THE CLASSES OF HOMELESSNESS! HOW HOMELESS ARE YOU?

THESE ARE THE CLASSES/ CASTES OF HOMELESSNESS! UNTOUCHABILITY !

WHERE ARE YOU ON THIS CHECKLIST?

YOU ARE LIVING WITH FRIENDS TEMPORARILY.

MAYBE ON THE FLOOR OR SOFA.

(YOU ARE NOT WITH YOUR FAMILY and YOUR NAME DOES NOT APPEAR ON ANY LEASE, RENTAL AGREEMENT, or MORTGAGE!)

YOU HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS !

YOU HAVE RESOURCES FOR PERSONAL CARE (showers) and OWN and CAN HANG UP SOME CLOTHING FOR INTERVIEWS.

or

YOU ARE LIVING IN A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE THAT HAS RUNNING WATER AND TOILET IN A CAMPGROUND or LEGAL PARKING AREA WITH HOOK UPS but

YOU HAVE NO OTHER DWELLING THAT IS HOME.

YOU HAVE A MAILING ADDRESS at a POSTAL BOX

opened BEFORE YOU BECAME HOMELESS!

or

YOU ARE LIVING IN A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE THAT DOES NOT HAVE RUNNING WATER or TOILET ON A STREET or OTHER AREA THAT does NOT have HOOK UPS and YOU HAVE NO OTHER DWELLING THAT IS HOME.

YOU PROBABLY ARE ABLE TO URINATE IN A CONTAINER INSIDE. YOU USE STORES or LIBRARY TOILETS TO MOVE YOUR BOWELS!

YOU MAY HAVE A GYM MEMBERSHIP IN ORDER TO SHOWER.

or

YOU LIVE IN A VEHICLE SUCH AS A CAR OR SUV.

IF YOU ARE MALE YOU MAY BE ABLE TO URINATE IN A BOTTLE. IF YOU ARE FEMALE YOU ARE IN MORE TROUBLE WHEN IT COMES TO USING THE TOILET, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET YOUR PERIOD. YOU SPEND AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE INDOORS in COFFEE SHOPS, LIBRARIES, GYMS, MALLS.

or

YOU ARE IN A SLEEPING BAG IN AN ENCAMPMENT OF HOMELESS.

YOU MAY BE ABLE TO PICK UP SOME MAIL AT GENERAL RELIEF. YOU MAY HAVE EBT or DISABILITY PAYMENTS and A BANK ACCOUNT. YOU MAY CAN (RECYCLE) for SPARE MONEY. YOUR SLEEP IS DISTURBED. YOU ARE THE VICTIM OF CRIME. YOU MAY or MAY NOT HAVE A DRUG OR ALCOHOL PROBLEM. YOU MAY COMMIT CRIME. IF YOU ARE A WOMAN YOU MAY HAVE A MAN WHO PROTECTS YOU or USES YOU TO PROSTITUTE.

or

YOU ARE STREET HOMELESS.

THIS MEANS THAT YOU ARE PROBABLY WALKING ALL NIGHT or SLEEPING BEHIND A DUMPSTER or OTHER AREA YOU THINK IS SAFE FOR THE NIGHT.

YOUR PERSONAL POSSESSIONS ARE WHAT YOU CAN CARRY, or PUSH IN A SHOPPING CART. YOU MAY FIND YOUR POSSESSIONS ARE STOLEN.

YOU MAY BE HARASSED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.

YOU LIKELY DO HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS (DEPRESSION, PSYCHOTIC BREAKS, etc.) WHICH IS OR ISN'T TREATED. THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE YOU HAVE LOST TEETH.

or

YOU ONCE LIVED ON A SOFA, ON A BEACH, IN A PARKING GARAGE, IN A CAR, IN AN RV, IN THE PARK, or IN THE STREET but NOW

YOU HAVE BEEN TAKEN IN BY a CHARITY, a SHELTER.

YOU MAY BE IN A NIGHT SHELTER. These are usually seasonal, also called "cold weather," where YOU SLEEP ON A COT YOU SET UP AND TAKE DOWN EVERY DAY and YOU GET ONE MEAL A DAY, a meal that MAYBE A CHURCH DONATES and SERVES.

YOU MAY BE IN A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM and ACTUALLY SLEEP ON A BED, THOUGH YOU HAVE A LOT OF ROOMMATES.

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ARE ANY OF THESE HOMELESS YOU?