So as many of you who’ve been following me for a while may know, I’ve been homeless for almost two years now, and spent 7 months of that on an actual sidewalk. Leading up to the start of those two years (and for many years prior; my life has a habit of being unstable), I tried desperately to find any information I could on how to survive if I did end up on the streets. The day came where the concrete was my only option and I still hadn’t found anything useful beyond “get a car and a gym membership” as most “guides” have been written by people who could afford a car. Now, I could just have high standards for lowlife, but if you can afford a car, a gym membership, and a night at a hotel every week, you probably don’t actually need a guide telling you how to use those things.
Currently one of my close friends is looking at being on the streets, and since I’ve been asked about stuff like this before and genuine resources are so hard to find, I figured I’d put together the best guide I could, informed by and based on my personal experiences actually living through this.
Some of the things I experienced will not happen to everyone— many of them never will. My situation was an extremely lucky one, in one of the safest, richest, and friendliest cities in the entire United States. But much of what I’m going to be talking about should apply to everyone.
This list assumes that you are not going to be spending your nights in a shelter, for whatever reason you may have. Mine was social anxiety and a lack of queer-friendly options that weren’t already overflowing, and I chose not to put up with the few options I did have. Someone else’s reasoning might be a lack of a choice at all. Maybe you have no local shelters, or don’t have any that you are eligible for. Either way, you’re looking at spending your nights on the actual cold hard sidewalk.
This also assumes that you have virtually no money. You may occasionally wake up with large bills tucked between you and your bag or in the side of your shoe (one of the perks of being in a richer area), but let’s assume you don’t have a job yet. If you do, then you have a huge step up. Don’t let go of it.
So, given all that, here we go!
This is a good guide. Thankfully, we had our miserable hole to sleep in, so weren’t stuck on the street, but this is good solid advice. Libraries are a bum’s best friend.
Tags:
#homelessness #the more you know #I find it slightly odd that this operates under the assumption that #’handheld gaming device’ #’cell phone’ #and ‘voip-capable computer’ #are three separate devices #(I mean they *can* be but we are firmly in the era of cheap smartphones) #(mine cost $89 brand-new including tax and a pair of earbuds) #but okay
Brinens and Things 