What brought change for me was leaving the area in favor of a different city that had actual shelters and food resources available for the homeless. I was able to shower regularly and eat somewhat regularly for the first time since I was a teen, which allowed me to get a shitty job at a convenience store, and the awesome people who ran the shelter helped me save my earnings and taught me how to budget and pay bills and shop for groceries.

It’s been about five years now. I was promoted to a management position at the convenience store about two years ago. I’m still very poor, and I’m still suffering from the severe mental illnesses that initially caused the homelessness, but I’m okay. I have no family or friends besides my partner, and a lifetime of abuse and neglect has rendered me completely incapable of establishing and maintaining relationships with other people, but I have a bed, a blanket, a pillow, a phone, a fridge with some food in it and a shower so I really try not to complain. Anyways, I hope you can someday find a way out. You deserve it. You can do it. I know that sounds like lame hallmark card bullshit, but you really can do it.