Homeless vs chosen homelessness

When you drive around in your car here where I live, you see many homeless people begging at traffic lights for food or money. There is one suburb which I sometimes pass through. In this suburb, you will notice a big bag of something along with blankets on top of a carport’s roof. This is where the homeless people store their belongings during the day so that no one steals them.

Scrolling through Facebook, I came upon a video of a woman who chose to live in her car. She uses the gym facilities to shower, otherwise, she has a friend who allows her to shower at her house. I can’t imagine how one chooses to live in your car because of the security issues and not having a toilet.

A few years back my family and I were living in a garden shed. We weren’t homeless because we had protection against most of the elements. We didn’t have running water in the garden shed, which meant we had to use a camping toilet. This is a plastic toilet that has a septic tank. We had to fetch water within our family’s home to boil in the kettle. We lived there for almost three years until God helped up to buy our own home.

To this day, when I use the toilet in our home, I think back to the days where I had to use the camping toilet with a septic tank. There were some nights where I had to use the toilet for number two and it was such an embarrassing experience. Having to poop while my family members were sleeping. We were three people in the garden shed.

Now I have running water in my bathroom and toilet. I thank God for this privilege.

My point is. Being homeless or in a situation where you do not have the basics like running water or a toilet, sucks big time. It’s difficult to live and function as a human this way. I do not understand why one would choose a lifestyle like this. My point is. Not having a home with electricity, security, or running water is difficult. It’s a lifestyle I do not wish on any enemy of mine.

Seeing someone beg for food or money, we might not know whether they really need it or whether they don’t want to work. We might not know whether they are indeed homeless or whether they have a home. But if it is possible, please reach out to others who ask for help. If you don’t want to give money, give food.

I hope that if you are someone who lives without a house and read this, that God will help you as well. Just ask Him, He hears.