To the Editor:
This is in reply to a recent Spout Off on the state of homelessness due to their reading about it in papers as they spoke of a recent freeholders’ meeting.
They said that when their parents kicked them out they were homeless so they got a job.
I’m proud to say that I’ve overcome many obstacles with the help of the Lord. I can understand why it might be easy for some to say, “Just get a job,” especially those who came up in healthy, two-parent homes.
The only issues they had to deal with were their own shortcomings and failures, they should feel fortunate. But there are some of us who have more to deal with in life than letting down our parents to the point where they can’t deal with our constant selfishness.
Take my situation for instance. I was raised in a home where my alcoholic dad beat my mom often.
There was a lot of violence at an early age for me, not to mention while he was out drinking and mom was crying about her situation, I was left to myself.
At a young age, I was molested a couple of times. Finally, mom got tired of him, so I was raised without a father from 7 years old on.
Mom went to work and she worked hard to support us. This left more lonely time for me to deal with, being so young and isolated I turned to drugs which dulled the pain but intensified my problems.
I spent most of my life not very well adjusted to life in normal society.
Don’t get me wrong, I worked often and harder than most. An example set by mom.
No matter how hard I worked things never seemed to work out; not that I didn’t want to live comfortably, I just never was able to figure out how to deal with my own psychological, emotional problems and still be responsible in society.
This same issue causes many others besides me problems including homelessness. Judging us has never helped in the past.
So why not try something new like compassion? Maybe it’s time for a change. While I’m truly happy that they were able to overcome their small problem, many of us are not so lucky.
Not all of us are looking for a handout. People such as me only need a chance to get on our feet after years of being down.
Through a lot of prayer and grace, I’ve been able to heal my inner wounds. But after years of working, my body is beat, and I’m having trouble securing my disability benefits.
I’m not looking for pity or a pat on the back, just a chance at starting a normal life after being subjected to situations that aren’t normal.
Maybe if people would stop pointing the finger at each other, whatever finger that might be, and use their hand for something more positive, like offering to help someone out of their pit, this world would start to change.
I’m not complaining; I accept this world for what it is.
But I feel that if those who are fortunate would allow those less fortunate a chance, this place could possibly change for the better.
To be honest I’m probably saying these things in vain.
That’s OK with me because if mankind can’t help out those like me I’m pretty sure my Savior will.
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