Something nobody touches on when discussing our unhoused population is the fact that people who are vulnerable and women especially, are chronically abused during their homeless circumstance. At least that was my scenario when I was homeless at the age of eighteen. Vulnerable and not equipped for life, let alone homelessness.
I was suffering an undiagnosed mental illness at the time of my homeless stint. I was also an I.V. meth user. The two often go hand in hand. This article is about the 27,000 individuals who are currently experiencing homelessness in the State of Oregon. That is according to the 2025 Point In Time count.
When I say, “the vulnerable,” I am mostly talking about those who suffer a severe mental illness that has gone untreated. And I am talking about women who are easy targets for predators on the streets. Not all homeless people have good intentions and we must be realistic about that when discussing the topic.
My personal experience was that I would endure physical and sexual assaults. They all went unreported because of the unspoken rule in the homeless community that you do not report your abuses to the police. So, I lived with the traumas for years until I was found by the police rocking back and forth and non-verbal, in a state of psychosis due to meth abuse and PTSD.
That ended with me being placed at the State Mental Hospital, where I would detox and have clarity of mind again. I guess you could say that this was my rock bottom and I chose to move forward in life and embrace recovery. I have been sober since 1992. The next time you see a homeless woman or someone with a severe mental illness who is unhoused, keep in mind that these poor souls go through chronic abuse of various kinds. Being homeless for some is a trauma in and of itself.
While I still vividly recall the abuse I suffered at the hands of others when I was homeless, I am fortunate to have made it out of that circumstance alive. I’ve had many years of therapy to address the assaults I faced and a diagnosis of PTSD.
And while I may have a diagnosis, it doesn’t erase the memories of being assaulted. Being homeless forever changed me. It was an experience I don’t wish on anyone. Like I previously mentioned, however, there are some bad players in the homeless community, making it even more difficult for the vulnerable who need a safe refuge.
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