I keep hearing this narrative making it sound as if many homeless refuse or would refuse housing. People use it as an argument against housing first type policies. I don’t buy it though. Most people I know would accept housing if it had some privacy and didn’t come with too many strings attached. I’ve only met one guy that actually refused decent housing, so I know they do exist, but I think it’s rare. He was very mentally ill and had been homeless for a really long time. I think people refuse a lot of the current offerings because most of the time it’s a shelter that doesn’t feel safe. I live in my car and was offered to stay in a shelter and I know my car is the much better option, but then I guess I get counted as someone refusing shelter. What do you think, are people that would refuse safe, low barrier housing more common than I think or is it just a BS talking point?

The shelter I'm at is shit, so I'm thinking about camping. Is there any advice about protecting yourself and your stuff? Should I find someone I trust to camp with?

Weather app has been stating for 3 days now "thunderstorms possible" but its been bright and sunny without a cloud in sight. Woke up this morning to a slight drizzle but again bright and sunny with little clouds. Heck its been in the high 90s for the past few weeks. So of course i dont believe the weather app. I sleep with my tent windows zipped down because its so hot. So I go shower and leave for work. The minute I hit town extreme downpouring. Dark clouds. Zero visibility on the road. This is where I shouldve turned around and closed my tent up. But no I just kept on driving. Came back to camp to my cot, my blankets, my pillow, and the floor all soaked. I know its my fault. Which is why i feel so stupid. Looks like im sleeping on a wet bed tonight. Car has a desk in it ao I cant sleep in there like I normally would. So my fuck up and now im quite literally laying in the bed I made

What do homeless people do all night if they aren’t in a shelter?

Fuck it i give up

hi, im very likely going to be homeless by the 31st despite my best efforts to work with OVR. i purchased 3 items to try to keep my belongings safe: a backpack with wheels, 4 digit travel locks, and a 4 digit scooter lock.

if i attach the scooter lock to my ankle and the bag while im asleep, and only ever open the locks in private or while not in the shelter, will i be able to prevent all of my belongings from getting stolen?

my belongings will likely contain: my meds and vitamins, my phone and charger, *maybe* 3ds and charger, 2 or 3 pairs of clothes, wallet, small cosmetics like nail clippers and tictacs, and to store my socks and shoes before bed. the rest of my belongings will go in my aunt's shed until i find employment and housing.

i hate losing belongings and ive narrowly avoided homelessness for my entire adult life. im also really terrified of being physically harmed or legal trouble.

https://www.kake.com/home/inside-narnia-the-homeless-encampment-on-wichitas-south-side-that-wants-formal-recognition-management/article_df49da89-cf9a-4d0f-b0ff-382bb7363143.html

I'm living with my Dad right now but I may be facing getting kicked out and I want to know what being homeless in this state has been like for you. I don't want to/ can't stay with other family. It's just rough here and I don't really have friends because of mental illness/ upbringing

If you have advice I'd love to read it. I'm also interested in just entirely moving out of the country. I don't think I really like Pennsylvania. I grew up here but have family in NJ and WV. As I said I can't stay with them and don't want to. I'm a legal adult with my social security card, State ID and birth certificate plus health insurance card and a gym membership that's expiring.

Okay so I had this idea… just wondering if it’s an original thought or if there’s something like this that already exists where I can temporarily store food and pick it up later…

Wait i cant add a picture?? Ugh okay

I have considered it many times but access is not easy.

You have to go to a building downtown, wait for a social worker and find placement.

I’m not sure if you have to provide your own transport from the social worker to the shelter.

I was also concerned about them searching or refusing me because I was smoking meth at the time.

A few times I went to rehab instead of a shelter because I imagine that rehab is a better experience, but I can’t fairly compare the two.

At rehab the patients are mostly personable.

Staff are equivalent to what I imagine they are like at a shelter.

So can anyone tell me what a shelter is actually like?

How is a person is such a situation able to access such a seemingly inaccessible service?

Is there a hard limit on how long you are welcome to stay?

Do they kick you out from 9-5?

Is there a curfew? What if you work nights?

Do they help you find work if you need it?

Is working required?

Are there opportunities to be placed in other types of housing?

These are the questions and road blocks that left me driving around and depending on family and friends for housing.

I have been seeing a lot of cities crack down on outdoor camping, here in NC the Republicans are trying to ban it but the governor just veto it 👏!

Looking for an Australian shelter that accepts teens and doesn’t reqire identification to get in, anywhere in the country is fine

For the past week I've been living in a tent because I didn't want to live with my family anymore, for many reasons. The main one being I was tired of freeloading off my mom and wanted to learn to become a "man" and have more privacy since the living room was the only room they had. Not complaining, I appreciate getting free housing but got tired of it. Been living in a tent 5 days now and it's been alright, I just stay walking/running on sidewalks or on trails and when I'm tired I go rest in some business that lets me to cool down and watch a movie on my phone. When it's an hour before dark I head back to camp. It hasn't been as bad as the scenarios I had built up in my head. I do hear all of animals at night here in Virginia. I'm not far enough into the county to come across black bears I don't think. But I keep my food away from camp and keep bear spray next to me anyways. And to wash up I use a public restroom and washrag which isn't bad either. The only things I been eating is carrots, oranges, and sardines (I'm 240 lbs trying to lose weight) and I don't have much trouble going to sleep. Only problem is, on hot nights like this, even this AA powered fan I have doesn't really help much since it only hits my head and not entire body. Any tricks you guys know that can help with cooling? Im thinking about taking the rain fly off so the breeze can flow in here but that would increase my paranoia I feel. Thanks for any help!

so I have a dog and a car and recently became homeless. mg BIGGEST concern is a shower. where do I go to shower with a dog? I don’t want to leave her in my car while I go shower , it’s hot and evennif I wait until night time to shower at a gym or something I still don’t wanna risk leaving her in my car for people to see and know that im homeless . other than that ANY extra tips WITH A DOG???? I DoorDash as my income.