Have you been homeless?

[adinkra]

if i was trying to turn things around or just give my body a break, then yes -- but it would be very hard to predict how genuinely i wanted to turn things around/give my body a break AFTER i had had enough alcohol to kill DTs.

the problem for me would be emotional lability. something i struggled with on (at least) a weekly basis in the later years was waking up sober/desperate enough to declare an assault on my alcoholism, only to get my hands on enough alcohol to still the DTs. i'd lose my perception of the immediate physical horror, but then immense vistas of self-created misery, lost opportunities, guilt and shame, having nothing, etc. etc. etc. came rushing to the fore, which were just as intolerable and demanded further numbing.

so i reckon one of the major benefits of a wet shelter would be the opportunity to speak to someone (anyone, dammit!) willing to listen when such a time came. it's very hard to get through alone. i've only heard of such places in the US, when one came out and caused an obligatory media frenzy. are they elsewhere too?

 

[Dave]

AFAIK they're very rare anywhere. I know that if the weather gets really bad for long stretches, as in more than a day or two with daytime highs below -30C, a couple of the shelters in town will quietly start handing out alcohol to keep some of the people indoors. It doesn't happen often, and usually doesn't end well-- mostly because the required counseling isn't there.

I do think that with the right people around for support it could well work.

 

[LOGan1314]

YES! I have been homeless due to my addictions...however, i got MYSELF out of it without anyone giving me HANDOUTS.
I figured, if i want to use drugs constantly, i have to make my OWN in the world.
I got a sales comission job and started doing AMAZING at it. And got myself a nice apartment and off the streets.

 

[donnie080208]

Not read all the posts BUT it seems the richest country in the world, is also the easiest to find yourself homeless in, here in the UK your rent will always be paid by social security benefits indefinitely and our homeless problem is very small compared to the USA. If found myself homeless in the UK i would get myself put in prison or indeed a psychiatric hospital surely better than the streets its more a lifestyle/ bad habit choice over here IMO.
Anyway kudos to anyone who got themselves out of a nightmare situation, the welfare state in America is a disgrace IMO.


There are wet shelters here in the UK , used to live near one, terrible places with fists regularly put through doors, people sat on bench with bottles cheap cider in summer at 7.00AM. Local spar shop near the place changed lay out of beer aisle because of thefts every day.
IMO not great idea should be more rehab places, dry houses etc... than wet.