Poverty and homelessness are themes of this memoir because they describe how Jeanette's parents ended up late in their lives. Homelessness iand poverty are also symbolic of the childhood Jeannette had. Jeannette's home life was nothing like the lives most children have. Jeannette suffered from a lack of attention from her parents and was forced to essentially raise herself. Jeannette was homeless just as much as her parents were later in life, despite the fact that she had siblings and parents with whom she spent her days. Jeannette did not have structure, she did not have protection and she did not have the support of loving parents. Jeannette was just as homeless as her parents were.