Top 10 Things You Need To Survive The Streets
Published on January 22, 2008 - 75 Comments
This is the first in what is going to be a series of lists on surviving the streets. Living on the streets is not an easy thing - it can be as arduous as a full time job. Therefore it is essential that you carry only the most important things with you. Unlike a camping trip, you have to live light. You can’t carry a backpack with all your worldly goods - it is simply not practical. So, what do you need when living on the streets?
10. Sleeping Bag
A sleeping bag - preferably one made of down because it is lightweight and very compact. This is the most vital piece of equipment you will need. You can either stash the bag, or carry it with you. Carrying it with you makes you more mobile because you can sleep wherever you end up. If you can’t get a good quality down bag, double bagging two poor quality ones will do the job (though definitely not as well).
9. Matting
Matting is also needed (preferably plastic and lightweight) - you must keep your sleeping bag off the ground away from the damp. If you can’t find or buy matting, at least make sure you put your sleeping bag on cardboard - putting it directly on the concrete will result in you feeling like you are sleeping on a block of ice. The cold can cause your back muscles to freeze up and numb and the result is that when you stretch in the night you can tear them - potentially leading to months of difficulty walking (and walking is what you need to be doing every day).
8. Backpacks
A backpack - consider keeping a smaller backpack for use during the day and a larger one that you can stash. You should keep in mind that some states in the US have “camping bans” which make it illegal to walk around the city with a large camping backpack. One homeless man was even refused service at Denny’s because they “do not serve people with backpacks” - clearly discrimination against the homeless - but you need to be aware of this. A small day backpack will spare you all of these problems.
7. Toiletries
You will need: soap, a toothbrush, razors, at the very least. These you should keep with you in your day backpack. It is also worth trying to score a mirror of some kind; just because you are living on the street doesn’t mean you can’t take care of your appearance - you will certainly find life easier when dealing with non-homeless people.
6. Useful Items
Some extra small items are very handy to have when you live on the street. For example, you will want a needle and thread to fix minor tears and loose buttons - this can save you a lot of trouble trying to find new clothes - especially in winter. You will also probably want a couple of pens or pencils (you never know when you might need these). It goes without saying that an essential item is a can opener - without one of these you limiting the types of food you can buy (and canned goods are often the cheapest). You will also want a pair of scissors which you can use for trimming your own hair, cutting your nails, and for any other task that may require the use of something sharp. A bottle opener and / or a corkscrew is also useful. And finally, a box of matches or a lighter is essential.
5. Clothes
Most homeless people prefer to layer their clothes. This means you wear all of your various layers of clothes during the night, but as the day progresses, you can remove each layer successively. This allows you to keep cool when you need, and warm if it gets too cold. A good pair of leg warmers is recommended for wearing under your pants. In addition, you will need a good scarf and a hooded sweatshirt.
4. Headwear
In summer you will need a baseball cap to protect you from the sun - this is essential to prevent you from suffering sun stroke and even potentially getting skin cancer from overexposure. It can also help to conceal a head of hair badly in need of a cut which can be very off-putting to people you may need to deal with. In winter you will need a good warm ski knit hat. A lot of the body’s heat escapes through the head, therefore this is one of the most important things you will need in winter.
3. Shoes
You absolutely must have a good quality pair of shoes - especially in winter. If you have a hole in your shoe and your socks get wet, you will have a miserable few days with wet feet - this can, of course, lead to health problems that you want to avoid. If you do not have quality shoes, forget buying beer - use all the money you can muster to get good shoes without holes. Make sure you wear socks - shoes rubbing on the skin can cause lesions. One homeless guy in the local soup kitchen had been wearing dress shoes that were ill fitting without socks for months - his ankles were covered in festering sores which were being scraped by the shoes every time he walked. It was too late for him to do anything about it - don’t let this happen to you!
2. Bags
Plastic garbage bags are essential to life on the streets. They will be raincoats in winter, and protection from the sun in summer. You can use them to protect your matting from the wet ground. A tip for getting free bags: janitors in large buildings often keep spare bags under the garbage can for easy replacement when emptying. If you make sure you take just one or two per garbage can no one will notice and you will have a constant supply on hand. You will probably also want to keep a few smaller bags on hand just in case you have a need for them.
1. Miscellaneous extras
It is very important that you travel light - you want to keep your belongings to a minimum and the items above cover virtually everything you will need. Having said that, you should consider carrying a few other smaller items that can be invaluable. For example, priority mailing envelopes (free at the post office) are great for storing things and they are durable and water proof. You may also want to keep a bottle or two to store things like coffee. Forget things like flashlights - they are heavy, the batteries run out, and they show everyone exactly where you are - and you probably want to remain fairly anonymous and blend in on the streets.
Other Survival Lists
If you enjoyed this list, you might also like our other survival lists:
Top 10 Prison Survival Tips
Top 7 Zombie Survival Tips
Top 5 Tips for Surviving a Bear Encounter
Top 15 Shipwreck Survival Tips
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1. SocialButterfly - January 22nd, 2008 at 10:46 am
Wow… this was really informative… can’t wait to see what the other ones have to say!
2. Csimmons - January 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Great list, though I’m not sure when I’m going to need it.
3. dangorironhide - January 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Nice list, though I don’t think many homeless people would have the means to get some of the more expensive things on here, the quality sleeping bag for example.
I remember reading a kind of ‘guide’ a guy had written about living on the streets, but not necesseraly being ‘homeless’ as we think of them. He did stuff like get a PO box so he could open a bank account & stuff like that, as well as expansions of the other things on this list. It was a very interesting read, I cant remember what site it was on though.
4. Miss Destiny - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
I hope I don’t need this list in my lifetime! Still very interesting.
5. Daniel - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:01 am
Great list… but aren’t you forgetting some type of protective case for the Iphone you’ll need to keep reading great lists on listverse.com? :p
6. DiscHuker - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:10 am
i agree with dangor. if someone is truly homeless, where are they going to get money to buy a nice sleeping bag, quality shoes and the like. granted, if you find yourself at this point purchasing might not be the method of acquiring your needed items. but assuming a morality that says that stealing is wrong is in place, where should the homeless person find these things cheap or find the money to buy them outright at normal prices?
7. HandyMandy - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
It is sad neone has to be homeless. Thanks to you jfrater, this list may help someone out immensely in the future. Well Done;)
8. SlickWilly - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 am
One more in favor of dangor and dischuker. This is a useful list, and I enjoyed it. Howabout a follow-up list on top 10 ways for someone on the streets to earn money, besides selling drugs or stealing?
9. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:23 am
SlickWilly: great idea - I will definitely include that in a future list.
Daniel: already got it
Dangor and DiscHuker: sometimes people have advanced warning that they are going to end up on the streets - also, you can make money on the streets - I will write another list for that
10. T - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 am
I don’t know if I know any homeless that carry around a razor with them…
11. Eric - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 am
Being homeless doesn’t necessarily mean being completely peniless. There should be some money you can get together for a few necessities like shoes. Those who lack these things tend to be the mentally ill who either don’t think of these things or don’t plan for them. Between food stamps, unemployment, petty theft, begging, dumpster diving, fishing change out of fountains, etc. you should be able to scrape together these items if you want to.
12. This place is junk - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:48 am
This list was HORRIBLE. Are you kidding me? A down sleeping bag and you don’t even mention wetness as being a SERIOUS concern with down. What about a much cheaper synthetic solution. I could have made this list up in 2 minutes and this is what I think the author did. Can I write this crap and get paid too? I lived homeless for 6 months. Granted I was backpacking across the US. You don’t mention a darned thing like pop can alcohol stoves or cfc pads versus regular foam pads. Cheap stuff you can buy at Walmart that will help you. Wool vs cotton… the list could go on and on. Top 10 things to survive in the street and you don’t list any kind of weapon? What about a place to sleep?
13. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:58 am
This place is junk: synthetic fabrics do not breath - therefore you sweat and the moisture stays inside the bag. Down breaths keeping you warm in winter and cool in summer, additionally it is very lightweight and compacts well - synthetic fabrics do not. I mentioned the matting to keep your bag off the ground - obviously you are not going to sleep in the rain so moisture is only going to be a problem from the ground. Weapons are not a good idea on the street - they invariably get used against you - not to mention the fact that they can be illegal in some places and you don’t want to end up in jail. Oh - and for the record - I do not get paid to write these lists. I donate my time to the site (and spend a LOT of money on servers - two dedicated rack mounted servers in fact) in order to provide these lists to you all for free.
14. TH3W1R3D - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Good list, I hope never to need it :p
15. HandyMandy - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:09 pm
WoooHoo, go jfrater! It sounds to me like Jamie did his homework, and came out with another great list.And thank you for donating your time to entertain us.
16. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
TH3W1R3D: If the markets keep on like they are at the moment, there may be a lot more people needing this list very soon!
HandyMandy: Thanks
It is always very nice when people voice their appreciation 
17. SlickWilly - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:20 pm
jfrater:
You are the man. Don’t let anyone tell you any differently. I certainly don’t have the knowledge, time, or resources to run a site like this, so I’m glad someone out there is taking time out of his day to dispense entertaining and, for the most part, useful information to the masses.
Keep on keepin on. Listverse is the shiznitobam-slipbamsam.
18. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm
SlickWilly: thanks
I don’t plan on stopping any time soon!
19. jwbm2525 - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Excellent list! I would also like to mention a water bottle with a cap, maybe even an empty soda bottle, you can fill up on water at a public bathroom or outside public spicket.
20. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:46 pm
jwbm2525: great addition to the list - thanks
21. Patrask - January 22nd, 2008 at 12:58 pm
A friend and I actually spent 2 weeks on the streets in ‘06 (researching for a schoolproject) and it’s a lot rougher than one thinks. Canopeners are a godsend under those conditions!
Definitely a good list. Looking forward to the rest!
22. JLo - January 22nd, 2008 at 1:23 pm
There was a creative writing professor in my grad school that encouraged his students to spend one night homeless.
I sometimes think it would be a good idea to see what it is like and to empathize more with the plight of the homeless. A Christian guy, Mike Yankowski, lived homeless for quite some time and wrote about it in his book Under the Overpass.
I might add a shopping cart or some wheeled device (even a bike). There is a guy who rides his bike from dumpster to dumpster collecting aluminum cans.
My small group recently helped at a local breadline, and I was amazed at how much the people there were like one big family. And not some happy happy joy joy family, just like any other family - tenderness, anger, happiness, sadness, the whole ball of wax. It’s definitely a culture I know very little about.
This is a good list. Also, thanks for creating a respectful atmosphere here to people of different faith backgrounds. I appreciate that the comments don’t dwindle into flame wars.
23. Mystern - January 22nd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
Cool list! How about a top 10 tips for surviving out of your car? I had to do that once for a few months.
24. S. D. Schaffer - January 22nd, 2008 at 2:54 pm
“I don’t know if I know any homeless that carry around a razor with them…”
Wanna bet? Maybe not for grooming but certainly for protection.
25. mariecardona - January 22nd, 2008 at 3:50 pm
dangerironhide: The book you were referring to is called Steal This Book by Abbie Hoffman, a 60s counterculture revolutionary. It is basically an instruction manual for living as a hippie and social activist; thus, in addition to basic street survival, he also talks about how to grow weed and what to bring to demonstrations (helmets, gas masks).
26. Dana - January 22nd, 2008 at 3:52 pm
With the way the economy is going, looks like I’ll be needing this list sooner than later.
27. Jeremy - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:14 pm
These random lists are by far the best ones on the site
28. NoPunyNerd - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:36 pm
For an insider’s view of living on the street, get a copy of Travels With Lizbeth, by Lars Eighner. Due to circumstances, he ended up on the road and on the street for three years. Lizbeth is the dog that accompanied him. One of my favorite books - ever.
Penny
29. downhighway61 - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
i love this list, it’s awesome. maybe instead of thinking of it as a guide, and then saying homeless people will never see, maybe people could think of it as what might be good to donate to homeless people. i’ve been attempting to put together “homeless care packages” with things like gloves, sweatshirts, cans and can openers, bottled water(stuff like that) to give to the homeless people in las vegas (there are a lot of them).
30. Angelina - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
This list is great for all of the hobos with internet access, right?? J/K!
Very informative, well-researched list. Nice, J!
31. petey mcgee - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
what about limited gag reflex? seriously though, too many of us look too far down on the homeless. true story though… my uncle was working on a phone pole (electrician) and struck up a conversation with a homeless guy panhandling there under him. eventually the conversation turned to money and the beggar said that he made anywhere from $200 to $500 a day. A DAY!
32. NoPunyNerd - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Oh, for a slightly different perspective, there’s “Rolling Nowhere: Riding the Rails with America’s Hoboes,” by Ted Conover. Unlike Eighner, who lived on the streets due to circumstances and later decided to write about, Conover, a professional writer, chose to ride the rails in order to write a book. Another interesting read, though my favorite Conover book is “Coyotes,” where he spent a year traveling with Mexicans, crossing the US-Mexico border, living in migrant worker camps in the US and documenting their lives. An amazing piece of journalism.
Penny
33. Nelia - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
A friend of mine worked at a church taking care of donated items and handing out clothing and food to the homeless. One day when she was working, she had to hide when she heard a familiar voice and realized it was an old classmate of ours. She didn’t want to embarrass the girl, but she was there with her family and they were clearly homeless. They were all filthy, wearing clothing full of holes, and carrying old backpacks to put the clothing into. She went to our school on scholarship, but unfortunately failed out. Guess that explains why. So sad. Homelessness can seem so far away, and the sole domain of of the older mentally ill or drug addicted population. Knowing a girl we knew was living on the streets even though she had both parents and some siblings… Changed our perspective.
34. FifthSonata - January 22nd, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Coming across these items may be a challenge, like many commentors have already pointed out.
However, many cities and towns have “free” stores. I doubt a homeless person will care about staying in one city or the next. What’s a “free” store? I’m glad you asked! Free shirts are not-for-profit small businesses that accept donations of all kinds–often the rejects from the salvation army or goodwill–and basically gives it all away for anyone who comes in. The local store in my area asks all visitors to make a $1 donation at the door if possible–and, on top of that, the owner saves ALL sleeping bags they get and donate them to homeless people in the winter.
This could be a rural thing, but a public school nearby set up a program for needy families where a child (no younger than 14) or adult family member can work 3 hours per week in exchange for clothing and whatever other goods are in the store.
But, I do hope no one needs this list!
35. Kelsi - January 22nd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Good list, and I agree that it could be viewed as a “what to donate” list. Hope it doesn’t encourage any runaways though, haha. I would think it might discourage with all the survival knowledge that you’d clearly need which was very well pointed out here.
36. islanderbst - January 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i think this list is a too general
list could almost be titled
“what to bring to college” or “to go camping” or “driving cross country to kill your romantic rival”
37. Angelina - January 22nd, 2008 at 7:08 pm
Islanderbst: then he should add adult diapers to the list??
38. goof_ball - January 22nd, 2008 at 7:41 pm
um… yeah… this list is a little obvious, no offense to the author
39. ihavelegs - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:17 pm
I think this list is good, but more relevant to the USA rather than England.
I read your comments regarding down v synthetic, I personally have to side with synthetic - but at the end of the day its going to be what ever you get…
One huge tip is obviously layering clothing - but also stuffing with cardboard - its a trick they use over here…
Over here we have homeless shelters, and vans that come out with blankets, tea, coffee, medical supplies - clean needles that is and condoms…
Other than that its a tough life -
40. poop - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
believe it or not, homeless people make more money begging than you think in one whole day, in a crowded area, you can make over 50$
41. poop - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:30 pm
even over 100$
42. Diogenes - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
you know poop? I was tryin to say somethin a while ago and yet for some reason comments didnt go through, but I have a feeling they are repeat add-infintum elsewhere (pehaps in a celestial bubble..ha.
oh wait, what I said was,
begging
stealing
routine
43. 20Fan20 - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:40 pm
how about an internet connection at the public lib. to read this list!
Anyway, on a side note, are some readers getting extra grumpy latey?!?! Hey, I have been to plenty of sites I don’t like yet, I have never commented on them, I just moved on to new ones!
Keep the lists coming! I love the variety!!!!
44. Shadow - January 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
I have to say, from my experiences being homeless, that this list is AWESOME!! Thank you for doing this one, it may help some poor folks someday who get bitten especially hard in this mortgage crisis.
45. Shadow - January 22nd, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Also, some points to remember; many areas have laws against panhandling. You need to be aware of this in the event that you want to keep from getting arrested, or are in need of a night in jail to get warm, get better food, or medical care.
Many places, like the YMCA, and truck stops, charge for showers. As long as you’re going to pay to take a shower, pay for a hotel room, especially in bad weather. It’ll get you out of said weather, and give the benefit of a shower and a good bed for a night to boot. In fact, if you go to certain hotels that are usually frequented by prostitutes with their johns, they sometimes rent their rooms by the hour. Illegal? For them, yes.You’re not breaking the law by taking a shower in the room though.
As for the can opener, spring for a good one, don’t get a cheap one, they break too easily, and don’t use a knife. A knife can slip way too easily and slice you right open. On the streets this can be a death sentence.
Accept the kindness of strangers, and do it graciously and gratefully, and thank them. Sure, it may just be a church group working in a soup kitchen, or it may be a person who was homeless at one point too. Either way, they never hear “thank you” as many times as they should. Often times all they hear is a bunch of whiny little babies who believe that they’re entitled to any handout they get and then a lot more. That’s a sore point for me too. I can’t tell you how many times I stood in a line at a soup kitchen listening to some ungrateful S.O.B.s complain and deride the staff until I blew up at them all and told them to shut or else. (Fortunately I’m a lot bigger than just about everyone, so I can get away with it.)
Another point, some businesses will pay you a small amount of money to do menial jobs for them, especially at Christmas-time. I remember a restaurant I worked at; the manager would give this homeless guy five bucks twice a week to break down the boxes and place them in the cardboard container, plus he could keep all of the aluminum cans he could get out of the garbage. She also never called the cops on him when he’d get caught sleeping behind the dumpster. The fifteen bucks or so bought him coffee, which allowed him to stay in the twenty-four hour joint overnight most nights.
Finally, if you have a drug or alcohol habit, drop it. People are less likely to give you anything if you have a habit.
46. Diogenes - January 22nd, 2008 at 9:25 pm
is this modern hoboism that were talking about or adivise to homeless or exteme sport, or life tactics, or educated guess, or taken from a pamplet or passed out on the street as a pamplet or simple practical advise without all the comments, or are you offering free classes in “scrap architecture”?, or “dumpster diving 101″,
or just bring back vaudville?
because the boll weevil has been eradicated.
47. Diogenes - January 22nd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
or so one would think
48. FifthSonata - January 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 pm
There were two students who attended a local state university in my area who pretended to be homeless and beg for money at major highway intersections to help pay tuition. I’m not sure if they do it anymore.
I also read an article about a man who paid tuition through begging–he asked every person in Chicago to donate him a penny. He paid every cent of his tuition and then some with the donations!
Maybe a future list could be “creative ways a homeless person (or very poor) could obtain money”…?
Being a poor college student myself I’d love to see new ideas and I am not above dancing in a tutu for strangers…seriously…the middle class gets screwed when it comes to federal aid.
49. jfrater - January 22nd, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Thanks for all the great comments guys! I am glad that the list is appreciated by the majority
20Fan20: I think the grumpiness of some commenters is due to my absence at Christmas - I haven’t been able to communicate with all of the new readers directly and so they are lacking our community feel. Hopefully this will change! Despite that I still think we have one of the nicest communities on the net!
50. jrjb - January 23rd, 2008 at 12:30 am
I was going to get in on the panhandling aspect but others have made the points I was going to make.
Reminds of a movie called Life Stinks with Mel Brooks whois a billionaire making a bet with another rich guy he can survive on the streets. Very Funny movie.
51. Brian Moo - January 23rd, 2008 at 1:01 am
I’ll remember this for when I become a Hobo someday.
52. DiscHuker - January 23rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
i chuckle when i see the word hobo. is this the most modern term we have. this word conjures the image of a guy with an old fedora shuffling along with a red bag tied to a stick slung over his shoulder waiting to hitch a ride on the next boxcar.
what is the current politically correct term? or perhaps more entertainingly, what do you think SHOULD be the current term?
53. iain - January 23rd, 2008 at 7:13 am
it wold also be worth carrying…a big bottle of vodka, some cig papers, dont forget the bogroll!!
54. jfrater - January 23rd, 2008 at 7:14 am
I generally use the term “bum” though I think that probably has negative connotations for many people.
55. Iceman - January 23rd, 2008 at 7:23 am
Jfrater,
As for synthetics not breathing I disagree. I have backpacked for over 30 years and synthetic bags are significantly more breathable than they ever used to be. A good quality polarguard 3d bag will be about half the cost of a similar down bag. The Polarguard 3D is hydrophobic and is very breathable. Some synthetic fabrics do not breath very well but any ‘good quality’ synthetic bag will breath.
56. downhighway61 - January 23rd, 2008 at 8:46 am
fifthsonata-
are you in las vegas? my husband is convinced that the homeless people he passes on his way to work are actually people collecting money on behalf of the homeless.
57. albert0 - January 23rd, 2008 at 10:08 am
downhighway61:
That’s because they are trying to grt money for themselves of course!
58. Sidereus - January 23rd, 2008 at 11:02 am
Well thought out list, though it’s not much different from what you would take camping. If you layer all your clothes inside a down sleeping bag, you’re going to sweat and get chills making your clothes all damp and worse for keeping warm. Bags, matting, and sturdy shoes are all must haves. A lightweight flashlight wouldn’t be bad to have either.
59. Bananas - January 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 pm
worst list ever. backback. USEFULL ITEMS?????? weel dud u need useful stuff! Try to spend more time on exiting lists instead of this junk.
60. sarah - January 23rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
wow i guess the matting is pretty important
61. Drogo - January 24th, 2008 at 4:41 am
I figured that if I ever became homeless, I would find a police car, climb up on its hood (bonnet), Pee on the windshield, act cRazY, and I’ll get sent to the nice warm lOonEyBin.
62. jfrater - January 24th, 2008 at 4:51 am
Drogo: you better watch out - you might end up with a frontal lobotomy or electroconvulsive treatment!
63. dangorironhide - January 24th, 2008 at 5:49 am
mariecardona (#25): no it wasnt that I was thinking of, it was just on a website, and the guy was mostly living out of his car.
64. dangorironhide - January 24th, 2008 at 5:59 am
Oh, and fifthsonata (#48): “Maybe a future list could be “creative ways a homeless person (or very poor) could obtain money”…?” I think that’s an excellent idea for a list.
65. rhyno - January 24th, 2008 at 7:05 am
Bananas: Perhaps some sort of list on how to spell properly would be of more use to you?
66. Rick B - January 24th, 2008 at 11:00 am
a GUN?
67. Bananas - January 27th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
Ryno ; O dear, I am sorry if my spelling has offended you.
68. Stephan - February 6th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
WTF at no weapons. I’d definately carry a knife or something.
69. Mickilyne - March 4th, 2008 at 5:43 am
Am I the only one who wonders why and how people allow their lives to come to this?
Wouldn’t any of you rather die than stoop down to that level?????
I sure would.
70. StarDust - March 6th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
Hey Mickilyne, it doesn’t always happen that way! I ended up homeless because my moms boyfriend didn’t like me. I was 17 at the time.
hey Jfray, What about a tarp and a knife, not for protection, just for anything else you may need. a tarp is a good cover from rain, and if you can pull it a small pup tent. if you can find an area to set up, away from the streets, a small wooded area, then you’re in less danger than being on a side walk, or in town… I guess this would work better if you were traveling and stationary.
71. mickilyne - March 14th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Stardust: Sorry, honey.
Being homeless as a youth is a bit different, in my opinion, and I sympathize with you.
I was referring to the older ones.
72. dtownlady1 - April 14th, 2008 at 5:04 pm
hey everyone im only 15 and i had to do this assighnment for class and sorry but i disagree with the list i believe some of this stuff is unnecessary because the things listed above are the things i have in my house and im not homeless but if you know any homeless person with those things its because they lucked and found it not because they bought it. in my opinion if u see a homeless person with those things they planed to be homless i know it dnt make any sense but just think about it come on now there is not one homeless person who has what they need to be homeless
73. Panic! - May 21st, 2008 at 7:10 pm
Wow… Run. On. Sentences.
O_o
74. Lois Lane - June 13th, 2008 at 5:04 am
I ma a 48 Year old woman. I think I may be homeless soon. I had a couple of bad back surgeries. I can’t work anymore. It isn’t that I haven’t tried. I live in a scummy housing project now and I just can’t take it anymore. I think if I move to another state, I may get some better medical care. Unfortuantely this will mean homelessness. I am at my wits end! I even had a social owrker tell me that I am pretty attractive, I could just ,ove in with a guy. I really don’t wann go that route.
I also have chronic pain, which makes itdifficult for that kind of stuff. I am picturing camping near a beach somewhere and using the showers there. I have been camping before so I know how to rough it. I was on a waiting list ofr years for section 8 housing, they lost me. I have very little to live for and if I stay where I ma I will surely just get sicker, and depressed. I don’t drink, dont haev a substance problem, and I am only depressed because of chronic pain. I have not recovered from my last surgery and it doesn’t look like I am going to. I just want a change of scenery before I am too cripled to do anything at all. I know I have a roof over my head here but it is barely tolerable. My neighbors are eldrly and dying off or disabled and barely existing. I am a non entity already.
I am trying to look at it as an adventure, I plan on making myself ugly and growing dreslocks, if any one tries to rape me I will defecate on myself. I have lost any dignity I had when I got sick. I should have recovered but the Doctors didn’t beleive me for years, once I had the surgeries it was too late. I am sure there ar elots of people in my situation, I just don’t want to die here in this crappy place.
Thanks for the advice.
75. Tempyra - July 8th, 2008 at 12:51 am
This list reminds me of reading Matthew Flinder’s Cat, a Bryce Courtenay story about an alcoholic ex-judge living on the streets of Sydney. It was a good book
Also, there is (/was, she doesn’t update it often since she got her book deal) a blog by a homeless woman living in her car in England somewhere. It was interesting reading, not completely believable IMO, but nice writing:
http://www.wanderingscribe.blogspot.com/