Autism and Homelessnes

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Right, so I'm going to be homeless one day.

I think I should just commit suicide before it happens.

I hate autism!! !! !! !! !! !! !!

The same amount of time that it takes you to realize that "Saving the Homeless" is best left up to the government and the NGOs that are already set up to do so, and not up to the general public.

My wife and I have done this for 7 individuals, only 2 of whom have gone on to make something of themselves.

The rest threatened us, ripped us off, lied to us, vandalized our house and property, and generally acted like savages.

Never again. Never, ever again.

The one group in the UK I have heard of is Shelter, who have been around for a long time:

http://england.shelter.org.uk/campaigns ... melessness

In New Zealand there is no such group per se, though a unique program began in the last two years where some Maori tribes opened their maraes (sacred meeting houses) to provide food and shelter for people made homeless, often through little fault of their own. The displaced homeless were tenants who had paid market rent in state-owned houses for a long time and who had been generally good tenants; the houses and land were sold by the owner (who was the government of the time) "over their heads" to rich developers, a shocking example of crony capitalism, and because there is a severe housing and job shortage in some cities here, the long term tenants were literally turned out into the street. Some had infant children and were living in cars. Many older New Zealanders were horrified that this was happening here.

So we had a general election and that government is no more. It's crony-capitalism policies were directly responsible for making the tenants homeless victims. The new government is doing its best to clean up the vase mess of homelessness created by the previous one. Sometimes people are affected by circumstances beyond their control, and thank goodness that there are people who still step up to offer food and shelter to the desperate.

I understand your comment too, Fnord, about the success rate you encountered. The great thing is that your help made a difference to some. I have only twice offered a temporary place my home, each time to women who faced staying in a violent situation or being literally homeless. I don't regret it. Both set about finding a job and then a place to live and re-established themselves, one quickly, one not so quickly (and the latter really took advantage of the situation at times). But such is life. The reasons people become homeless are so wide and varied that there will never be simple one size fits all solutions.

These days I am more interested in rescuing senior animals who have been made homeless or have never had one. If for some reason I become homeless, unlikely though it seems, I hope that someone will care enough to help me.

Just because those of us on the spectrum are more likely to be homeless than the general population does NOT mean it's very likely that we will be homeless.

If I would of had my own place when I was single I would of taken in a girl who needed a place to stay. It would of been more for companionship & because I HATED sleeping alone.

I find it interesting how many posters have opened their homes to the homeless. Fnord, I think your success rate is pretty high, nearly 30%. It is very difficult to change lifestyles or to ameliorate problems like mental health issues. I have also sheltered others from time to time. I no longer do it because I no longer have the energy for it. There is no question that many people "helped" are not grateful and do not share our vision for what constitutes a good life.

Joe, I understand your fear of homelessness. I find it the prospect terrifying as well. As B19 points out, just because (even if true) 12% of homeless people are on the spectrum, it does not say what proportion of the autistic community is homeless. I can work myself up into a tizzy over many of the risks of life in general; auto accidents, breast cancer (1 in 8 women), rape, and so on. In spite of all the bad things that could happen, some of them won't happen. And sometimes good things happen. I hope you will hang around long enough for some of the good things to creep up on you.

I've done some couch surfing, and made arrangements to share housing various ways to economize on rent. The only bad experience was with my ex, but I generally dealt with people who came with introductions or a history of friendship. "The principal difference between a dog and a man is just this: If you pick up a stray dog and feed him and make him prosperous, he will not bite you."
- Mark Twain.
Abused children typically misbehave badly for a year after adoption before they can start to trust the unconditional love of a family. Adults can be even more set in their habits. My ex could never settle down for more than 3 days,- she assumed that if she wasn't in a fight, she hadn't figured out who was plotting against her, so she'd pick the most likely "suspect" and attack.
To reduce the fear of homelessness, go looking for an "emergency" location - have a plan in case there's a fire or some such so you wouldn't panic or go inert. Maybe even try an overnight, and then some semi - nomadic living. Having a bed and kitchen in my car reduces my anxiety, and adding insulation and a wood-fired heater would do the same for the cold half of the year.
"I am an old man, and I have seen many troubles, most of which never happened."
- also Mark Twain

It's very unsettling to hear that your cursed disability means you will more likely be homeless. Thanks a bunch. You've just made my anxiety a whole lot worse. I don't even know why the f**k I come to these sites for because all it does it scare me to death. I really cannot be homeless. I have treasured possessions, I need my own security, I get cold very easily, I get frightened of the streets, I hate drinkers and druggies, and here I am reading a f*****g piece of nightmare fuel about me ending up homeless.

All of you autistics that love your autism are pillocks, why the f**k would you love something that will make you live on the streets.

I don't want to f*****g be homeless I f*****g don't I am f*****g terrified please someone tell me this study is BS just like the vaccine causing autism study please.

Joe. Your chances of becoming homeless are about the same as mine: virtually zero.

I have a slightly better chance because should I leave my wife, I would have no home. I’m not going back to living with my mother.

Your mother would welcome you back home.

There's probably another study that says autistic people are more likely to have a successful career in the tech industry.

There's always going to be a study which serves as some sort of "confirmation bias."

Let me tell you honestly: the odds of me talking and being successful in life were seen as being virtually zero at the time of my autism diagnosis. My father still wasn't sure I'd be an independent man until I actually became one.

Just because some study says, say, that 80% of Aspergians are unemployed.....doesn't mean that I will, inevitably, be unemployed. Like Ezra stated, the best that studies can do is to create a sort of "composite" person. They do not often reflect the actual experiences of real people.

Sorry I overreacted, I just got upset. That is how important my security is for me. If I was to lose my securities, I would literally die of fright. I'm just hoping that if there was to come a time where I might become homeless there would be professional people to talk to and support me and make sure I have a home. I'm not some hardy man who somehow survives the cold living on the streets and is happy getting high on drugs or drunk on alcohol to escape. I am a timid wimpy female who wouldn't last 5 minutes living out on the streets, especially in the city where I live. Literally the thought of that really panics me.

I was waiting for kraftiekortie to post in this thread, as he's always understanding and tells me things aren't as bad as they seem, which does reassure me.
I suppose I do have family that will take me in should things get that bad, but I'm worrying more about me becoming homeless when I'm in my fifties or sixties, and by then I won't have many family members left and I'm scared I'll be all alone and uncared about. I suppose I shouldn't spend my happy days worrying about my life in 30-40 years time because you never know what's around the corner. I could win millions on the lottery tomorrow. Who knows?

I believe, once you turn 60 in the UK, that you're pretty much guaranteed a home. Even when one is younger, a home is much more guaranteed for a person in the UK than in the US. I also believe you get free transport on local trains and buses, too, at age 60. And discounts on the railways.