Since you are so brave to admit this...
I was homeless for 8 years.
I never would have gotten out of it without help. I didn't really know any different either. I just figured that was where I was going to be until I died. I did not have the benefit of a disciplined upbringing that gave me life skills.
I am very grateful to be given a chance to integrate with society when before it was very alien to me.
Thankfully I cared about what was right, and that helped me grow out of the habits and ways of thinking that didn't really serve me.
Now I am in a very different situation, and don't make use of government assistance.