Table of ContentsShepard's Perspective on the Project:My Thoughts on This ProjectWhat I Can DoWorks CitedShepard's Perspective on the Project:The Dream American still exists? After reading Barbara Ehrenreich's famous Nickel and Dimed, Adam Shepard was frustrated with accepting the hopeless future of the American working class. He wanted to prove that you can make something out of nothing and show that the American dream is still achievable. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get an original essayTo prove that the American dream still exists, he set the goal of acquiring a car, living in a furnished house and having $2,500 after a year without using any of his previous contacts and work history. Simply to prove that hard work is a way out of poverty and that America is a hopeful place for low-income people, he decided to live as a homeless person. Naturally, by the end of the year, he managed to achieve his version of the American dream by owning a working automobile, a furnished apartment, and a total of $5,000 in cash. Shepard takes advantage of every possible help he can get for anyone. Throughout his book, he talks about how surprised he was to learn about the services available to get homeless people back on track. Shelters assign homeless people to social workers who help and guide them in getting their lives back on track (Shepard 34). Social workers also provide clothing to exchange for Goodwill, a towel and bar of soap, vouchers, and a letter to deliver to the Department of Human Services to enable obtaining food stamps (Shepard 34). They provide a place to stay, a place to clean, and a place to eat. Shepard concludes that having a good attitude and setting a goal are the most critical factors in improving one's state of life. After one of his social workers, Kazia, advises him to set a goal and take initiative, Shepherd and his friend James think of a lady who was homeless, but found a way out of poverty by focusing on one’s goal (Shepard 90). Convinced that he can also succeed in ending poverty, Shepard focuses on finding permanent employment. Shepard initially had difficulty finding permanent employment because he was living in the shelter and not showing enough desperation to investigators. After his friend advised him to take a more aggressive attitude, Shepard was able to adapt to the real world and eventually find permanent employment (Shepard 93). In the end, he was able to achieve his goal and proved that his version of the American dream is possible. His dedication and clear goals with the help of his environment allowed him to achieve his goal of this project, which resulted from his belief that America is still one of the countries of hope for the working class. My thoughts on this project Although Shepard started with just $25 and a clean resume, he had few advantages: good health and no debt to pay off. Not everyone starts in the same place. As Sophie Jaggie, a blogger for JOIN, a support group for homeless people, explains, people become homeless for many different reasons: mental or medical problems, the result of a catastrophic event or a sudden life change (Jaggi). There is a good chance that the person will be physically or mentally unable to work or will have to pay off debts and interest rather than saving for, 2008.