Homeless 101

Homelessness is not a joke. On any given day in the United States over 3/4 of a million people find themselves without a home to go to. Some will sleep in a shelter tonight, others in their vehicle, but an overwhelming majority will spend tonight on the streets. I am one of them. My name is Jason and I've been homeless for over 12 years. I'm putting together this blog because I feel my over-a-decade long experience with homelessness holds information that might benefit others. Maybe you're new to the streets. Maybe a friend or loved one is currently facing (or soon to be facing) life without a home. Or maybe you're just curious as to the particulars of an ever-growing crisis that is showing no signs of slowing down. No matter what your reasoning is, I hope these posts prove to be of service. My account is first-hand, and in no way intended to represent anyone else's history or opinion. But many out there will agree my advice for survival is solid. The ha...

Relax... You've got this. When I first started this uh... adventure, I didn't have squat. I had spent the previous ten years teaching English in Asia. I bounced around a lot, saw a lot of stuff, lived in 5 different countries, and enjoyed myself -- Until my passport was stolen along with other documents. Everything I needed to get a new passport was gone. It was a nightmare. But not as bad as the nightmare I faced when I got home, which is exactly where the US Embassy sent me. After being overseas for a decade, all of my friends had moved on. Most of my family was gone, and only the ones I didn't care for were still around. When I returned to the US, I had nothing but the clothes on my back. In the middle of winter. Since then, I've had my belongings stolen a few times and my camp swept by law enforcement twice while I was working. It doesn't happen as often now, I've become (a lot) better at being homeless. But if you're in a position similar to where I was...

If you read the "Immediate Needs" post, hopefully by now you have a tent, a little food, and possibly a sleeping bag. Kudos! It is the bare minimum required to survive in the United States. No, it's not comfortable. No, it's not easy. BUT IT WILL GET EASIER. You can survive, and beat, homelessness. You can even make it somewhat comfortable if you have to do it for the long haul. Just because you're homeless doesn't mean you have to be miserable. Key tip: A few layers of cardboard underneath (or inside) your tent will help keep your body insulated from that cold ground or concrete. It's also just a little softer. And, in extreme cold, you can actually make a cardboard "envelope" to sleep in. I managed a few nights with just that and nothing else in -5°F weather. And now the work begins... Identification is key. You cannot do anything without an ID or Social Security card. This is one of a few times Social Services comes in handy. If you don't ...

This is the section some people will need to skip over, and others will need to skip to. First off -- if you're in a town or city that has resources and opportunity, you're able to get by without resorting to methods that can get you into trouble, you're not surrounded by or tempted by drugs, the weather is tolerable and you have identification -- it's likely best that you stay put. Vagabonds like myself spend weeks, months and sometimes years trying to find what you have right now. By all means read the post, but weigh heavily your odds of going somewhere else and finding what you already have. For everyone else -- the folks stuck in a shitty one-horse town in BFE, or stuck in a dangerous city with zero resources or opportunity, or the person with no ID and your birth certificate is on the other side of the country -- this section is for you! When I first returned from Asia back in 2013 I didn't have shit besides an expired passport and the clothes on my back. Fres...

  The biggest challenge with homelessness, by far, is dealing with the need to have a home without actually having one. Sure, you can live life on the road. Many do. I did. At some point in the journey, the need for familiarity and routine sets in and it tends to happen quicker the older one gets. So eventually, you'll have to settle in. The question is: Where? If you've read my previous posts, you'll know the answer is somewhere out of sight. But even the best locations come with risk. Has this spot been used previously and been cleared by law enforcement? Does this spot frequently attract visible homeless when they need somewhere to run to? Is this spot truly out of sight? These are the questions that roll through your head while looking for a long-term spot. But the reality is -- you don't know if you've found a good spot until you've been there a while. Safety doesn't exist in the world of the unhoused. When you find that spot to leave your tent up 24/7,...

  My very portable one-man tent This page simply lists the gear I use for surviving and travelling, and is no way intended to be a complete list of "everything" a person would need. Rather, it's more of an outline of basic necessities and it leans more towards colder environments (you would NOT want to use the tent listed here in summer if you live in hot climates like Phoenix, the South, or Florida), but it is GREAT for temperatures below freezing. Ideally, you need gear that will protect you from the elements, is lightweight, and compact enough to travel anywhere with. My entire setup occupies two bags (listed) -- which enables me to travel anywhere, anytime. Camp is set up in less than 5 minutes and can be broken down even faster.   Tents like these fold up small and can fit into any backpack or duffel bag. The trick to surviving while homeless is to minimize what you have to carry. And again, this list is simply the basics. Shelter, warmth, ability to cook. and a way ...