CHARACTER MOTIVATION THESAURUS

ESCAPING HOMELESSNESS



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HELPFUL TIP:

To understand why your character is driven toward a certain goal, get to know their positive and negative traits, as well as any significant emotional wounds that might be motivating them. Then you can explore the various kinds of conflict that could block them as they move toward their goal.
NOTES:
One of the most basic human needs is shelter, so when an individual or family has no home of their own, their other basic needs become endangered. For this reason, finding a home can be a driving force for those without one.

It should be noted that there are often factors contributing to one's homelessness that are seemingly insurmountable, making the goal extremely difficult to overcome: addiction, mental illness, physical disabilities, and necessary medications that one can't afford. Some of these factors can cause the person to abandon or sabotage this goal. Please know that this entry outlines some of the ways a person could achieve this motivation while understanding the very difficult, complex circumstances surrounding it.

FORMS THIS MIGHT TAKE:
Seeking out a non-profit group that helps the homeless find employment
Reaching out to estranged family members for assistance
Entering a program to overcome an addiction
Accepting aid and forming a plan with a counselor at a homeless shelter
Seek help for mental illness (going on medication, getting therapy, etc.)
Applying for housing assistance and placement in low-income housing
Finding a "work exchanged for room and board" employment opportunity

HUMAN NEED DRIVING THE GOAL (INNER MOTIVATION):
There are five basic human needs that, when missing from a character's life, could motivate them to pursue this goal. The following needs are all possibilities, but only one of them should be the primary driver for any given character. For more information on the relationship between human needs and outer motivations, please see​ this ​Character Motivation tutorial.

Self-Actualization:If a character believed they were called to fulfill a higher purpose, they could be driven to find a way out of poverty to acquire the education and resources necessary to pursue that purpose.
Esteem and Recognition: A person who is homeless may find themselves in a spiral of low self-esteem and self-loathing. Seeking a way out of homelessness could be the starting point to them reclaiming their dignity and self-worth. 
Love and Belonging: A character who is choosing to be homeless (by avoiding the programs that would help them) will likely have relationship struggles with close family and friends. The character may choose to finally accept help so they can leave this life behind in order to repair those relationships.
Safety and Security: Life on the street is dangerous due to people who would take advantage of those who are at risk. Should a character recognize the danger as something that needs to be escaped, that need for security would push them to find a way to make it a reality. 
Physiological Needs: A close brush with death (due to an overdose, exposure to the elements, or being attacked) would make a character more cognisant of the fragility of life. This awakening to their mortality may push them to find a way to get off the streets for good. 

HOW THE CHARACTER MAY PREPARE FOR THIS GOAL:
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POSSIBLE SACRIFICES OR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS GOAL:
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ROADBLOCKS WHICH COULD PREVENT THIS GOAL FROM BEING ACHIEVED:
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TALENTS & SKILLS THAT WILL HELP THE CHARACTER ACHIEVE THIS GOAL:
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WHAT'S AT STAKE IF THIS GOAL ISN'T MET?
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CLICHÉS TO AVOID:
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