The realities of being homeless
Being homeless is a constant uphill struggle. Everyone close your eyes. We’re going to take a walk through downtown Portland. We’ve all seen the tents on sidewalks and people wrapped in blankets sleeping in doorways. I have been homeless since November. Since then, I have conducted informal interviews with other homeless people. What I’ve learned may surprise you. I am going to share with you some of the realities of being homeless: it’s illegal to sleep in public, the authorities can do anything they want to you, and the truth about the drug problem among the homeless. Roshan Abraham, writing for the advocacy organization Shelterforce, tells us that the ruling in the case of Grant’s Pass versus Johnson makes it illegal to sleep in public. (Abraham) Sleep is a biological necessity, so where are we supposed to sleep? Mos t long-term shelters require a referral from a caseworker, and most homeless people aren’t even in the system and don’t have...