Free Ya’ Mind

I got the blues. The shelter Blues.

The homeless shelter Blues.

Tired of being homeless, tired of being po’. Tired of being punished for lacking financial dynamo.

The curfew. The expectations. The staff with no compassion. The meals with no flavor. The uncomfortable beds, rooms too hot or too cold. It’s never just right. Man, the shelter Blues bites.

The rules you have to follow, in order to keep your bed, made you wonder why you weren’t born rich instead. If only I could have, just a lil bit more.. but, there is so much more in store that you can’t afford.

The apartments are too expensive, houses are out of my range. Studios are barely affordable and rooms may be cheap. But jobs ain’t paying enough for you to keep up.

If you lucky to be paid at all, you still ain’t paid enough. 40x the rent amount is the standard requirement. 4.0.. Four. Zero. Multiplied. That’s $400,000 after tax. After you’ve paid the man. You just might be able to live affordably. If not.. off to the streets you go!

No, it doesn’t matter how many years you’ve worked. Or how much dignity you still have in tact. Without the right amount of money, it’s a home you’ll lack. The right to exist, to live and work and play, all have a price tag you might not be able to pay.

So, the next time your job lays you off or your landlord increases your rent.. the next time food prices rise and all the money is spent. the very next time they tell you to follow the rules, it could be worse.

It’s not a curse or a virus or a bug you can squash. It’s the gov’ments method for putting you up. Helping you  back to your feet. Once you stand to raise your hand, to admit your defeat. Once you’ve signed your name on the shelter sign in sheet. Once you have a bed and get to sleep for the night, and you think everything’s just right. It’s already too late, it’s been a lose-lose..

Cuz you’ll wake up just like me, a year and six months in – with the homeless shelter Blues.

X.