Indiana Woman Shares Her Raw Emotional Story About Living Life as a Homeless Person Out West

Sometimes at night, after everyone goes to bed, I scroll through videos on my phone. It's a way for me to relax and reclaim part of my day. There's an actual name for this - it's called Revenge Bedtime Procrastination and I'm so guilty.

Raw, Real, Eye-Opening

One channel I find myself drawn to is Soft White Underbelly. It dives into the stories of people living on the edge, those who've been through some heavy stuff. From drug addicts to sex workers, and even those with connections to notorious figures like cult leaders or serial killers—it's raw, real, and eye-opening.

Read More: Kentucky Man Recounts Terrifying Encounter with Notorious Killer

Meet Michelle from Orleans, IN

Creepy how algorithms work, right? After watching a few of those interviews, Facebook starts showing me more of the same. I stumbled upon this heartbreaking story about Michelle, a woman from Southern Indiana who ended up homeless in Venice, California. She used to be a dog groomer with her own business, and even a marriage once upon a time. But life threw her some curveballs, health issues cropped up, and then her purse was stolen, leaving her stranded out west.

It's stories like Michelle's that really hit home. It just goes to show how life can take unexpected turns for anyone, no matter where they started out.

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How Many Homeless People are in Evansville, IN?

When you're in a place like California, especially certain areas like San Diego, the issue of homelessness can feel overwhelming—it's right there in front of you, impossible to ignore. But back home in the tri-state area, it's not as visible. That doesn't mean it's not there though. Homelessness is like this hidden struggle in many communities, including ours. Just because we don't see it on every street corner doesn't mean people aren't grappling with it behind closed doors or in less visible parts of our cities. It's a reminder to stay aware and empathetic, even when the issue isn't staring us in the face. According to evansville.gov, there were about 488 homeless people living in the area in 2020. 

What Causes Homelessness?

According to the Arlington Life Shelter, there are 10 main causes of homelessness: addiction, domestic violence, mental illness, job loss and underemployment, foreclosure, post-traumatic stress, throw-away teens, relational brokenness, grief, and despair. The biggest age-group of homelessness is teens under 18 - heartbreaking.

What Happened to Michelle?

In the video, she told the cameraman, "I don't want nobody to feel sorry for me. I want them to pray for me." She also said she was going to fix her situation. The good news is that one of the commenters claimed that Michelle made it back home to Orleans though I was not able to verify.

Erin Elliott Stennett: She is back home in Orleans. I know her and I’m friends with her. This video is probably 5 years old or older. Her ex husband has now passed. I don't talk to her often, but she is a friend with me on fb.

Southern Indiana Resources

If you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness, there are several resources available in Southern Indiana to help.