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Homelessness

white knight
Community Champion
Community Champion

Some of us older members have worked hard for decades and are now secure. Some of us also have been in the situation years ago whereby we were homeless. There is various degrees of "homelessness" though from sleeping on the street, to inside an old caravan the latter a castle compared to the former. So the differences can be vast and is often income based.

 

So at 40yo following a huge crisis I had enough money to buy a 3 metre 40yo caravan and moved into a caravan park. Yes, I was lucky and not technically homeless but I was getting a taste of what it could be like as I'd left behind my home, neighbours, town, my inlaws and even my dog. A huge upheaval. 

 

So recently in our country we've seen a spike in homelessness and shortage of accommodation in rentals leaving some in a desperate position. During this period anxiety and other illnesses peak, doctors charges, meds etc are now unaffordable, its a real crisis. I dont have all the answers.

 

If you are working you could benefit from having two goals at a time, one financial goal and one personal challenge. The personal challenge could be - giving up an addiction like smoking/gambling/drinking. The financial goal could be to buy a campervan (if single) or a caravan. Once youve made your purchase you now have some form of nomadic ability which has its advantages. Following that make another two goals and so on.

 

So I did that. Ended up with a block of land in the country, erected a shed, put the caravan in it, used a home brew kit as a shower and eventually built my own home. I recalled my first bath in my house that then had no plaster. I'd succeeded, an incredible feeling, then even before I got out I had decided my two next goals one step at a time

 

All comments appreciated. Let's help the less fortunate.

 

TonyWK 

6 Replies 6

David35
Community Member

Having the ability to set goals in such dire circumstances is quite remarkable. I can't personally relate to your circumstances but I know from experiencing depression and alcoholism how important it was to set goals. It didn't always matter if I achieved them or not. It just gave me a direction. Mine was woodworking. I started spending less money on alcohol and more on tools, machines to make wooden kids furniture. I didn't make any money, but it got me off the booze, as well as gave me some self esteem. Overcoming any addiction is an achievement. I can't comprehend what you've been through but you should be proud of what you've been able to accomplish.

Hi, welcome,

 

Gee, thanks David. Talk about woodworking, back in 1992 I was made redundant and in a small country town had difficulty getting work. So I drew up plans for a mobile cubbyhouse , small enough for my box trailer and large enough for kids. They had to be unique in fact I took one to a show and mums loved them in fact all future sales was to the little girl inside the mother of the child. I'd struck a cord.

 

In my first xmas I'd sold 14 cubbies all to be delivered xmas eve across the state. A cool profit of several thousand dollars that was supplementing the dole. The only drawbacks were- they were seasonal and not in kit form. They had small attic windows and cottage doors, made from T&G pine flooring. 

When parents moved house the cubby went with them. 

 

I think you've jumped and amazing hurdles also.

TonyWK

Wow. Ive seen on tv, they do a similar thing in the US with mobile homes. So your version, just bigger! That's quite an enterprising attitude you have.

I'm currently making wooden kids benches, partly made from recycled timber from pallets. Luckily these pieces are dressed, not rough sawn. I found my anxiety going through the roof in the last 18 months during mums cancer treatment, tests, etc. She's OK now. But I've found I need to get back working with timber, no matter how small to keep me sane.

Thanks David for your input.

 

Stress is a hard thing to counter. Hobbies and distractions do help and I'm glad you have found an activity that results in a better life. Also glad your mum is ok.

 

TonyWK

blues23
Community Member

Your story is amazing 🤩 very inspiring. Must try and make goals at the moment it’s just getting thru day to day  and the next thing and so on and so on 

Thankyou Blues,

 

Battling mental health issues and having a "never give up" attitude is a see-saw of emotions. But in the end positive attitude wins out. 

Those with MI and a negative mindset I feel sorry for. 

 

PROBLEM FLOWER

Of all my problems I have

I pick a daisy flower

Pick a petal for each of my woes

...and count them by the hour

 

Then as I stare at that stem

My problems bigger than a city tower

My problems may be huge

But not as big as that flower...

 

TonyWK