Homelessness The Greatest Fear

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The Easter long weekend includes Monday in some countries. It’s a great time to be home, if you have one.

It is easy to blame the government for homelessness, but it is also internal. We cause it one way or the other. This might sound unpleasant because we don’t like taking the blame for anything. The government is a convenient scapegoat because we vote.

There are things that nudge some family members to leave home. Others are literally pushed out or come back to find locks changed. That’s why we tolerate workplace abuse. We cannot resign because the pay cheque keeps the car, water and electricity, the phone, cable or rent alive. We might even own a house, which belongs to the bank because of the mortgage, but that’s another story.

Staying in a job where you are not wanted takes its toll. The fear of homelessness is one of the major causes of heart trouble, but you stay because of the refrigerator. Homelessness involves squatting with friends, if you’re lucky but you must be hunger-free. Looks you get when you open that fridge tell you it’s time to leave, for the bridge.

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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