A Story from the Street

  • I met a man at Laundry Love last month who reminded me just how easy it can be to end up on the streets. For the sake of privacy let’s call him Antonio.

    Antonio is now on the streets and unable to work. He wasn’t always this way, in fact just a few months before he was working hard in a retail establishment and had a place to live. So what happened? A back injury at work, one that is serious enough to end his ability to work. Now many of you are probably thinking that he should get a settlement from his employer and you would be correct in that he did. He hired an attorney and the company paid him for his injury. However in the end it wasn’t enough.

    It wasn’t enough to cover his doctor bills and the treatment he received wasn’t nearly enough to heal his back. Being unable to work the bills soon piled up and with no family around he soon couldn’t make his rent.

    He isn’t lazy and he had a job but due to circumstances out of his control he is now on the streets. His back is so bad he can hardly walk and constantly needs to wear a brace. He can’t afford the pain medicine he was on and the only mild relief he gets is from over the counter topical creams.

    So just like that a normal, ordinary guy is now homeless. Before Laundry Love I always wondered how come so many people end up homeless. Sure there are other things that can lead to it like addiction or jail time but many of the homeless, especially at Laundry Love, are victims of circumstance. I realize that all it takes is a little push in the wrong direction and people’s lives spill out onto the streets. I see how easy it can be. Just like Antonio did, just like that.



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    July 12th, 2010 | jjordan | No Comments | Tags: , , , , , ,

About The Author

Jeff Jordan

I am a writer, blogger and general creative force. I’m part humorist, satirist and pop culture/movie reviewer but all nerd. I dabble in short stories and love comics, science fiction and fantasy. Additionally I enjoy writing for and promoting nonprofit groups. I am also the self proclaimed Czar of New Prussia, but only in my own mind.

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