I was ironically sitting here wondering if I had the gall to put my story into words. While I find myself having far more in common with your MIA husband than I would wish, I too had times where I was moving so fast and had so many options and vices that I didn’t come home. It was a matter of shame for me that I couldn’t face my wife and wanted to dull the pain of knowing how I had broken my vows. In fact I also did, and still sometimes tend to, blame her for it. Put all the catalysts aside I’m just guilty and that is what it is. I started asking for a divorce before I stepped out, but I should have just filed for it instead of asking her permission.

She is lucky enough to have financial resources that keep her and our two children in okay living conditions. We are officially divorced. My children are in good shape to be well rounded intelligent and very humble adults someday. Her father is well-to-do so her safety net is huge. I put myself in a place where I’m not able to or willing to accept the options that I have and ultimately I’m homeless myself and living in a shelter in San Francisco. I refuse to return to Vegas and settle for less than my life has the potential to be. More so because of my two children. If I had to pick for them to be where I am now or to accept what I have as plans b and c, I would fully support them in staying in the fight and going after what they truly know they are worth having.

That was long winded. What I really want you to take away from this is that you’re so not alone.

Although my income at the moment is zero, I’ve started my own company (something I’m not new to and should have done a long time ago) and once I get on solid ground phase 2 is to hire homeless people, phase 3 is to incubate ideas of homeless people. There is a good 10-20% of the people living in homeless shelters in San Francisco who are like yourself. Some combination of age, circumstances and fish hooks that are getting no bites is keeping them from getting basic employment. The other 80-90% need to get something worked out and then they could join the ranks of functional employable homeless. How to delineate the two is a big question mark.

The important factor and idea I would like to convey to you is, ‘start off with something small.’ My company http://www.cozylap.com and initiative http://www.cozylap.com/homeless_not_helpless.html are based on a simple need that millions of people have and at the moment no product succinctly addresses. I hope to be able to attract 500 of them a month to purchase a handmade product that after materials and shipping, I make 50% profit on. The boundaries of possibility are vast, but my goals remain modest, realistic and achievable. Once I achieve them and have a $60,000 a year income, I can make moves to grow. Publicity is cruicial and with that said, with your inspiration and courage to openly discuss poverty and situation, I guess I had better go write my article too.

Keep up the effort and may sustenance and comfort find their way back into your life very soon.