avanstark

Here it is in stages/subcategories:

Housing: 1. Living on the streets - THIS IS REALLY SCARY. People can be nice, but most people ignore you during the day and make you feel bad about yourself. During the night, it's hard finding anywhere to sleep and even if you're lucky enough to find somewhere to sleep, you're too stressed to sleep for long 2. Tried to couchsurf... first time, the guy tried to force me to be his boyfriend... second time, the guy stole my foodstamp money and fafsa money... third time, the guy kicked me out because he was too busy to "babysit" me, but to be fair... he was also a medical student, so I respected him the most and hold no hard feelings 3. Stayed in sheltered homes - the first one was an all men's shelter.. I saw a guy die at this one; the second one was a youth shelter - stayed with 39 other people in one space (+staff) 4. transitional housing program - I was lucky enough to stay in an SRO (single room occupancy), and I would pay 33% of what I made and that was put into a savings account 5. Apartment - After about 2 1/2 years, I was finally able to get an apartment! It felt SO good to be able to be responsible enough to call somewhere my own home... but I did cry a lot the first few nights, because it's a bit of an experience.

Employment: 1. At first, I had nothing. I was too busy looking for somewhere to stay to find work. I applied to food stamps/GA. 2. When I got to the sheltered home, I found a job at the mall. I was the #1 salesperson almost consistently, and it felt good to feel needed 3. I quit when one of the managers found out I was living in a shelter. He took advantage of my situation and prevented me from being promoted (I'm guessing because I was a strong sales person), and he also made me work hours that I wasn't getting paid for 3. I started a tech training program when I got into the transitional housing program. They paid about $600/month in stipends the first 6 months, and then $1000/month in stipends the next 6 months. 4. My work paid off, and about 5 months into my internship, I was offered a job. I'm not going to reveal how much they paid me, but I was making more than my dad.

There's other stuff, but that's the economic situation I guess.

Yeah! After the first year of being homeless, I basically told him that with or without him, I would make something of myself. He talked to a couple of his friends, my siblings kept asking about me, and my mom really pressured him. Now, my relationship with my parents is the best it has ever been, but it's taken a lot of work. I think we all value each other a lot more, and if I had an opportunity to change anything, I wouldn't.

After a while, I understood my dad's perspective. We talked about it, and he said that what he really feared most is that I was alone. He had no advice to give me because he didn't understand what I was or who I would become. Luckily, I did well on my own, and I told him that the skills he taught me growing up were what got me to where I am today.

He realized his mistakes, but it's true. It's not the same story for everyone, but your mates just need to keep moving forward.

I hate the "It gets better" crap, because that's such a passive load of shit. People have to work to make it better. I would much rather prefer, "Let's make it better" as the message we tell folks.

At the first company, I started as an intern for the HR tech department, but had a bunch of opportunities that ended in a creative producer position (I was managing the creative communication efforts)

At the second company, I monitored porn, beheading videos, online fights, and hacked accounts... for a social media company... one that chirps a bit...

Seeing myself as a whole person. Homelessness REALLY fucks with your self-image and self-esteem.

At my corporate jobs, I NEVER saw myself as worthy of being there. I was felt like an outsider. No one in my family has ever made it that far. Some of it also has to do with race. There are hardly any people of color in the corporate world. Even while there, it was hard to see a future for myself.