Hey Bill you ask what kind of person it makes you for attempting to kill yourself - truth is - suicide is a state of mind - you were not able to think things through and in this case the cruelty of this woman played a big part. After all being a father - you were ready for that - but when its the wrong woman all hell can break loose and the child becomes a bargaining chip of sorts - I mean - she can break your heart and shatter you by denying you the chance to be 'proper' father and to be there all the time.
So in a way this makes you a stronger man. You have a few things on the go which are positive things - and as for homelessness I'm sure that if you get help then your sickness right now should see you given some accommodation.
You deserve to be a father - but this woman will hold this attempt against you I am sure. This is a sign of her own weakness - and to be honest you are better off without her because she has no empathy - she has a cruel streak in fact which would always be there - like a firework waiting to go off in your face!
Best move is to concentrate on making your life get better day by day. A real man faces his own weaknesses - a man who thinks about dying or who tries to die - is no less a man than other men.
In the twisted logic of your attempt I guess you thought you would be doing the child a favour. You think - somehow, that the child would be better off without you - and this woman is there to sing the chorus to that tired old song. You got to a point were you thought you were nothing - but that is depression - it makes you see things that way - and even the BEST of us would actually see ourselves as the scum of the world for nothing more than some fu**** up illness!
Pardon the language - but it is that way sometimes - and we just have to not spend too much time in our own heads. Work is a good things Bill - you know that being with others is a good thing and I'm sure you are good company to work with.
So - take it one day at a time - and obviously get help and seek advice over child rights. Make the applications - go through the channels, because one day this child will wonder what really happened with mum and dad. Even if you are told all your life that your father was no good - lets face it - its not unusual for a woman to actually hate the father - let her personal feelings become the child's!
This thing can either way - some dads do not give a damn. But you do - very much so - and all you can do is be there when you are allowed to be there - make sure birthdays and so on are always ones in which you either visit or send a card and present. I guess the law allows for this and you need some kind of system in place as you do not want her to rip up every card - steal every present and deny you ever sent them.
Hard as it might be now - this child will grow up soon enough - she or he will ask questions and want to know you more if they do not already know you.
Anything could happen - maybe she might get sick of things once the child makes demands on her life. You should be there - make a life so you have a home and a place for the child to go to.
Best of luck - and God Bless also in your endeavours