The Daily Struggles We Don’t See: A Day in the Life of an Unhoused Person
Every morning looks completely different for someone who is unhoused, but the one thing that stays the same is how much effort it takes just to get their day started. Most people open their eyes and are comfortable in a warm bed, but many unhoused individuals wake up on a bench, in a doorway, or anywhere that felt safe enough to lie down the night before. Their first thought is usually about survival, like where they can clean up, where they can warm themselves, or where they can find breakfast. Some people spend their entire morning walking from place to place just trying to meet these basic needs. Even though homelessness is connected to bigger issues like high living costs, low wages, medical bills, and lack of support, those bigger ideas never fully capture what it feels like to wake up already tired and searching for somewhere safe to begin the day.
As the day continues, the difficulties do not slow down. The afternoon can bring new obstacles because the streets are unpredictable. There are constant changes in the people around them and the environments they pass through. Many unhoused individuals face risks such as violence, stolen belongings, or exposure to substance use. These dangers are not always by choice but are often the result of the environments they are forced to sleep and survive in. When nighttime arrives, everything becomes even more stressful. Darkness makes the streets feel unsafe, and it becomes harder to find a place where they can sleep without being bothered or pushed away. Many unhoused people deal with the fear of losing the few belongings they own or being woken up by officers during a sweep. For a lot of people living on the streets, making it through the night without being harmed or losing everything they have is an everyday battle.
There are many assumptions about homelessness, but the information shows that most people become unhoused because of circumstances that spiral out of their control. Some people had jobs before losing their home but could no longer afford rent or were hit with a sudden medical or financial crisis they could not recover from. Once someone ends up without housing, every small setback becomes much harder to overcome. Losing an identification card, not being able to access healthcare, or having belongings taken can completely block someone from getting help. Mental health struggles are also very common. While only a small portion of the general population lives with a serious mental health condition, a much larger portion of unhoused individuals experience depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or untreated trauma. Women who are unhoused face very high risks of violence, including sexual assault. On top of all this, city rules that prohibit sleeping, sitting, or storing belongings in public areas often leave people constantly moving and unable to rest. These barriers make it extremely difficult for anyone to regain stability once it is lost.
If we want to understand homelessness beyond the stereotypes and assumptions that people often make, the best thing we can do is listen to the stories of those who have lived it. Personal stories show experiences that statistics alone cannot explain, and they help break the stereotypes many people hold. Hearing someone describe their long nights, their struggles with staying safe, or how easily life can fall apart makes the issue feel more human and less distant. Listening to lived experiences is one of the strongest ways to build empathy and challenge assumptions. If you want to hear a powerful story from someone who was unhoused and learn more about what daily life truly looks like, click here.
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