{"id":37181,"date":"2023-11-13T11:33:48","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:33:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/healthymindsphilly.org\/?p=37181"},"modified":"2023-11-13T11:33:48","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T16:33:48","slug":"homeless-hungry-and-hopeless","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/healthymindsphilly.org\/dev\/blog\/homeless-hungry-and-hopeless\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeless, Hungry, and Hopeless"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a child, my family moved around a lot. Because of that, my thinking was not always consistent or stable.<\/span><\/p>\n

The memories of my childhood lists many addresses: By the time I was 10 years old, we had just moved to 46<\/span>th<\/span> and Market in a basement apartment. Prior to that, we lived with my great aunt in South Philly. Before that, we lived in the Southwark Projects, at 15<\/span>th<\/span> Christian and 4<\/span>th<\/span> south.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hunger was a constant in my childhood. It seems like we never had enough food in my home. I went hungry a lot. My mother worked hard. During the day she was a teachers\u2019 assistant at Nebinger Elementary School and at night she was a nursing assistant. She also received food stamps. It seemed that I was always worried about what we would eat and where we would sleep. In school I could not really concentrate because I was hungry and my clothes were dirty. I was always happy to go to school because I knew there would be food and I could eat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The adults in my life <\/span>were too consumed with surviving instead of thriving. If your basic needs are not met, it creates many challenges.<\/span> One day, my mother disappeared and I was homeless along with my two brothers and sister.\u00a0 I became very depressed. I was hungry, homeless, and hopeless. My mind was in despair and as a child I did not know what to do. I prayed to God. I felt as though I could never get anything right. I was overly concerned with getting food and when we might have to move again.<\/span><\/p>\n

My mind was messed up and I had no one to turn to for help. I was walking the streets and sometimes grown men would talk to me.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Being homeless and hungry puts a person in a terrible state of mind, particularly a child. You can\u2019t concentrate on anything and you are afraid because you have no adult around to care for you.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

School was no longer important to me, and the only thing you care about is getting something to eat and finding a safe place to sleep. I have come a long way from my chaotic childhood. I know\u00a0 firsthand what it is like to be homeless, hungry, and hopeless. I am so thankful I no longer have to live that way.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What helped me during this difficult time were my aunt and books. As a youth and adult I read stories of how others overcame obstacles and conquered challenges. Here are some of the books that helped me:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n