Sleeping rough

[stardust10]

Bit of a random one but anyone slept rough in this weather before? If so any tips etc, words of encouragement, advice?won't go in to details but just had enough of everything and everyone and just want to get away. I have £20 left so gonna get a wee bottle of something and got blankets sleeping bag a pillow and wearing lots of layers, hat and gloves etc. got a portable battery charger for my phone, also got a tent but no cooking devices or anything....planning on going to soup kitchens untill I've decided what am going to do next. Not smoked weed for ages either so I have a wee bit of that too which am hoping will maybe cheer me up in middle of night. I do have the option to go "home" but I just need to do something as can't stay here I hate it. So yeah share experiences please if anyone has any and tips welcome too
Also kind of just fancied posting because I guess I won't feel as alone coz I am shitting it a bit not going to lie

 

[Bleaney]

Sorry to hear this, as this sounds like a hard break, to say the least.

It's outside of my experience, but I found the following suggestion online - which might help?

'This is all dependent where you live. However a shelter; specifically a day shelter is a good place to start as they usually have good resources like social workers, snacks, showers, laundry, etc.

These are usually only in bigger centers though.'

So yeah I'd be searching for homeless shelters etc, if your domestic situation has become untenable. With the winter temperatures too, it could be so dangerous and you could die of hypothermia in your sleep. (I think some homeless people hang around soup kitchens etc at winter nights, and from what I've seen, some might snatch some sleep during the day, in public areas, where it's a bit warmer and safer.)

If you do find yourself in these dire straits try to hook up with an experienced female homeless person asap, as they could share their tips and experiences......(I'm assuming you are female. You'd be putting yourself at risk of attacks etc if you're alone. Not trying to be alarmist, it's just not safe out there alone at night.)

 

[chippermonk]

I haven't been homeless but I have done a lot of wild camping, which is sort of applicable. Handling the weather isn't necessarily impossible if you have a good quality tent and sleeping bag and a insulated sleeping pad, but poor quality ones could kill you in winter ( I'm not sure just how wet or cold it gets where you live) It's really essential to keep dry in cold weather, so if it's raining ( or snowing) you need to have a dry sleeping bag and dry clothes inside your tent. That can be hard to manage. Also, it's easier for one person to keep warm in a small tent because you have less space to warm with your body heat. I have camped in weather below -6c/20f but I have gear rated to those conditions
Me, I have always camped in wild lands and safety is not an issue except maybe in bear country. No robbers there. But if you are in an urban area, I would try to find a really out-of-the -way hidden place, not on cold hard cement, where no one will notice you. Or alternatively, stay near someone you trust who will look out for you. Camping under an overhang or some trees to shield you from wind or rain is good if possible.
I know you aren't cooking, but consider bringing a thermos of warm water or tea with you to your tent. And if the weather really sucks, have a pee bottle/bucket with you so you don't have to get out of the tent in the rain in the night.
Above all, as @Bleaney suggests, be prepared to use indoor homeless shelters as necessary. Getting away from people is a nice idea sometimes, but you have to be safe foremost.
Good luck!

 

[emkee_reinvented]

+homeles tip from tv/ if you are planning woodfire,
ventilate or better have it outside and be safe.
if doing that, i have no experience.
cheap salad oil will keep the [dry wood] burning real good, watch out a liitl 1 st
+the silvercoated iso mats or else cardboard/carton. must not get wet !
Never btw so tent right spot, make a ditch round the tent in case of rain.
it wiil be worth it the work, use a tool not your hands
+dry straw/ grass newspaper as isolation/ cover if at hand pine wood with needles.
[don t pierce the tent] good camoflage too.
+a all purpose knife seems usefull too, swiss army like. knife/ saw sciccors ed.

+know where the known hotspots like subway/ hospital/ swimming pool/ central trainstations maybe a airport, which all have or warm air vents,
or are free to enter at night.

As long as you look unsuspicious. Might it get to bad. A plan B always good.

 

[Shambles]

I have… and that’s how I ended up on heroin. Try to avoid that if possible…

Bit late now but check out every and all local amenities as far as rough sleepers go. There are more than you think.

Sorry for digging up a dead thread but this shit is real and needs attention. Hope all is well an much has improved

 

[Shinji Ikari]

I'm so sorry I missed this the first time round. I hope things are going better now check back when you can

 

[ChemicallyEnhanced]

Bit of a random one but anyone slept rough in this weather before? If so any tips etc, words of encouragement, advice?won't go in to details but just had enough of everything and everyone and just want to get away. I have £20 left so gonna get a wee bottle of something and got blankets sleeping bag a pillow and wearing lots of layers, hat and gloves etc. got a portable battery charger for my phone, also got a tent but no cooking devices or anything....planning on going to soup kitchens untill I've decided what am going to do next. Not smoked weed for ages either so I have a wee bit of that too which am hoping will maybe cheer me up in middle of night. I do have the option to go "home" but I just need to do something as can't stay here I hate it. So yeah share experiences please if anyone has any and tips welcome too
Also kind of just fancied posting because I guess I won't feel as alone coz I am shitting it a bit not going to lie

Definitely recommending staying off the actual ground if you can (in any weather/temperature). Even if it's just a bench or something (I know a lot of them have those evil anti-homeless architecture now), especially if it is very hot or very cold or in case it rains.

Tryyy and make friends with at least one either homeless person as you're much less of a target (both from the public and other homeless people) if you aren't alone.

Given your use of "£" I assume you're in the UK? Going somewhere the a Civic Center, Citizens Advise Burough or similar should always be the first step because they can very likely get you temporary accomodation in a homeless hostel. These aren't like homeless shelters, where it's first-come-first-serve each night, but somewhere where you will have your own room (often your own bathroom, too). They get a lot of food donated to them, too, that are free to take if you are staying there and some of them provide breakfast and an evening meal. Those type of places have meant I had a safe room/bed (including a room that LOCKS so it's not even like other people there can just wander into your room).

The only downsides are that they are rarely free (but still very cheap compared to anywhere else...at like £20-35 a week usually...you can pay more than that for a single night in a SUPER basic hotel) and SOME don't allow drugs or alcohol (most do). I mean, don't go shooting up in communal areas (there's usually a kitchen for if you have your own food, and a "Living room" kinda thing with TV and sofas and stuff to make hot drinks etc), but you won't be kicked out for being a known drug user.

If you need to beg/pan handle/whatever for money on the streets, I cannot recommend somewhere where there are pubs or night clubs late at night. I'd get drunk people give me bank notes a lot (usually 5's or 10's, but sometimes even 20s).