There are several reasons that push people to live on the street, but it often happens because they have no other choice. While it may seem impossible, there are some strategies for dealing with this situation. With a little organization, you can make your homeless experience less difficult.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Finding a Place to Sleep
Step 1. Get a blanket
Lack of sleep is a big problem for people living on the street because when you sleep you let your guard down. Always carry a blanket with you, so you can take chances to catch up on lost sleep.
- The sleeping bag is warm and suitable for sleeping outdoors.
- Try the bivouac bag, which is a waterproof fabric envelope, inside which the sleeping bag is inserted. It is foldable and protects you from the elements.
- If you live in a very cold area, sleeping on the ground is also risky when you have a sleeping bag and warm clothes, because the ground tends to absorb body heat. In order not to disperse it, you need an inflatable insulation mat.
Step 2. Sleep in a group
If you have the opportunity to befriend other homeless people, plan to sleep with them and set up guards. The group does not need to be large in order to provide security to its members. Even a reliable person can be enough for you to stay safe while you sleep.
Get to know people better before entrusting them with your safety. Remember this is about survival
Step 3. Try a shelter
Shelters offer shelter and usually a shower, but it can be difficult to get inside. Most cities have one, and those with the highest homelessness have several. Google Maps can help you locate shelters in your vicinity.
- Be careful when sleeping in a shelter as other people using its services can pose a threat.
- Generally, homeless shelters are run by non-profit organizations, but some may not work for free. You may be charged for the use of the services provided, so inquire before occupying a bed.
Step 4. Sleep during the day
When you sleep you are exposed to various dangers, but during the day you run less risk. While it's hard to get used to sleeping in light, you're less likely to be the victim of a crime or the police will arrest you while you're out and about.
- Try a public park. You can spread out the blanket as if you were on a picnic.
- Take a nap on the beach. If you are close to the sea, consider sleeping on the waterfront during the day. You can arrange the blanket like a beach towel to blend in with the swimmers. Apply sunscreen and avoid the hottest hours of the day.
Step 5. Choose public places
This tip is especially true if you want to sleep at night. Even if you don't like others to see you sleeping, you will be safer by choosing well-lit and busy places where something unpleasant is less likely to happen to you.
Part 2 of 5: Eating
Step 1. Find the soup kitchen
The soup kitchens provide their patrons with a hot meal and other services. Typically, they are run by churches and charities. They also offer the opportunity to expand the network of contacts and receive assistance. You have the opportunity to meet other people living on the street and find someone who can help you improve your situation.
- If you can't find a soup kitchen, go directly to a church or religious facility. They usually carry out charitable activities in support of the weakest. You may want to get some basic necessities or a gift card to use at grocery stores.
- Talk to the cafeteria staff about their services, homeless assistance programs, and opportunities to get out of the way, but don't ask for money or stay at their home.
Step 2. Ask for food
Even if you don't want to get close to people and get help, begging for food can feed you while you live on the street. People are often more willing to donate food than money.
Step 3. Receive free samples
If you can get confused with customers, go to supermarkets and grocery stores and enjoy the food samples on offer. Don't get too many from the same counter unless the attendant gives you permission. Remember which store organizes this kind of promotional activity in order to come back.
- Try to act like a real customer. You could make a small purchase, even if it's just an apple or a piece of bread.
- Go to the market after closing to see if you can get some leftovers for free or at a bargain price.
Step 4. Inspect the bins
Shops and restaurants throw out food every day, and some of that leftovers could end up in your stomach. It is becoming an increasingly common practice as even those who can afford to buy food choose to do so.
- Check the area around the bin to avoid confrontations with those who do not want others to come and pick up the waste, such as the owner of a shop or people who have already identified it.
- If in doubt, do not eat food that may have gone bad.
- Most large grocery chains throw away food scraps even before the expiration date. Take a look in the supermarket bins.
- Find out if there are no laws that prohibit this practice and do not look in the bins placed inside gates.
Step 5. Prioritize proteins
If you live on the street, your diet may be affected, but you can keep yourself healthy by making sure you get enough protein. Even if you can't get hold of the meat, there are cheaper alternatives. For example, try peanut butter if you want inexpensive protein sources without worrying about refrigerating them. Beans are also a great choice.
Step 6. Have light snacks
Keep a supply of snacks to add to canteen meals, supermarket tastings, dumpster leftovers, and food donations. Depending on how much money you can find or earn, buy or procure non-perishable, cheap food to carry on the bag. Try nuts, dried fruit mixes, and nut butters, which contain protein and fat. You can also try dry foods like raisins, dried meat, and cereal bars, which are light and often nutritious, albeit more expensive, alternatives.
- Unpack to save space and reduce weight.
- Look for snacks in the bins. If they have expired for a few days they are still good.
- Get free toppings to use when you have nothing else to eat.
Step 7. Bring a bottle of water with you
Water is more essential than food, so always keep a bottle of water with you. Fill it every time you see a clean fountain or sink, even if it's not empty. Even if you can find it easily in the city, don't risk being without it because dehydration is one of the greatest dangers for those who live on the street.
If you are not in the city, look for a stream or collect rainwater
Part 3 of 5: Taking Care of the Appearance
Step 1. Wash in public restrooms
Public toilets are essential when living on the street. In addition to being places where you can find some relief, they offer free running water, soap, and privacy. Although it would be better to have specific personal hygiene products, you can use the hand soap you find in the bathroom if you cannot afford to buy shower gel or shampoo.
- Look for public restrooms in shopping malls, airports, universities, and business centers.
- Try turning a toilet cubicle into a private room where you can wash yourself, bringing a container of water and a mirror. If you have the option, you can purchase a collapsible bucket at a camping store. It's a great option when you can't find a private bathroom.
Step 2. Find a shower
While many people use the bathtub to wash themselves, there are equally good alternatives like the shower. You can see if homeless shelters provide this service, otherwise you could use public showers.
- Try taking a look at train stations, airports and socio-cultural centers. You will probably have to pay for admission. You can also ask if there is a subscription with discounts.
- Use the showers at the beaches or campsites. Even though they are sometimes outdoors and there is no privacy, you can wash yourself more easily than in situations where there is only one sink available. If you act like you are a customer, it is unlikely that anyone will ask you questions.
Step 3. Wash your clothes
It's easier to wash than to wash your clothes, but if your clothes don't smell bad, you'll have more opportunities because people won't suspect you live on the street. While it is preferable to take your clothes to a laundromat every week, for lack of anything else try using a sink.
- Check with staff at the homeless shelter or soup kitchen to find out if they provide facilities to wash clothes.
- Save money for the laundromat. Prices vary depending on the weight of the laundry: around 4, 00-8, 00 € for 10-20 kg and 1, 00 € for 10 minutes of drying.
- Use the bathroom sink to wash a few items at a time, then hang them out to dry.
Step 4. Try baking soda
Baking soda is cheap and can be used to cool your body and clothes. Use it to do laundry, but also to deodorize the armpits and groin area. You can even use it as a natural deodorant.
Part 4 of 5: Joining the Company
Step 1. Use the library
Public and university libraries are excellent resources for those living on the street. You can use your computer, access the Internet, apply for a job, read a book or magazine, find shelter and take advantage of the bathroom. If you want to find stable work and accommodation, the library can help you with your goal.
Step 2. Travel light
You definitely don't want to tell anyone that you live on the street, otherwise people will look at you suspiciously and prefer to stay away from you. This is especially true when you enter stores, business centers and other structures. Look for a safe place to store your belongings or decrease their number so they fit easily in a backpack and bag.
- If you use the backpack, try to look like a hiker or cyclist using it for comfort.
- Get a bag that looks like a shopping bag or a reusable grocery bag so that you feel like you are coming home after shopping.
Step 3. Rent a mailbox
Even if you have to pay for it, the mailbox can be a great help in maintaining a more dignified lifestyle or getting yourself back on track when you feel ready. You can use it to receive mail, store small items, and have letters sent to you related to your job applications. You probably won't be able to use it to receive certain services, but some rental agreements also have these options, so be well informed.
Part 5 of 5: Protect yourself
Step 1. Be careful
Your safety depends on being aware of your surroundings. Living on the street can be dangerous, especially since you don't know who you can trust. In addition to the fact that some individuals pose a threat to your safety, others may think you are a threat. Be careful and kind.
Step 2. Stay in the group
As the saying goes, unity is strength. Try to hook up with other people living on the street so that you can protect each other. Living in a group, you also have the possibility to safeguard a greater number of goods and objects because you can alternate with others in their custody.
Step 3. Learn the police patterns
Although the police are usually synonymous with safety, for those who live on the street they can represent a threat. Due to prejudice against homeless people, you may be considered a criminal, especially in certain neighborhoods. Identify areas where law enforcement tends to patrol, then use this information to decide where to sleep and seek shelter.
- Depending on the area, the presence of the police can provide security when choosing where to sleep. If you have a good relationship with the public forces, it could be a good option to sleep where they are supervised.
- Always be respectful when interacting with cops, even if you think you are being treated unfairly.
Step 4. Find out about your rights
When you live on the street, you need to know enough about the law of the country you are in to protect yourself. Regardless of what others say, you always have rights. For example, in the United States it is possible to hold a sign asking for money in public places because it is required by the First Amendment. On the other hand, some cities have laws and regulations targeting homeless people, so you need to consult non-profit organizations to find out about your rights.
You can find brochures and more information from nonprofits dedicated to helping people living on the street. If you don't know where to start, ask the soup kitchen staff for help or go to a public library to do some research
Step 5. Seek shelter in bad weather
Do not follow normal habits during the cold season. Rain and bad weather are an emergency situation when you live on the street. Head to the public transport terminal to mingle with stuck bikers or stroll the aisles of a covered market during the day. You can also look for a 24-hour waiting room at the airport or hospital.
If you go to the airport, mix with the travelers to be able to take a nap in the waiting room. However, every now and then move around so that no one gets suspicious
Step 6. Put on a hat
The sun can be a threat in your conditions, so protect yourself by using a hat. Plus, you'll be warmer when it's cold. Go to a flea market to find something affordable to match your outfit so that it feels like a personal style choice.
Step 7. Apply sunscreen
Even if it costs, the sunscreen will protect you from both the risk of melanoma and unwanted attention. Sunburn is a common side effect among those who live on the street, so hide your condition by avoiding blushing.
Step 8. Protect your belongings
Living on the street means limiting the number of objects to carry or leave in one place. If you have a partner or a group, you can take turns taking care of your belongings.
- Find out if personal items can be stored in a homeless shelter.
- Bring a large cane or umbrella with you to ward off any thieves.
- Cover your things when you sleep and, if you can, wrap a part of the bag around your leg or arm so you wake up in case someone tries to steal it.
Advice
- Don't tell people you're homeless. Regardless of the reasons that led you to stay on the street, if someone finds out how you live, tell them that you are an urban nomad or that you are researching for a book or another reason.
- Try to make money by doing odd jobs. You can browse job posting sites using a library computer. You may not make enough money to afford housing, but you can buy food, toiletries, and items from thrift stores.
- If you have the cash, a gym membership grants you access to showers, wi-fi service, and a temporary shelter.
- Collect the coins. You can buy a banana or a carrot for less than 25 cents.
- Remember that you have a dignity like everyone else. Living on the street doesn't make you a less important member of society.
- Check the change compartment in vending machines and pay phones. You could get some money back. Also, take unattended wallets and check them out. You don't know how much money you can find!
Warnings
- If people realize you live on the street, they may think badly of you. Protect yourself by blending in with people and maintaining a decent appearance.
- It is easier to preserve your reputation than it is to recover it once it is lost.
- Watch out for dogs and other stray animals. Hunger and deprivation can cause them to become very aggressive. Get a heavy stick, an iron pipe or some stone (only if you can throw it accurately!) And keep everything close to you when you sleep.
