Changing the face of homelessness

It was early on a Saturday morning when I stepped into our little local grocery store.  I had visited this little store many times. The employees who worked at the store all knew who I was and seemed to enjoy my presence. I think that the employees also knew about my home life, and that  they felt somewhat sorry for me. I walked to the store that morning running an errand for my mother. She would send me to the store with two $1 food stamps to buy an item that cost $1.09. I would then return the change to my mom so she could send me right back to the store to buy her a pack of cigarettes. I was only 8 years old at the time.  I knew what was right and what was wrong. I knew the punishment for doing something wrong all too well. Maybe I did know right from wrong, but I did not fully understand it. For sure, I thought the only punishment for doing something wrong was a severe beating.  I had not had any breakfast this particular morning and I was very hungry. That led m...

  Just in case you ever find yourself experiencing homelessness, I'd like to share a few tips I've learned through my personal experiences. I've slept outside in a tent with a wind chill of -45°F. Not only did I survive those sub-zero Arctic temperatures, but I actually stayed somewhat warm. There were times when I didn't have a tent. Sleeping in a cold forest during a rainstorm is completely possible, and it's quite simple to make a quick shelter for survival. I like to find logs that are at least twice the height of my shoulder width. Dig a small trench along the log where it rests on the ground. Gather sticks long enough to cover you but short enough for quick water runoff. Lean the sticks from the top of the log to the ground and cover them with tree bark, leaves, or grass. I don't recommend ever using wax candles for heat or light inside a canvas tent. Also, avoid using any gas heaters inside a tent. A tent's material has a low flashpoint and will burn ...