On and Off the Streets

There were multiple factors that contributed to my journey out of homelessness. The most important factor is one with three parts: me, myself, and I.

Without the desire and the drive to better myself and my conditions, I would still be homeless today. It takes courage, strength, determination, and humility to rise above this plight in society. I had all of that. And more.

I came to NC fleeing a messy divorce on a wing and a prayer. I had an investor friend in Huntington, WV, and he told me he had a friend here who needed a roofing crew because he had an overload of contracts. So I got the crew together and headed south with high hopes.

Unfortunately those hopes were quickly dashed because the man I was working for was a crook, and within two weeks he disappeared with everyone’s money and fled the state. He didn’t even have a contractors license. Well I had to spend every dime I had to send my crew back to WV which left me stuck and broke with nowhere to go. I tried the shelter uptown but I could only handle that place for three days.

I earned some quick money handing out Nature Valley Granola Bars and bought a tent and a sleeping bag. I did this and then I landed a job at a diner and with their help I moved into a place within two months of working there. Unfortunately the restaurant was mismanaged and started falling apart. Right when that place was ending I found Speak Up. Now I earn money selling Speak Up and rent a stable place to live. It is never far from my mind how close I am to being back on those streets.

There are more experiences than I can truly count of my time homeless. I will attempt to scratch the surface for you though. Let me first explain that unless you experience it yourself, I don’t believe you can ever fully understand. 

My first night at the shelter was beyond horrendous right from the beginning. It was so crowded in there that more people were sleeping on the floors than in the beds. It took over two hours of standing in line outside just to get in. Then it took almost the same amount of time to get into the cafeteria to eat. 

By the time I finally got to sit down to enjoy dinner, a fight broke out at the table next to mine and a guy came rocketing at my table from a mean left hook. Well there went dinner and I wasn’t about to stand in line for another two hours. Fortunately I had $3 in my pocket so dinner was a Pepsi, a bag of chips, and a candy bar from the vending machines. Finding a spot on the floor and out of the way, I sat down to enjoy my feast. Thankfully I got to eat that meal in peace. 

Afterwards, I made my way to the restroom. It wasn’t hard to find, all one had to do was follow the stench of urine and feces emanating from within. I walked in and the first thing I saw was a man in a stall with the door ajar. He had a needle in his arm and he was sitting in his own feces with his pants pulled down. Not a pretty sight. When I told staff it took them over an hour to check on him. 

I must admit that I didn’t sleep that night and I couldn’t wait to get out of there. It made living in a tent seem like a dream come true after that experience.

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Being homeless is terrible and once you are there it can feel nearly impossible to climb out of it. I managed to get out of it. I’ve seen others get out of it too. But some people fail to escape it. And at the end of the day, those people that made it are the ones who didn’t blame others to expect others to solve it for them. That’s why I started off by saying that “me, myself, and I” are most responsible for my success.

But it wasn’t only me. Without the love, beating heart, and helpful services from the community, I might still be there no matter how hard I tried. It is the work of the churches that feed throughout the week with loving words of encouragement, the city morgue opening their doors to us almost every day of the week, King's Kitchen and Jim Noble being a constant source of love and encouragement, and the First United Methodist Church opening its doors for food, coffee, fellowship, and encouragement. Let’s not forget the burrito people on their bikes handing out awesome breakfast burritos and Capri Suns and the group who feeds on Tuesdays (that everyone affectionately calls “the beans and rice people”). There's Urban Ministries (Now Roof Above) that does so much for the homeless and the community around them that it is staggering. The Room at the Inn kept me warm on many winter nights...

I think you get the picture. I could fill pages with how many groups, organizations and churches are out there that played a part in my story of redemption.

The second biggest factor in my escape from homelessness would have to be the opportunity at Speak Up.

I did the work, but they gave me the tools for it.

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Editor’s Note:

Troy’s snapshot of his painful experience at the shelter, while authentic to him, does not adequately capture the tremendous community benefits provided by homeless shelters—which often provide transformative services in addition to the life-saving support of overnight safety.

We appreciate shelters and the work they do!