PREPARE

[MavrikManna]

Call 211. This is the resource hotline for each state.
Get or keep your van to sleep in.
Your biggest concerns will be
1) Where to sleep.
2) Toileting
3) Anything having to do with water: showers, laundry, refilling bottles of drinking water.
4) A place to throw out trash
5) Cooking/living on non-perishable food
6) A storage unit. (Don't bother storing furniture. You can get more later.)
7) Getting an address. You need this to maintain a drivers license, get mail, etc. I use a UPS store. Get the mailbox while you still are in your place and can prove it. It's a tad more difficult later.
8) Free wi-fi: Starbucks, some stores, public libraries, a church (get permission). Some will reach the parking lot after hours.
9) Self protection: at least have a stick in your vehicle to poke stray dogs/racoons/other varmints with. Bear spray. Tazer.
10) Keep a resources note book.

Potential Scenarios:
On the streets on foot/bike
Homeless tent camp
Vehicle dwelling
Couch surfing
Temporary shelter - one night at a time
Temp shelters - 30 to 90 days
Temp shelters - indefinite or "until you get a place"
Realistically determine your initial scenario and plan for it.

Parking at certain truck stops.
Get on Safe Parking lists.
Get on all the lists for shelters you can. You never know what will open up first. Some shelters might not allow getting on their lists until after you are homeless. Get and keep those numbers.

Look up:
Van Dwelling http://vandwellers.org/ includes tips on living in a car.
Mobile SPOP viewforum.php?f=212
LNT - Leave No Trace https://lnt.org/
Dispersed Camping https://freecampsites.net/dispersed-camping/
Lists of food banks in your area. call 211
Luggable Loo ~Use with leak-proof trash bags and pelletized bedding for horses and small animals. Throw out with trash. Even some all night places close their restrooms after 8 or 9pm.
Scout out porta-potties. Rest areas. Starbucks, gas stations. etc
Scout out places to take your trash: car washes, gas stations, a sympathetic friend (get permission), church (get permission), etc.

If you'll be on foot or bike please get a high visibility vest . Many homeless people are accidentally hit by cars every month.

If someone breaks your car window the best temp fix is a clear plastic shower curtain liner, gorilla tape, clear packing tape. If you put those three things together right you will be able to see through your window like it was glass until you can get it fixed. The clear packing tape is to hold the 'window' into the vehicle so the wind doesn't pull it out.
Getting a membership at the Y, aquatic center, community pool, can give you a shower, toilet, wi-fi, physical activity, a place to hang out on a rainy day, all needed to help sustain you. Consider your financial situation and do your research.

Help comes faster to families with children than to single people. They do everything in their power to keep children off the street.



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