Holidays are fast approaching and this year i'm planning on doing something a bit different. While most people are planning on what holiday to take or what presents to buy i'm trying to psyche myself up for what I think will be the two hardest weeks of my life...
I've always wondered what it would be like to be homeless. I mean really homeless. Have no money, no food, no shelter, minimal clothing - what would it be like.
So I have decided during these Christmas holidays while everyone is gathered around the pub having a few drinks with their friends i'm going to either travel interstate or stay in Melbourne and become homeless...
I will buy minimum clothing, give myself 2 dollars and will try and survive on the street for 2 weeks. This means - no free food, shelter, no showers, clothing or anything which I can't get for free or through charity organisations.
I will wait one week before I even try and get myself a job (hopefully that one week will make me desperate enough) and I will see how an employer looks at me.
Why am I doing this? I want to try and understand what it would like to be homeless. I have read on forum boards, including this one, and have discussed with so many people the homeless situation within Melbourne. Often people tell me, 'If I was homeless, hell, i'd get a job and I wouldn't put myself through that crap!' so I guess i'm going to test it.
I also think that until you have been there - been really desperate - you will never understand the plight of these individuals.
So what do I hope to achieve - I guess some awareness within bluelight and within my circle of friends what it is like to be homeless. Hell, I might find that it really isn't that bad and it's smooth sailing or I may get mugged and beaten up.. I don't know.
Will I be able to make it? I don't know.. Am I scared? Yes.
Can I give up? Yes, if it is too hard I will give up. If my life is threatened hell i'll give up. I'm already making contingency plans like getting a reverse charges number to my parents and friend's houses so if i'm in big trouble I can call for help.
I hope to keep some sort of diary which I will then provide on bluelight in the coming weeks..
I'm still trying to get leave from work and while i'm stuck on a project i'm not sure how likely this will be.. I'll keep everyone informed.
I would like to hear people's thoughts on this? Am I being stupid? What have your experiences been?
F
I've always wondered what it would be like to be homeless. I mean really homeless. Have no money, no food, no shelter, minimal clothing - what would it be like.
So I have decided during these Christmas holidays while everyone is gathered around the pub having a few drinks with their friends i'm going to either travel interstate or stay in Melbourne and become homeless...
I will buy minimum clothing, give myself 2 dollars and will try and survive on the street for 2 weeks. This means - no free food, shelter, no showers, clothing or anything which I can't get for free or through charity organisations.
I will wait one week before I even try and get myself a job (hopefully that one week will make me desperate enough) and I will see how an employer looks at me.
Why am I doing this? I want to try and understand what it would like to be homeless. I have read on forum boards, including this one, and have discussed with so many people the homeless situation within Melbourne. Often people tell me, 'If I was homeless, hell, i'd get a job and I wouldn't put myself through that crap!' so I guess i'm going to test it.
I also think that until you have been there - been really desperate - you will never understand the plight of these individuals.
So what do I hope to achieve - I guess some awareness within bluelight and within my circle of friends what it is like to be homeless. Hell, I might find that it really isn't that bad and it's smooth sailing or I may get mugged and beaten up.. I don't know.
Will I be able to make it? I don't know.. Am I scared? Yes.
Can I give up? Yes, if it is too hard I will give up. If my life is threatened hell i'll give up. I'm already making contingency plans like getting a reverse charges number to my parents and friend's houses so if i'm in big trouble I can call for help.
I hope to keep some sort of diary which I will then provide on bluelight in the coming weeks..
I'm still trying to get leave from work and while i'm stuck on a project i'm not sure how likely this will be.. I'll keep everyone informed.
I would like to hear people's thoughts on this? Am I being stupid? What have your experiences been?
F