Most people fail to see the simplest truth - and when it comes to homeless people, the simple truth is you put your pants on the same way they do. Although, you might have laundered yours a bit more recently, that doesn't mean the homeless person likes being smelly.

A homeless person spends all 24 hours of the day to survive. In the first three parts of this series, I explained why I'm homeless today with my significant other, and gave a little insight to the lengths homeless people must go to in order to eat, sleep, and get around town. It's particularly tough getting out of this situation, and here's another reason why.

The city where I am is not exactly the most intelligently designed. Near the center of town you will find most of the meals provided for homeless people. Breakfast is 34 blocks west (a little more than 3 miles), but that is the only exception within walking distance.

However, to use a phone or any of the resources at the unemployment office, you have to travel another 4 miles north from breakfast and run the risk of missing lunch at the center of town - 4 miles south, and 3 miles east of the unemployment office. If you're walking, that would be impossible. Fortunately, some places give out bus passes. They aren't available all of the time, so if you don't have a bike or a phone, you don't have a reliable way to check up on or call potential employers.

It takes making a plan and strict discipline in order to get a job while homeless. The time between meals and sleep is scarce, and if you don't have a safe place for your things, it will take longer to get from place to place. Some homeless shelters will help with transportation, meals, and showers - but unless you're single / don't mind being separated, aren't unnerved by the occassional gay person, and can stomach the food, then it isn't really a viable option.

The lesson to be learned in these last 4 articles - don't look down on the homeles. They really do work very hard. For some, it drives them crazy. For others, it drives them to drugs - but for a select few, it drives them to achieve.