard! My guys have a long road to go but I have faith in my son not mention I know things will get better and be less stressful on the both of them.
Down below is a GoFundMe link as well as an Amazon link for my son and grandson. If you’re feeling generous and want to help, follow those links. If you cannot give, say a prayer on their behalf. Any help is help! I hope no one was offended by what I wrote. Also, I’ve been hosting a fundraiser on my YouTube channel as well. On August 31st, 2024 I will be hosting a drawing for two different quilts to be given to two lucky winners. If you donate to the GoFundMe, You can enter the drawing via a google form. You will need to notify me that you’ve donated and would like to participate in the drawing. The two quilts that has been donated for this cause are handmade and beautiful! You will get much love out of them!
GoFundMe Go here to donate funds.
https://gofund.me/8e7d7ff7
Google Form for those who have donated to GoFundMe that want to be part of the quilt drawing. (https://forms.gle/ad3AtsntUwTmAQPb8)
Amazon Wish List for Thomas & Blaze
Thomas and Blaze’s wish list
Living Greenland 