What would it feel like to be homeless?

I am very grateful for advantages that I have had in life. I grew up with loving parents and step-parents. We were probably at the bottom end of middle class. We had a house that we owned although I remember my Mother always talking about how expensive it was to heat/cool it. After high school I received enough money to buy my first computer. At the time I didn't know it, but this would send me down the IT track. I was lucky enough to always have a job when I needed one. After learning a trade I went back to school to go into IT. When I graduated I enrolled in a four year college, and began my professional career.


I, like I am sure many of you have had, have also had difficulties and challenges in my life too. Going through a divorce at a young age. Twice. I was raped and molested at a young age with trusted adults not doing anything about it. When I was older with a family I was off work for a long time due to an injury and was within two weeks of being on the street. I considered myself incredibly lucky to get the job I both wanted and needed at the exact time I needed it.

So my point is that I do not know what it is like to be homeless. When talking to those down on their luck I try to avoid the question of how they got there and what are they doing to get out. I focus more on helping them with a ride, food, drink, or maybe even a couple dollars. In my ignorance I guess I think of being homeless as camping in the city. Perhaps backpacking is more accurate. Carrying all your belongings with you all the time. They can't be too big or you won't be able to go into any buildings or businesses. But I would think your pack does have to contain the majority of what you need. Is camping/backpacking in the city the same as being homeless? Could I practice in my own city for a weekend before I set off across the country?

My main concern is that if I travel across the country, or wherever, that I will be taking resources away from those whom are truly homeless and need those resources more than me since I could get access to money if I needed to. What do you think, am I taking resources away from those who need it? Do I makeup for it with the exposure that the different programs will get?


Hope to hear from you
-YonK