Mouse "We All Deserve Respect"
Photo by Randy Bacon
My name is Morgan, but everyone on the street calls me "Mouse". I’m 31 years old and I’ve been homeless now for 5 years.
My dads a damn good man, he did the best he could. My mom was hooked on crack since I was 6 weeks old. I’ve been on my own since I was 15 or 16. It was hard, but it builds character.
I was having a really hard time and I was depressed- so I turned to drugs. Drugs are a major weakness for me. I wanted to escape reality and drugs were my way. That’s how I became homeless. It was really poor decision making that led me here.
Photo by Randy Bacon
The hardest part about being homeless is worrying about where your next meal is going to come from. The sleeping part of it isn’t a big deal because I’ve always loved to camp. Since I was really young- sleeping in the woods doesn't bother me. The food aspect is really hard- it’s embarrassing standing on the street corner with a piece of cardboard like, “hey, help me. I’m homeless and poor”. It’s demeaning. I’m better than that and I know that, but I’ve put myself in a bad situation.
People have judged me for the way I look for as long as I can remember. And people often misjudge the homeless thinking we are all just druggies that want to get high. And people treat me like shit for being homeless. I’d like to be respected like any other person on this planet because we all deserve respect.
My son gives me hope. I’d give my last breath without hesitation to make sure that he could have another happy day of life. I haven’t seen my son for two years, but I’m trying to get him back. I have to remember that it always gets better. What’s meant to be will be. I know that the only person who can get me off the street is myself.
Photo by Randy Bacon
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