Street Survival:Being Homeless

[thebige]

Swim recently ran across someone who was considering trying the street life,he maybe already has..don't know.Now maybe it is because lifes troubles,no cash and he is losing his home,maybe because of a drug habit that ultimately ate up his job,his cash and now is drawing him closer to the/its source.
Swim knows that what he might attempt is dangerous,and not easy.Some may have had/have experience in this department and might be willing to share some survival tips that could be passed on to him.
Now this guy is not a Marine or Commando.And swim would think he has no real life,day to day,urban street life skills to speak of.
Any swimmers that can provide help,those with military survival skills,or those that have been there with prolonged time homelessness could chime in.As far as swim knows on the plus side he is not mentally ill,and does not have family to support,on the minus side he may be attempting this with a drug/heroin habit.
He will need obviously water,food shelter...and some sort of self defense,how to get money,health,hygine.Any ideas,tips,on how to survive?
What would you do?

[SullyGuy]

1.) All food is fair game. Learn to dumpster dive.
2.) Get a safe deposit box (about 40$ a year), place all ID / photos / important stuff in said box.
3.) Do not carry a weapon UNLESS you are sure you can use it. If you pull out a weapon and find you cannot use it, the person you are fighting might very well take it from you and use it against you. Only fight in self defense.

That's all I have for now.

[thebige]

Thank you Chaosx,the reality of it can very eye opening..........Glad swiy made it back alive..........after learning a lesson in violence the hard way....
Swim was going to mention some basics........
1.......Sleeping in a homeless shelter.......good place to have whatever things you have left stolen while you sleep,and pick up some body lice to boot.
2......Hide all rings ,watches,necklaces etc....... If you look like you have more then some scumbag,they will want it.
3......Don't sleep in any alleys.....police harrasment,you will get rolled,beaten and urinated on on.



other ideas??

[old hippie 56]

Use the shelter to get a hot meal every once in a while, sleep in them only when weather is bad. Might have to listen to some preacher.
Hang out at grocery stores when they closed for the night, they throw away some good stuff, same with restaurants, they empty the buffet. Get friendly with the workers, they will feed you most of the time. Manager at one put cowboy to work and got him off the streets.

[DopinDan]

SWIM has not experienced homelessness this lifetime. He did find this resource, swiy may have found it as well.

http://guide2homelessness.blogspot.com/

[sandoz1943]

SWIM was homeless and on the street at 14. When your a 14 year old girl the only options open to you are fuck someone who will house and feed you or turn tricks (samething). SWIM was lucky to meet a dealer who took her under his wing and set her up selling drugs and didnt ever try to cross the line with her. She found herself homeless again when she was 17 and she found that day labor may suck but if you show up early and you work hard someone will offer you a perment job. SWIM would clean rooms at a hotel from 5am-11am then lay sod from noon till dusk and then work at a factory from 8pm -3am. Working kept her busy and out of trouble/danger and she was able to get a roof over her head in no time at all. SWIM learned real quick to be careful and question the kindness of others. They usualy want/expect something in return. The library is a good place to get out of the elements and you can read and no one will mess with you. Bus station lockers also work well as a safe place to keep what litlle you have. Most of all she wants to say that if you work at getting off the streets it can happen and not to let being homeless and down on your luck make you someone you dont want to be. Ohh ya kick the drug habit it will only make things worse and make you easy prey.

[tyranny4u]

SWIM was homeless and on the street at 14.

haha, just what TT had experienced, same age...for one year, then it
was enough, police brought TT back home.

TT doesn't know where this guy is going to live homeless, but he should
spend his last money on lasting clothes, maybe from a cheap 2nd hand
shop that sells army clothing.

Then: In every town there are institutions where homeless people can
have a shower and wash their clothes. Don't get a scruffy raggle-taggle,
stay well-groomed. That will help keeping a part of your self-esteem.
Don't get into contact with certain groups of tramps. Though there are
some really respectable persons living on the streets, most of them be-
came very egoistic and don't care much of others. This is understandable.

Stay away from drinking and drugging, let the only drug consumed be
cannabis from time to time.

Stay a lot in public libraries, read every shit you like and also read many
things that you now think they are worthless for you.

Buy a tent and a sleeping bag, like clothing you might find good quality
for reasonable prices in 2nd hand army shops. As said above, store
your documents at a safe place, but have your ID card with you. When
getting in contact with cops, stay calm, very polite, but not submissive.
Have a copy of the constitutional law with you (i don't know if that is
a big book for your countries basic liberties, but if it is available as an
easy paperback book, get it and read it again and again and let the
cops "accidently" see that you have it with you, when being asked
for your ID card, if you "feel" not to appear as a cleverdig, then don't
let them see it)

When getting in contact with other homeless (at places where you get
medical help and so on), be extremely mistrusting. You will learn to es-
timate peoples characters within years, not within weeks.

Avoid hostels for homeless as often as possible.

Don't tell other homeless people your real name!
Simply getanother person and give yourself a name that you think
it fits you well.
Treat other homeless with respect and being polite, don't let them think
you are an arrogant person just because you avoid contact. Try to get
the reputation of "the lone wolf". If you meet someone and it is obvious
that she / he suffers from hunger, share some of your meal. Then get
away.

Stay in a good physical condition, you won't need a gym for that. Try to
get jobs as a day labourer as often as possible. Picking Grapes, Chillies,
whatever is an offer in the place where you live at this time.


Well, TT thinks that he could even write more, but his brain hurts today.
Maybe he will add some more to this thread.

[cannabis-sam]

SWIM has not slept rough for any extended periods but he has slept rough several times for a couple of nights at a time.

One of your biggest enemies is the cold, SWIM's advice would be a decent sleeping bag, a good trick if you're chilly is to place newspaper under clothes (skin contact is the idea) this will hold in a lot of body heat and keep SWIY plenty warm enough. SWIM can stand sleeping rough as long as he is warm, and not in any physical danger. Putting cardboard down can make where you're sleeping alot more comfortable. Don't sleep in anyones space it will only cause conflict. Also as stated earlier, if you're in obvious places the police will hassle you.

[Junkhead23]

Get a tent. It will be SWIY best friend but be warned people hate homeless people. SWIY need the ability to wake up quick if SWIY are being attacked, peed on or set on fire (this does happen a lot)

The newspaper thing is some of the best advice. Also try to find enclosed places that are not too open and not likely to be a thoroughfare. Shelter if rainin (obviously) Try to find out places that do free meals (salvation army etc) and if in UK SWIY need an address to claim benefits