Hi. My name is Calvin Butler and I am a father of the sweetest most beautiful little girl in the world and I am homeless. Let me start by saying " I LOVE MY DAUGHTER WITH ALL MY HEART". She is 12 years old now. We have been apart for almost six years. I speak with her on the phone from time to time, but being homeless and out of work it's hard to stay in close contact with her. She lives with her mother " my ex-wife ". We started off like most families. We were married for a year when we decided to have our daughter. At first it was great. Being a dad, married to a beautiful wife, and a good career. Life was good. Shortly after our daughter was born I lost my $45,000 a year job and had to take one with a lot less pay. My wife and I drifted apart.
At first it was just over money or the lack of it. It later became more. The truth is shortly after our daughter was born my wife became pregnant by another man. And when she told me I didn't know how to handle it. I didn't speak to her for several days. I cried, I cursed & I slept with another woman to get even.
After I realized none of this was going to change what had happen, I prayed. I went back home and told my wife that I was willing to raise the child as my own. She told me she wanted to have an abortion.
Now that I look back on it. I think she was saying what she thought I wanted to here. I told her that was not necessary, she insisted she wanted to have an abortion and I gave in and drove her to a clinic in a nearby city. We were never the same after that.
Did I not try hard enough to convenience her that I would accept and love this child as my own? I should have told her an abortion was not an option. The truth is in some way I was relieved that she had come to that decision. We divorced 3 years later. It was at this time that I made the mistake that would lead me to my current situation. I used someone else's credit information to secure a better job. I got the job and it open doors to better careers. I was soon making $120,000 plus a year. As part of the divorce I was to pay $149 monthly for child support. But because I was making much more now, I gave my ex-wife 10% of everything I earned. And things were better between us. I would pick our daughter up from school, She would come to my office and talk with my clients, we had a great relationship. Two years later it all came crashing down. I was arrested for identity theft and sent to prison. In that one moment I lost everything. My career, My home, My Daughter. That was 10/18/2003. I was released from prison 05/01/2008. No home, no job, no money and a felony record.
My family basically turned their backs on me. But through it all my daughter still looks at me with respect and love. Over the past 11 months I've tried so hard to get back on my feet, but it seems like every time I make a step forward something happens to pull me 3 steps back. I always thought that nothing could keep a man down accept himself. And I still believe that.
I don't drink, don't do drugs, I'm educated, computer savvy and I'm in good shape. I understand these are hard times, even for those who are more advantaged than I am.
So I've decided to start my own business and create my own breaks.
Yes I am aware that I am homeless, just released from prison, have no income or money what so ever. But I get $200 in food stamps each month. And I've saved enough from day labor jobs to purchase a used lab top computer and I have built several web sites, joined some affiliate ship programs and I have a number of business ideas that I will try to implement.
Because I have a little girl who still looks up to me and I am determined to become a father she can be proud of again.
To any one out there who has advice, comments, or if you just want to share your feelings on my situation or if you have a similar situation, use this blog as your outlet or to share your ideas or to network with others in our situation in an effort to get back what we have lost.
Or if you would like to help keep this blog site going by contributing a donation. Any amount is appreiciated.
I will keep you updated!
Calvin Butler [HOMELESS DAD & ENTREPRENEUR IN TALLAHASSEE]
