[adultSwim]

Yes, it is different. I think the author's intent is good (explaining that homelessness can happen to real people and trying to impart some of the psychological cost of being homeless). However the author clearly has more resources at his disposal than a "real" homeless person. For instance, it is unlikely that there was a danger that he would remain homeless. [Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to say that. Once you fall down hard enough it can be hard to get back up.]

That could have been played up more. Every year millions of Americans become homeless, many of them relatively short-term. Often they are not who we would necessarily think of as homeless people (children, people with jobs, etc). It has a high cost on our society yet is largely hidden from view.