Resource Homelessness advice thread.

[gunmetalblue]

I've noticed during my time here people mention or worrying about being homeless. It's a very scary concept, and something taboo that isn't discussed enough. Which for me is an issue because it can happen to anyone at anytime.

There's list with some of my personal tips:

(Disclosure: I experienced homelessness in Europe, and had no car, and travelled. My tips and advice might not apply to everyone's situation (how you became homeless, your financial situation, your mental health, your willingness to regain traditional society). Especially depending where you are in the world. Hence why I will not link national resource numbers or contact information.
Obviously if you are homeless find a library and free computer if you have no phone access to look up your countries help lines and ressources for homelessness to contact them for further information and potential solutions. Because for some who are lucky options are available and you must use them.)

1: No alcohol. No drugs.

2: Take a variety of clothes, layers are preferable and easy to adapt to temperatures and better to stack for the nights. But try to keep yourself lightweight, especially if you are travelling.

3: Never stay in wet clothes in general, but if push comes to shove. Prioritize dry socks, you do not need rush, fungus or trench foot.

4: Umbrellas laid down to the floor protects from some of the wind.

5: Look for used cardboard or pallets to create even more protection. Malls and shopping stores usually have some lying around the back after and during delivery hours. Be discreet.

6: Sleep when the sun rises until midday and stay awake during the night.

7: If sleeping alone, try and find hidden corners. And if possible set up traps or objects with string that will make noise and would alert you when somebody approches.

8: You can look for other homeless people to form a community, help each other and better manage mental health. But be cautious of the company you keep.

9: Trust nobody.

10: Be honest with people around. If you ask someone for food, they are more obliged to buy something for you than just "Do you have some spare change?".

11: If you happen to still have money left, get a yearly membership for a gym. To stay fit, have an easy access to a shower, running water and heat. You must keep basic hygiene when possible, developing an injury or skin irritation or infection will be a major hindrance.

12: If in dire need and have a choice between options, DON'T prioritize the church. Go to the mosque, trust me. They tend to help more often and grant shelter than churches do.

13: Ask locals where is the closest laundromat. Sometimes people were nice to me and paid for my laundry so I could have clean clothes, especially when i tried to get a job. If you have to wash your clothes by hand, be careful of what water you are using.

14: I used to sleep on bus lines some mornings, it was usually relatively safe. Sleep then get off the bus before it goes back to the bus station. Not trams, or trains. Small bus lines, less risk.

15: Never be ashamed of what you might have to do, or have had to do to survive.

16: Get aluminium foil. Wrapping up it around things will stop them from triggering sensors. Do with that information what you will.

17: Have a small backpack if you have many belongings, put essentials inside and hide the rest (bushes are a lifesaver for this). This will avoid you getting kicked out from stores.

18: Most importantly : never give up. It is a bad time of your life, but it will get better. You'll have a place to call home soon enough.


If anyone has been through homelessness, please don't hesitate to share you story. And if others have advice to add i'd be appreciative.

 

[ConfusedClouds]

I spent a bit of time vehicle living. I guess I was more lucky to have intermittent work and some savings to help me. And the luxury/safety of a vehicle. But hopefully some tips I picked up might still be relevant - I hope it doesn't come across too entitled.

Gym membership - especially a nationwide chain gym that you can go to different branches wherever you are. Mainly for showers, but exercise a bonus too!

Supermarkets - usually have customer toilets and often open early like 6/7am and equally close late. You might get away with overnight parking if there is a night shift you can park amongst (and no anpr cameras), but generally I'd park somewhere else overnight and get up early to relocate to a supermarket car park. Equally large supermarkets are good for aimlessly wandering around for a couple hours without drawing attention (maybe without carrying large bags), heated in winter and cooler in heatwaves.

Town/village centre car parks - often free out of business hours and (dependent on the town ofc), usually a bit more protected in the sense of footfall/cameras

Motorway service stations - often have showers that are free to use - just have to ask the shop staff for the key

Pee bottle - to save having to get out to go in the night (giving away you are there if stealthing in a car park or generally can't go outside for a wild wee). For females, wide neck hiking style bottles are manageable with practice.

Hot water bottle - if you have a stove/cooking set up then thick nalgene style hiking bottles can be filled with hot water for overnight. And be non frozen drinking water in the morning. Though don't mix up with the pee bottle!!!

Batteries can really struggle under around 10 degrees (C) and drain super quick below 5 - so keep battery packs/batteries/phone in pockets on your body where possible in winter

Olio - an app where people give away unwanted stuff for free. Better in larger areas (was reliable when I was in London), including food items.

The cardboard idea is key for outdoor sleeping - essentially any insulation to get you off the ground that will otherwise sap your body heat super quick.

 

[gunmetalblue]

Olio - an app where people give away unwanted stuff for free. Better in larger areas (was reliable when I was in London), including food items.

Yard sales, and Facebook marketplace are ressources to sometimes find donations or cheap necessities and such too.

 

[X-sanguinate86]

I have watched a few videos about "van life" and people living in vehicles. Seems like a very resourceful way to exist in a completely broken society and being homeless w/o even a vehicle is a demonstration of society failing.

I also saw recent videos claiming the gov't in the US is going to try to ban vehicle living or something. I am not sure why they would have a problem with it as long as it doesn't result in sanitation problems or crime. It's better than sleeping in a cardboard box.

 

[justwannadip]

I've noticed during my time here people mention or worrying about being homeless. It's a very scary concept, and something taboo that isn't discussed enough. Which for me is an issue because it can happen to anyone at anytime.

There's list with some of my personal tips:

(Disclosure: I experienced homelessness in Europe, and had no car, and travelled. My tips and advice might not apply to everyone's situation (how you became homeless, your financial situation, your mental health, your willingness to regain traditional society). Especially depending where you are in the world. Hence why I will not link national resource numbers or contact information.
Obviously if you are homeless find a library and free computer if you have no phone access to look up your countries help lines and ressources for homelessness to contact them for further information and potential solutions. Because for some who are lucky options are available and you must use them.)

1: No alcohol. No drugs.

2: Take a variety of clothes, layers are preferable and easy to adapt to temperatures and better to stack for the nights. But try to keep yourself lightweight, especially if you are travelling.

3: Never stay in wet clothes in general, but if push comes to shove. Prioritize dry socks, you do not need rush, fungus or trench foot.

4: Umbrellas laid down to the floor protects from some of the wind.

5: Look for used cardboard or pallets to create even more protection. Malls and shopping stores usually have some lying around the back after and during delivery hours. Be discreet.

6: Sleep when the sun rises until midday and stay awake during the night.

7: If sleeping alone, try and find hidden corners. And if possible set up traps or objects with string that will make noise and would alert you when somebody approches.

8: You can look for other homeless people to form a community, help each other and better manage mental health. But be cautious of the company you keep.

9: Trust nobody.

10: Be honest with people around. If you ask someone for food, they are more obliged to buy something for you than just "Do you have some spare change?".

11: If you happen to still have money left, get a yearly membership for a gym. To stay fit, have an easy access to a shower, running water and heat. You must keep basic hygiene when possible, developing an injury or skin irritation or infection will be a major hindrance.

12: If in dire need and have a choice between options, DON'T prioritize the church. Go to the mosque, trust me. They tend to help more often and grant shelter than churches do.

13: Ask locals where is the closest laundromat. Sometimes people were nice to me and paid for my laundry so I could have clean clothes, especially when i tried to get a job. If you have to wash your clothes by hand, be careful of what water you are using.

14: I used to sleep on bus lines some mornings, it was usually relatively safe. Sleep then get off the bus before it goes back to the bus station. Not trams, or trains. Small bus lines, less risk.

15: Never be ashamed of what you might have to do, or have had to do to survive.

16: Get aluminium foil. Wrapping up it around things will stop them from triggering sensors. Do with that information what you will.

17: Have a small backpack if you have many belongings, put essentials inside and hide the rest (bushes are a lifesaver for this). This will avoid you getting kicked out from stores.

18: Most importantly : never give up. It is a bad time of your life, but it will get better. You'll have a place to call home soon enough.


If anyone has been through homelessness, please don't hesitate to share you story. And if others have advice to add i'd be appreciative.

Thank you for this thread. Was just about to make one to ask for some tips as I may end up living on the streets soon (by my own volition - circumstances landed me in being forced to move back to my parents but it's too toxic to live there).

I live in a place where winters are long and cold which complicates things. I'm not against backpacking and moving away but I feel as though that may cause more difficulties. My current city is practically unaffordable though (rent is ridiculously high), so even if I find a job, saving up enough money to rent an apartment would take a while. Also if i were to go on the streets I'd rather not run into anyone I know.
Do you have any general tips on where and how to sleep in freezing climates? I would take the advice and get a gym membership for showers and locker space. I'm hoping i can store anything valuable (like my phone and a laptop) in the locker when I'm not using it. Do you feel being awake at night is necessary for remaining safe? What kind of work did you do during this time - not sure what kind of job would be best to look for in these situations. Thanks again.

 

[gunmetalblue]

Thank you for this thread

First of all you are welcome. I made this to help anyone if ever they are looking. And second of all I am very sorry you may end up in this situation.

I may end up living on the streets soon (by my own volition - circumstances landed me in being forced to move back to my parents but it's too toxic to live there).

Depending on which country you are, and your age, have you considered social options available and provided by your country? If not, while you can with maybe less difficulty, look up national ressources, sometimes you may fond useful numbers, associations that could help, or numbers that can provide waiting lists for attributed hotel stays or such. Also, if you can get in contact with a social worker I would highly advise this, they may be able to offer you solutions you could not find on your own and set you up for housing programs, again depending where you live.

Do you have any general tips on where and how to sleep in freezing climates?

If you are in a big city, the best place is appartement buildings. What I would do is ring a random doorbell of a flat and pretend I rent there, say I forgot my keys and ask if they could open the main door. If they do, once inside I would pray the general heating of the building is on, of so go up to the top floor wear the heating will be warmest and sleep/camp there for some time. Obviously avoid getting caught or seen. And try and switch appartement buildings often to not get reported.
Otherwise depending on your shape and if you manage to not look like you are sleeping rough, random business buildings have lots of bathrooms, find one that is vacant and camp there for some hours.
If you can't have access to buildings, like I suggest in the thread, find an umbrella, pallets of wood, anything and make camp in small corners or spaces. Avoid sitting/lying down directly on the floor as it will be colder. Keep yourself dry and covered. Run laps around your camp to warm yourself up if needed.

I would take the advice and get a gym membership for showers and locker space. I'm hoping i can store anything valuable (like my phone and a laptop) in the locker when I'm not using it.

Depending the gym they require all lockers be emptied my closing time. So you'll have to check that policy out before buying a membership. Otherwise if you have a local church or mosque you can always see if they can keep your things or offer things for the homeless. Again looking up the ressources for this in your country is useful. Also like I said, in dire need bushes are great for quickly hiding your things.

Do you feel being awake at night is necessary for remaining safe?

Yes. Especially in the city. The safest time to sleep is from dawn to noon. For example 7 am to 1 pm.

What kind of work did you do during this time - not sure what kind of job would be best to look for in these situations.

I will not disclose what activities I did to get money, but I've known people who worked in factories. Some were lucky to get a bartending job, but most of those employments were "on the black" so payed in cash. Because again depending were you are, employers will require an address to legally employ you. There are po boxes you can get that will give you an official adress, but some require a monthly subscription. Otherwise some associations provide an address and letter box to receive letters and such, again you should look this up if it is available in your country.
So basically try and get any job you can, push your luck and try everything possible until something sticks and works.

 

[justwannadip]

First of all you are welcome. I made this to help anyone if ever they are looking. And second of all I am very sorry you may end up in this situation.

Depending on which country you are, and your age, have you considered social options available and provided by your country? If not, while you can with maybe less difficulty, look up national ressources, sometimes you may fond useful numbers, associations that could help, or numbers that can provide waiting lists for attributed hotel stays or such. Also, if you can get in contact with a social worker I would highly advise this, they may be able to offer you solutions you could not find on your own and set you up for housing programs, again depending where you live.

If you are in a big city, the best place is appartement buildings. What I would do is ring a random doorbell of a flat and pretend I rent there, say I forgot my keys and ask if they could open the main door. If they do, once inside I would pray the general heating of the building is on, of so go up to the top floor wear the heating will be warmest and sleep/camp there for some time. Obviously avoid getting caught or seen. And try and switch appartement buildings often to not get reported.
Otherwise depending on your shape and if you manage to not look like you are sleeping rough, random business buildings have lots of bathrooms, find one that is vacant and camp there for some hours.
If you can't have access to buildings, like I suggest in the thread, find an umbrella, pallets of wood, anything and make camp in small corners or spaces. Avoid sitting/lying down directly on the floor as it will be colder. Keep yourself dry and covered. Run laps around your camp to warm yourself up if needed.

Depending the gym they require all lockers be emptied my closing time. So you'll have to check that policy out before buying a membership. Otherwise if you have a local church or mosque you can always see if they can keep your things or offer things for the homeless. Again looking up the ressources for this in your country is useful. Also like I said, in dire need bushes are great for quickly hiding your things.

Yes. Especially in the city. The safest time to sleep is from dawn to noon. For example 7 am to 1 pm.

I will not disclose what activities I did to get money, but I've known people who worked in factories. Some were lucky to get a bartending job, but most of those employments were "on the black" so payed in cash. Because again depending were you are, employers will require an address to legally employ you. There are po boxes you can get that will give you an official adress, but some require a monthly subscription. Otherwise some associations provide an address and letter box to receive letters and such, again you should look this up if it is available in your country.
So basically try and get any job you can, push your luck and try everything possible until something sticks and works.

Hey, thanks for the detailed and thoughtful reply. I rlly appreciate it. I sent you a dm if that's ok

 

[Happy Cat]

I never truly been homeless since I was fortunate enough to live in a homeless shelter that let me stayed so long as I had a job and was actively trying to find somewhere to live. I was very close to it though. I had to live in a hospital and tell them I was planning to kms (which was half true) so I wouldn't go out on the streets. Ig I recommend doing that. You get a case worker that may or may not find you somewhere to live but it beats sleeping on the streets lol.... Things are much harder when you're older (outside of the young adult range which is 18 - 25). You don't get much help after that. Also I'm still kind of homeless, someone took me in but I can still be thrown out to the streets any time ha ha
This is coming from someone in the US btw