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Homeless

XThexXTank

XThexXTank

Bluelighter
Joined
Mar 17, 2012
Messages
1,103
Location
America
So to make a long story short I was kicked outta my house yesterday.

My supplies:

Pocketknife, some clothes, a carhartt, a backpack, flashlight, dip, some fugs, wallet w/ ID, some money (enough to get by but not survive), a compass and my boots that im wearing right now. Thats it. No cellphone.

Some of yall might be pros at survival but im not and froze my shit off last night trynna stay warm. Walking for 10 hours to keep warm was too dificult so i just sat next to a building w/ some cover from the cold air but that didnt really do shit. I cant really stay at a friends/family house because the ones that would take me in are nowhere close.

I need pro survival tips! ASAP Im at the public library now and its a good thing the library card is free. Im not in the sticks but this aint the city either. There are no huge buildings w/ vents that let out hot air for me to chill by for the night (as in the city) for warmth. I managed to sleep prob 4 hours. I went to a church earlier this morning round 8 and slept in there.

I appreciate any support but pro survival tips would be golden right now. How do you stay warm w/ no shelter at nite??? I will do almost anything to survive if needed. Only 24 hour places round here are CVS (cant stay in their bathroom at nite cuz they got it locked) Rite Aid, and 7-11/Wawa.
 
My parents done kicked me out. Im looking for shelters in my area now and there like only one that comes up in my town.
 
Are there any gyms in your town that don't charge an up-front fee (just a monthly)? If there are, that gives you a place to at least take a shower everyday, hang out and exercise when it is really cold, etc. I pay under $30 a month for mine so that's a dollar a day.

Are you a minor? If you are there are probably lots of social services available to you (just look up Social Services in the Government website). If you are not a minor, there are probably far fewer programs that might help but still it would be worth talking to someone. Sometimes there is a Homeless Advocate at a shelter but that varies from town to town.

Were you kicked out of your house for drug use? If so, do you have that under control? Maybe going to meetings and hooking up with people that you click with in the recovery community might lead to some kind of work or shelter or both.

You are going to have to get serious about changing everything in your life that makes you dependent (on your parents, on a drug, on a social program) for the long term, but for the short term don't be afraid to ask for help wherever you can. I know that right now you must feel very frightened and uncertain but things like this can shape you in ways you aren't even aware of. Concentrate on staying out of trouble and as far away from the police scrutiny as you can. Being homeless can make you very vulnerable and the last thing you need is a criminal record on top of everything else.

If you want to PM me with any of the answers to the questions I asked, please do. If I knew what area you are in maybe I could help do some research with you to see what is available.

Don't forget that using this experience for positive change, rather than just surviving it, is an option.<3
 
Okay, you mentioned "wa wa"...Therefore, you must be in the Maryland/Virginia area....It's Nov and its not getting any warmer....
Fly a sign on the nearest ramp that says "travelling need food/$"...don't go onto the actual highway, that's illegal, and you might get taken...you need 300-400 bucks...stand at the end of the ramp with that exact sign!..Don't solicit money specifically just write a $ sign ..If you get kicked off that spot find another one....Head south, using the same sign(cardboard and a sharpie)....Head west on either I-40 or I-10....Californias your best bet right now....San Diego or the bay area....Definitely not LA! Possibly Tucson...Where you're at now sucks....Get outta there...you can do it!
Edit: the fundamentals of hitchhiking.
Make a sign with a sharpie and cardboard that says where you're going....East/West etc..
Find a busy onramp
Don't walk too far onto the actual highway, just stand there with your sign
Wait....
You'll be hundreds of miles away in no time, easy...
Use good judgement on who you take rides from, but most people are usually okay
Get a tent and raingear!!
That's it, you're ready to roll!
 
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Call a crisis line, try to get into rehab. If not, and you're family is not an option... Yeah head west or head south.
There's halfway houses and shit you can usually work with the owners if you're low on funds.
Thats usually where I ended up. I'm not gonna tell you uprooting and leaving is ur option but i mean you can get bus tickets states away
For 35 40 bucks with megabus. Research spots that will be benefical to you. Weather and availibility of shelters and homeless friendly cities. God Bless and good luck. I wouldn't totally leave everyone to go across the country unless you're really able to leave it behind.
It may seem like your family is abandoning you but if you help yourself a little bit and still want them in your life it might be a little easier than becoming a straight transient with nobody in your life. I'd try to get local treatment, go to meetings theyre free, warm, and have coffee and food sometimes. Plus if you want to help yourself people in the program are usually willing to help you too.
 
^Yeah sure, if you wanna get clean and go back home, theres resources available but, travelling and seeing new things can give you perspective and confidence.
You can always get food if you have to. This is America! This might be an oppurtunity for you to try something different!
It's not as bad as people say....Sure, you don't wanna spend your whole life wandering, but I've had some really great, liberating experiences on the road....just sayin
 
Fuck that. When I went homeless I just found a job (took a while) and lived in the shelter till I saved up for enough to get out (took a while because I was also using drugs so that kind of kept burning holes in m pocket) but I learned to dose and am fine now. But yea, if you get a decent job and just save in the shelter, hell I even stayed in the shelter after I had enough for a place because it was free and I got free food from the soup kitchen etc. Also check out food stamps.

Tbh, some of the best times in my life I had while homeless. and some of the most genuine people met.. also alot of nuts but none the less... it gives you a whole new perspective/viewpoint on this so called reality.

Sometimes I wonder if i'd really rather have a pickett fence or be homeless and do what I want.. shit I might aswell get the pickett fence and do what I want...
 
I'm currently homeless as well, and the first thing I did was find a shelter and I scheduled an appointment with a case worker. They were pretty much booked, so they then referred me to a few nearby shelters and told me when to be there. I was given a pamphlet with a list of different shelters, soup kitchens, medical clinics, etc., and a daily schedule for breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the different soup kitchens in the area. Look up the different services for the homeless in your area, and you should be able to make some progress. Not sure how old you are, but if you're eligible, get yourself over to a DHS office for SNAP (food stamps). If you're homeless and living on limited funds, you should certainly walk out of that office with benefits. Honestly, I don't know where I'd be right now without food stamps. It is a huge help and one of the first things you should do. Even without a fridge or a stove to make a meal, you can still grab a quick snack and a bottle of water this way at a 7-11. You can also use your food stamps to get a small loaf of bread and maybe a half pound of turkey at a grocery store, make a few sandwiches, wrap them up and put them in your backpack.

It's a pretty lousy time of the year to be homeless. As BlueHues noted, it's only going to get colder. Having a job has kept me busy and safe during the morning and afternoon 5 days a week. I head right to my shelter afterwards. Sometimes to stay warm over the weekend, I'll hang out at a mall. Most places at the food courts have free samples, so don't be shy about that. You can also chill at a book store, read something, maybe grab a coffee if you've got a couple bucks, and that's a warm and fairly pleasant afternoon right there.

But again, you asked how you can stay warm at night without a shelter? If you have no actual living support from family and friends, then I don't know if you can, outside of motel rooms and maybe a church occasionally. If there aren't any shelters near you, then commute to one. When you get there, ask if they offer any assistance to find employment. They'll either help you or find you some help. A job is your way out. I've noticed lately that a lot of people get burned out and become rather complacent in this lifestyle. They get tired. The first thing I suggest doing when you become homeless, once you have a place that will take you in, is starting taking steps to get out of homelessness. Personally I've been talking with a case worker in my area about a rehousing program for the homeless. This is possible because of my job. Get yourself set up with a case worker, and see if there are any vocational programs for the homeless in the area (there ought to be). In the meantime, you can find a temp agency and make a quick few bucks. But please find a way to make some money. There is nothing shittier than walking miles in this weather because you can't even afford a bus. I got sick pretty damn quickly because I thought I could tough it out.

If you have any questions, please feel free to PM me. I try to get on a computer at least a couple times a week. I wish you the best. Like herbavore said, try to allow this to be a positive transition in your life to something better. Try to learn something from it. Don't let it discourage you or slow you down. Others have noted that times like these can be a learning experience, and they're right. And as you gain courage from self-reliance, don't forget that there's still no shame in asking for help when and where you can. Good luck.
 
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I've lived in extended stay hotels for a couple hundred a week. Inntown sweets and shit. Accept whatever help you can.... Then Put your head down go to work for a while grind it out and rebuild. Save your money. Don't blow it on drugs. You can live for cheap if you really need to.
Times are fucking tough brother no doubt. I can't even get assistance cause of my record in my state
I've used food pantrys and shit before. You'll be alright man roll with the punches you'll come out better and stronger in the end.
 
When I was homeless I stayed in a backpacker hostel, got work for the bar downstairs (which was a part of the hostel, being staff got me cheaper rates) and saved like hell. I stayed sober and the money built up quick. I don't know how it goes in your area but in Aus charities will sometimes help out with a food package.

Plenty of people have been where you are, but only the willing get back on their feet. If you stay strong and put some effort in things will work out for you.
 
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