Wings of a Bird

Homelessness affects mental and emotional health - Real Change
Real world stories from clients of a Portland non-profit
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Kevin: “...When you are homeless like that, and it is a day-to-day thing about how you are going to make this appointment or get your clothes washed, or just it is a constant battle to try to keep your head above water and stay clean. And then, add to that the lack of housing and the places to sleep outside all are gone, you know, all those murders and all the crack and the violence on the streets, it is just, you know, it is hard. No wonder some of those people drink and do drugs, you know? People think, ‘Why don’t they just get out of it.’ Well, until you have experienced it, you cannot really judge it. It is like an evil monster.
“Somehow when you become homeless, it does something to your psyche, no matter how strong you are, it just does something to you that, the longer you are there the harder it is to get away from it. I wish I could explain it. It is beyond words, but it is real, I know it is real.” ...

Labels: homeless, mental illness