Redefining worth and resilience after years of homelessness – The Cauldron
Swimming laps every morning at 6 a.m. after a grueling 45-minute walk from the east side of Cleveland to the suburbs of Cleveland Heights felt like an endless struggle.
A photo taken a few months prior to us becoming homeless for the first time. Photo Credit: Hannah Gates
Imagine being just 12 years old, trudging through the bitter cold of winter, forced to endure this routine day in and day out because your parents couldn’t afford a place in the city, leaving you homeless. On top of that, having to deal with constant reminders of your own reality from your peers, who treated you differently because your hair was always unkempt and you constantly looked hungry.
Now, imagine this same young girl enduring the fallout of years spent homeless with her family, trapped in relentless cycles of poverty that lead up to her being without a home for four years as an adult.
At 18, she’s forced to let go of her dreams, being withdrawn from high school to tackle a demanding job in a warehouse just to make ends meet. The only difference? She’s now homeless on her own.
All those aspirations of becoming a doctor and an Olympic swimmer that she clung to during the taxing years of her childhood? Now they’re just distant pipedreams, overshadowed by the brutal realities of her daily struggle.
This story is not fictional; it’s the raw truth of my life. I’m Hannah Gates, a full-time student at Cleveland State University (CSU) pursuing studies in political science and communications with a pre-law focus.
The day my parents broke the news that we’d be homeless, forced to sleep in our car, marked the beginning of a stark realization: life wasn’t going to be easy and we’d have to face it head-on. At just nine years old, accepting such a harsh reality was incredibly difficult.
Being homeless in the suburbs meant that without an address, attending school in the area was out of the question. My parents emphasized the importance of keeping our circumstances secret, ensuring we could still receive an education without being relegated to the less privileged areas of Cleveland.
At the time, I couldn’t wrap my head around why we were suddenly homeless. Both my parents were educators, just like the ones at the school I attended. It didn’t add up. It wasn’t until later in life that I learned about the 2007 stock market crash, which explained everything:
My dad lost his job, sending our family into a tailspin. To make ends meet, my mom made the bold decision to become an entrepreneur. Just when we thought things couldn’t get any tougher, our landlord decided to hike up the rent, adding to our already mounting challenges.
From an outside perspective, you wouldn’t have guessed our circumstances. Being homeless in America doesn’t always fit the stereotype of begging on the streets for change or scavenging from trash cans. It can be hidden behind closed doors, masked by appearances that suggest everything is fine.
Homelessness is burdened with countless biases. Many unfairly view those in need as lazy or unwilling to take control of their lives. But the reality is far more complex. The world can be cruel, and sometimes people are simply doing their best to navigate through tough circumstances. It’s not always a matter of choice; sometimes it’s just about survival.
I believe the driving force behind my relentless dedication to overcome the unexpected adversity of homelessness lies in my innate determination and grit. However, there are moments when the weight of my struggles feels overwhelming, and the urge to simply quit and surrender becomes all too tempting.
For those battling with homelessness, the notion of pressing forward may feel foreign, especially if their experiences have been riddled with pain and devoid of any clear understanding of what success entails.
Transitioning to CSU, a block away from a shelter I had called home just a year prior, after spending my whole early adult life directionless and without a concrete plan, the prospect of hope and inspiration for my future seemed entirely out of reach.
Despite the challenges, I navigated my path with a sense of divine guidance, feeling the presence of God with every step. I persevered through adversity, embracing circumstances beyond my control and expressing gratitude for the blessings that came my way.
My high school senior photo taken at 21 years old during my unhoused journey. Photo Credit: Da’Shaunae Marisa
While my drive and tenacity have undoubtedly played crucial roles in my journey, the most meaningful factor that has brought me to where I am today is the unwavering support of the people in my life who have gone above and beyond to help me.
Whether unhoused or housed, rich or poor, it’s abundantly clear that having a solid support system is the common thread that empowers individuals to achieve greatness.
The next time you encounter someone in need or whose conditions are different from yours, I urge you to approach them with an open mind and heart. Instead of jumping to conclusions or making assumptions, try considering that each person has their own story and struggles.
After all, there’s a reason why over seven billion of us share this planet together. Let’s make every effort to understand and support one another, acknowledging the humanity that connects us all.