It's Not That I'm a Shelter Bum, It's..

In every state/city I've been to in the last 7 or 8 years, I stayed in a Shelter first and then got my place. Staying in Shelter reminds me of my Army days and I had some fun in those days while seeing the world.

Being in a shelter...you either have to be strong minded or crazy as fuck. It helps a lot if you can combine the two. For real though, it wears out yiur mental state of mind too. Every shelter shouldn't be like that, but that what happens.

First Timers, it's a shock to your system. It's out of the elements, you get a bed, shower and something to eat. You can relax and some do..I did, when I was given my bed. Though you think no one, meaning other residents..though you think they are looking, they are. They are seeing what youre unpacking, what you got..so they can steal it. Again, not all shelters are like this. Instead of talking about the bad parts, I'm going to talk about the Good.

First thing I look at are the bulletin boards. Jobs, free clothing, and meals in the surrounding areas. Next, and do this ahead of checking in..I find out when the closest library is. I come prepared..laptop charged up and ready for a job search. It helps to be nice to the staff and answer all questions and fill out all forms they ask you to. You'll get some staff who can judge the good in people and will help you more than others.

Life living in a shelter is by THEIR RULES! If you don't like the rules, leave. Simple as that. On serveal occasions I checked in unemployed and with in a couple of hours went on an interview, got the position and had my schedule with me to take back to the shelter. Now the hard part..

The hardest part is trying to tell the staff who have seen 100's of men come thru their doors say the same shit to them. But I'm different. 'I just got this job and my hour are past curfew, so need a night pass so that I'm not considered as a person who left the shelter. Most times asking for a kate pass I am told no. So I have to tell my employer on DAY ONE if working what my living situation is. And ask them to write a letter in their letterhead stating my hours.  Ring that back to my Case Manager, and that should get the ball rolling. What messes things up is if he asks me how much I'm making and I make more than he does. Believe me that has happened to me twice. Both times the case manager gave me a hard time so I went over their heads and made an enemy.

In my opinion nothing should change about you if you live in a shelter...that is if you're strong minded. Though I couldn't or couldn't buy the things I really wanted to get, I waited. So I buy cheap made clothing, something that everyone in the shelter is wearing. Some times, most times I would miss dinner, but I work in food service so I'm eating on the job. But in my days off, I eat in the dinning room with others.And one day a week I would order Chinese Food and get a little extra to give to anyone who passes by where I'm eating. I tell them I can't eat all of this, take it or I'm gonna throw it away. 

Okay, the shelter I'm in now. Wow!! There is a Director which leaves at 4:30pm. And when she leaves, the staff that watches over us, well it's 'Their house, their rules'. Like three times a week I have to be at work at 4:15am, wake up at 2am on my own. Shower, drink a cup of coffee and have a smoke..and head off for the 1 mile walk to work. I get off at 11:15am and the dorm in which I sleep is off limits. But I got permission from The Director to go in the dorm, shower and go to sleep if I want to but.. But the staff tells me to shower and come out of the dorm. Dorm doesn't open until 6pm and on two nights a week 7pm. It's okay in the Summer, but it's cold out and I've been up since 2am. I'm so tired it feels like I'm drunk. The other day the dire8 told me to come with her, walked me around to each staff and told them I can stay in the dorm after getting back from work. Case solved.

To Be Continued.