I’m not homeless, but there’s lots of homeless people in my town with signs asking for food, anything, etc. I want to get something to give them but I don’t know what would be most helpful. I was thinking protein bars and some food that they could both eat and share with their dogs (most of them have dogs). Is there anything important I should get instead/along with it?

I’ve never done busking, and I picked up the guitar a few months ago: I am really taking it seriously but then the weather just turned…

If I started to busk while I practice (badly) will people not tip? Or will they ask me to play Metallica and shame me for being more into MegaDeath?

Also, what if I’m not loud enough? I tried busking/playing in public with my kalimba, but it’s quieter than a fart in a stadium.

I mainly want to do it so I can practice the guitar: but I am rather good at music so I can improvise a lot.

Should I just up and go somewhere I know I can't freeze to death in the winter without staying in a shelter? Even if I gotta walk or pay one way and be broke for a month straight panhandling..? :/ Here if I'm out on the street during the cold my survival is measured in minutes or hours.Somewhere else I wouldn't have to worry about where I sleep at night and sleeping at night is the biggest problem. I'm actually thinking about just greyhounding somewhere warm it's been a topic on my mind for a while. I can't freeze to death. I can panhandle if I need to until I get on my feet. It's not like wasilla or Sioux city, if I go to San Diego or somewhere. Id have to choose the perfect climate cuz in California I can't carry a knife that I need to carry and in Arizona it's too hot. Also here I have a thing with a woman(no kids) and I don't want to leave her I want to be here anytime that she needs something and I actually love her and she knows that and I know that but if I have to choose to be homeless in Nebraska or Iowa it's just not reasonable. I can't stay with her(for different reasons none domestic). I'm asking you a direct question I'm not asking you for a workaround or something about get a job or something about being disabled or something about anything stupid like that I'm literally asking a direct question. It's a lot deeper than that and that's just like the overhanging question. Using my money to not freeze to death vs the other obvious factors food water. Oh I've moved to Alaska and then Iowa first so I know the cold side of it. Born and raised in Omaha so I what cold is like :) between here and dry Alaska and Iowa.

As soon as I get my shit together Im going to start setting up a booth outside of every salvation army one at a time giving away dinner and free nights stays in hotels. Every single day right as they open their doors until they don't have the foot traffic to justify keeping their non profit status. Then moving on to the next one and solving all of the issues for the people that would have gotten PTSD instead of help at that location. Once that's done I'm moving on to the catholic churches.

Title is self explanatory, any advice/resources? Im a Male with a drivers license and clean background. Been job searching with no luck lately

Im open to any type of jobs: willing to train, offers housing, seasonal, remote (i have a laptop), etc. Not expecting all these options to come with a job, im just listing different types

Basically anything that can get me some income at the moment so i can get back on track. Im also willing to relocate anywhere in the U.S.

I constantly see this. For example in order to stay clean I hear advice like you need a gym membership to use their showers. Well how do you afford that? If I had funds then I wouldn't be in this situation. I am somebody of principle, and I will not ask people to give me anything just because I have nothing. I would much rather take chips and risk getting sent back to eastern europe (legally btw) than asking somebody to buy me anything or give any funds.

The biggest issue for me is smell. I do not want to reek and while I can wash in the river, I cannot do the same with clothes, as they will not be fully clean. Laundry also sounds very expensive and time consuming.

There's this really nice homeless guy near my house who never bothers anyone, never asks people for things, never panhandles, he just goes in the garbage and gets out half eaten food and drinks.

We live in the Southwest desert, where it's extremely hot and dry in the summer, and it can get into the low 30s in the winter with a very dry and mean chill factor. Just an fyi.

I'm trying to save some money to get this fellow a sleeping bag, and hopefully a jacket. Right now he just wears a thin T-shirt and loose pants.

I'd like to get him a sleeping bag, a backpack, and fill it with some essentials like a can opener, some canned food to get him started, a few changes of socks and underwear, and a sweatshirt with a pair of sweatpants he can put on over his clothes when it gets colder out or when he needs another layer in his sleeping bag.

Any suggestions on what I should add?

I've given him water on several occasions, along with protein bars, and he may have mental health issues, and if so, by now he does recognize me as a "friend", and I use the term loosely, as opposed to someone out to get him.

On two occasions, I sat down and chatted with this guy. He's not completely bonkers, but he definitely is not the type that would be able to hold down a job unless he went through some type of rehabilitation program. But that's neither here nor there.

I sat down with him once and chatted for just a little while, but I could tell he wasn't that comfortable so I let him be with his water and stuff and said goodbye and I'll see him around.

The next time I chatted with him was a month or two later. Upon talking, I asked him his name and this young man said, "I don't know," without skipping a beat. I don't know what the deal is about that, unless he's being particularly vague because that's how he protects himself, which is completely fine and understandable with me. He may not be comfortable enough to tell me his name and that's okay. Or he might honestly not know or remember his name. I don't know if this guy has had a major TBI, a brain tumor, amnesia or a mental illness and he doesn't remember his name or may just be off certain meds. All of which I understand. Also, he doesn't know if I'm some undercover cop, sneaky ass social worker, someone trying to get him back to inpatient, or if he has a mental illness he might think I'm CIA, someone trying to get him, whatever for all I know. Whatever his worries may be.

I wonder if he hangs with other homeless people in the tunnels near where I live, or if he has a tent, or something. He seems like such a loner. I've never seen him with anyone else. But I know that's common. I wonder if he has other homeless friends who watch over each other. Maybe he goes by a nickname, or maybe he's a complete loner and really doesn't know his name. I've got no idea.

He carries no backpack, only different plastic bags that people have given him, or he's gotten out of the trash. I give him water and snacks sometimes, not leftovers with my germs on them. I know some people do that, and some homeless folks appreciate it, but I wouldn't want to eat after your fork has been in your mouth and been touching every mouth-germ-covered bite of what's in that container. (However if you have gotten left overs and loved it because it was fresh warm restaurant cooking and not convenience store snacks, please educate me! I am admittedly very weird about germs and sharing food.) start to get him McDonald's or something now that it's getting cold. He does seem to be well fed, which is good. Probably because he is a handsome kid (unfortunately and unfairly looks play a part in a lot of things in life), as well as he doesn't harass or beg. I told him I was going to be back in a month or so to bother him again and maybe give him some more snacks and water, but not too soon because I know he's a loner type. And I told him I'm kind of the same way. We chatted for a while longer. I was cussing and then I realized he wasn't so I toned it down and when I asked him if he swears, and I had to explain it like does he use bad words like fuck and shit and damn, he didn't really answer but I think he doesn't. Then he told me how people trip him out. He said one night he was hanging out just sitting there and some Mexican guys (no offense Mexican guys) had their girls driving with their naked asses hanging out the windows to mess with him. So maybe he does say ass, LOL.

I hate it when people fuck with homeless people or the otherwise underprivileged. Like haha so funny, idiot.

Anyway we chatted some more, and when I walked away I told him I'll see him again soon, and he pointed at me and laughed and said, "Yeah you're going to come back and bother me!" with a smile and a laugh (first time I heard a real laugh from him) like he was clearly looking forward to it. I've gotten him to trust me a little bit I think.

I know I still have to be careful since I'm a woman and even though this guy is not big, he is ripped. Also, the guy looks like he could be a model in a surfer magazine or REI summer edition. And he's just a young kid. I can't really tell how old he is, maybe late twenties and looks really good for his age? Maybe 19 and looks rough for his age? I wish I could get him a steady modeling career.

I'm also in my fifties so I find it really hard to age people nowadays. (Ex: One of my doctors has a P.A.-C and if I saw her in the grocery store, I would swear she's 19.)

Hey y'all, I'm hoping this is the right subreddit for this question. If it's not, I would appreciate it if someone would point me in the right direcion.

For the holiday season I was wanting to put some cheap care packages together for the large homeless population that I live pretty close to. However, I wanted to put things in the bags that homeless people often need, but are very rarely offered. I live in Texas, so I was thinking like socks, sunscreen, things of that nature. Is there anything that is useful for living on the street that you never get (that I could preferably purchase in bulk)?

Thank you!

Hi everyone, back in march I made the very stupid decision to steal a small item from walmart. Value was less than 5 dollars, but I was still arrested (Very much deserved regardless). Any way my case ended with a withhold of adjudication sentence so no formal conviction but the charge is still on my record.

When it comes to work most of my experience comes from retail. I really don’t have much experience in any other kinds of fields. And I know that even with the most minor kind of theft charge, retail stores are still extremely apprehensive about hiring an individual with any kind of theft on their record.

Other than retail what kind of other entry level jobs I can try and shoot for? I’ve been trying to find gig work online and usually it’s people who seem like scammers.

Any advice would be HEAVILY appreciated!

So yesterday I made a post talking about my first steps in to homelessness and I called that weird central outreach thing that you apparently have to call to get in to a shelter (weird thing for my state ig) only to be immediately hung up on.

Yesterday I called them again and they did an intake on me and told me I qualified for a place and that they’ll transfer me to a “navigating shelter coordinator”??? Or at least something similar to that my memory is kinda hazy through all of this… but I was transferred to the navigation housing whoever and left on voicemail telling me they’ll reply with in 24-72 hours which means I’ll probably get lost in the back log of voicemails but I also can’t really call back because I was transferred with out getting a number.

So what do I do…? Just wait until they call me back still sleeping in my car in gas station parking lots or do I call the first number and ask again today?

Hey, I’m new to being homeless. I just got kicked out a few days ago, and I need advice. I’ve been crashing on my friend’s couch for the past few days, but I don’t want to stay like this forever. I just— I don’t know what to do. Like I said, I’m completely new to being homeless, so I just need advice.

Just became homeless after escaping an abusive situation and went to a place that claims they help homeless people with rapid rehoming/finding a shelter/etc, but it was literally just me going in giving out my income information and ton of other stuff then getting handed two bags of food (which is nice) and two phone numbers and then they just kinda sent me on my way… not sure why I needed to give the information due to the fact that they told me their job was done after handing me the supplies… one place is apparently a central call center for helping the homeless that you have to call in order to get help apparently but they just immediately hung up with me and the other one isn’t accepting anybody… I’m kinda not sure what to do now.

I don’t have friends that I can go to, I don’t really have anywhere but gas stations to sleep in my car at, I’m kinda just so lost and I’m sorry if this is incoherent it’s kinda just a rant at this point because I feel so defeated… so useless… I’m working 32-40 hours a week and can’t afford basic living essentials escaping an abusive situation and being turned away from people claiming to want to help just… what the fuck man….

So, I have health issues and can't walk too much and can't stand too much (have to, ideally, lie down or grunt through sitting) so I can't walk 1h one way to a place with trees.

I'm looking up Dublin, Ireland on Google maps with satellite mode on and there's just plain green areas but not with trees. Those that have trees are near houses and they're gated.

I'm not sure what to do. 🤔

There's a park with some trees that I might use but it doesn't seem like it's fully sheltered from people and I don't think I want to risk someone taking a route near my tent and reporting it, or worse, stealing my things.

Anyone from Ireland that has dealt with this in the past?

I’m finally free of homelessness and it’s been such a wild ride. Though only a few months have passed, I feel like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop at times. Waiting for the eviction notice I know won’t come. Waiting for the empty fridge that isn’t there. Waiting for the freezing cramped back seat I don’t need to sleep in anymore.
There’s freedom in being homeless. Not having to worry about so many things. Being able to be invisible. But also, being invisible sucks! No showers, no respect, no real friends.
Thank gosh it’s over but it doesn’t feel over yet. Does anyone else have these same feelings?

Little did I know how hard it is to find housing. Stayed with friends for a year in a state that had no expanded Medicaid. Lots of affordable housing though; new housing going up like gangbusters! Per Federal law, they had to provide very basic indigent care so I got that until my provider cut me off a controlled medication for my seizures. So rather than have seizures, I moved a state over and was able to get Medicaid right away and my seizure medication. The city I moved to has all kinds of neat resources for homeless like healthcare, counseling, peer groups, addiction services, even an art studio where you can make art and sell it at the farmer's market. Pretty cool, right?! But the housing coordinator told me there is no housing. She put me on a waitlist for a senior low-income complex but said don't hold my breath. She suggested looking into other counties in the state as there is less competition for housing.

So I did and read that the second largest city in the state had an award-winning "one-stop shop" for the homeless, considered the gold standard by which other cities should emulate. Supposedly a housing first model. I've been here two weeks and what a let down. The demand is of course higher than the supply and since this is a retiree mecca, boomers turn up in droves at planning meetings to shoot down any low income housing projects. Basically the housing navigator said I was SOL. The health clinic has a month wait whereas the one in the bigger city was like urgent care where you could be seen the same day. More job opportunities too. The caveat is the weather is colder and the heater in my car is broken. What a catch-22.

Just wondering if folks here move around. Do you go where the best services are or where the weather is better? Or do you stay where you have the most connections like friends, family, job opportunities?

I'm 17 and went through homelessness after I got out of jail for 5 months. It

s hard out there it honestly is. I struggled with clothes and eating mainly but honestly it was bad I kept throwing up my own stomach acid from not eating and it always feels like your empty it was a weird position i was in but now im out of it something i learned is how much the smallest thing can make such a huge change in life

I am semi-housed and I need to have some things mailed to me. My id is expired and the things are actually to help me renew my id. From what I've read, USPS general delivery will only release mail to you with a currently up-to-date id. With the number of unhoused in NYC, this can't be a unique problem. Any guidance on where to look. Right now based in Jamaica, Queens.

It even has a hood. Saw it on tourists in Dublin, Ireland when it was raining. I don't know it's name and can't find it online. I'm interested in buying so I don't get soaked and can remain dry when I get into my sleeping bag in the winter.

LE: poncho it is. thank you, everyone! your help is much appreciated!

Just to store my important documents only.

3" x 10" x 24" 76mm x 254mm x 610mm

H x W x L

I don't think I'll even have the money. Will have to eat poorly to afford it every month (like some pasta with olive oil and a bit of cheese boxes from Lidl).

Is it worth it?

https://www.kcra.com/article/joshuas-house-sacramento-hospice-for-homeless/74235513

How do you do it? I'm in my 50's and have never been homeless before. Living in a motel but will run out of savings soon. Moved to this area because it's warm, and supposedly has robust homeless services. Was told they can't help me until I'm unsheltered. I have chronic conditions and don't know how I'm going to survive. I have an old car I can live in but no income at all.

Started volunteering at a local homeless shelter a few weeks back, and basically my job is controlling the bathrooms making sure no one is over staying in there for more than 5 min etc, I’m just seeing if anyone else has done this roll as sometimes I need to clean up and change out paper towel toilet paper etc the bathrooms are also use a card to un lock em my question is should I be wearing PPE such as mask & gloves? Also like shoe coverings as sometimes they get a little nasty?

Couldn't decide which flair to go with so I'm just going with one that probably fits best. I've been briefly homeless for a few days at a time before, but no longer than that. Recently I was kicked out of my roommate's place with no notice. I have no idea where it's safe to sleep or how to keep myself safe. I've been spending days at Starbucks for shelter and a place to charge my phone but I have no clue what to do at night and all the shelters in a reasonable distance either don't have openings for weeks or need a bajillion documents that I either don't have or don't know how to get. Any advice is welcomed.