Lawrence Antrim has been homeless for 10 months, a situation the one-time restaurant manager with a master's degree had not anticipated.

Antrim, a Ball State University graduate, once worked in a four-star restaurant and was a partner in another restaurant, but now waits in line at homeless shelters for his meals.

The 54-year-old Lansing resident said his experience has changed his perspective on homeless people. Before, he said he saw them as untrustworthy.

"I used to feel that way when somebody homeless would come into the restaurant looking for a job," Antrim said. "You'd think, 'How can they be reliable? They don't even have a permanent address.'"

He used to work for three or four years at one restaurant and then move on, opening other restaurants at different locations. Between jobs, Antrim would take time off and support himself with his savings. He lived with his brother, but lost the home after his brother became ill and the savings were spent.

When they lost the house, Antrim went to the Volunteers of America, or VOA, shelter, 430 N. Larch St. in Lansing.

"I was really apprehensive at first," he said. "I've never been homeless."

For the last 10 months, Antrim spent his nights at the VOA shelter and his days reading or submitting applications for jobs in the Lansing area.

"It is not a comfortable lifestyle," Antrim said. "I'm glad there are (shelters).

"It's something I never had to think about before."

He said being homeless is a deterrent to getting a job, in part because of society's image of the homeless as miscreants.

"The homeless on 'CSI: Miami' are a lot different than they are in real life," he said. "A lot of people are apprehensive about hiring you when your address is the (shelter), because they have a simulated concept of what the homeless are like."

Antrim said he has learned to cope with some of the negative aspects about being homeless.

"Boredom and frustration - those are two of the hardest things," he said.

He said increased focus on social service organizations such as the Volunteers of America shelter would help the situation, by providing more job opportunities and helping break stereotypes.

"The business community and agencies we have should try to help people in a real way," Antrim said. "Sure, turkey drives and coat drives are nice, but jobs are really what we need to get back on our feet."

People looking for help often turn to shelters such as the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, 613 E. Michigan Ave.

Cheryl Motter has been an office manager at the shelter for the last few months.

"I really enjoy it," Motter said. "I enjoy coming in and seeing what's in store each day. You don't know who's going to come to the door, or what their needs are."

Diane Watson, 47, is a Lansing-area mother who became financially stable with the help of a shelter.

Watson used to work in a townhouse and was provided rent as part of a rent-concession agreement with the owners. But when the townhouses were sold, the new owners did not renew the agreement with Watson, leaving her out of a job, and, soon after, out of a home.

She became homeless, along with her 16-year-old son who has Down syndrome and still lives with her. It's something that Watson said has made her struggle with homelessness even more complicated.

Watson dropped out of high school her junior year when she became pregnant.

She went to the American Red Cross in Lansing, 1729 East Saginaw St., which shortly found her a room in Haven House, 121 Whitehills Drive in East Lansing.

In April, Watson happened to drive by a house for rent. There wasn't an ad in the paper for it, and Watson said she was very lucky to get the house. She paid the rent with income from government money she receives for her son's disability.

She is still looking for employment.

Watson said the experience has taught her to be more accepting.

"I learned not to judge a book by its cover," she said.