5 Things to Remember if YOU Find Yourself Homeless

By Annelise Cummings

August 15th 2018

Homelessness can happen to anyone. It likely took a while to get into this position, so it’s going to take a while to get out. Below are a few things to remember if you find yourself homeless in the future.

5) Find a place to sleep. Homeless shelters, the streets, the woods, Couchsurfing, in a car are all places you can explore in your area for finding places to sleep. You’ll likely want to be on the move during this time but finding a place to sleep is a top priority in taking care of yourself.

4) Face your fears! This is going to be scary, but it will also likely be temporary. Reflect on what got you into this position and what you can do to get out of it. You’re where most people consider rock bottom. Now’s the time to look fear in the eyes and go after what you want.

3) Knowledge is power. Be sure to seek our free resources in your community like libraries to build your knowledge base. This will be helpful in both getting a job and setting yourself apart in your community. Being knowledgeable and competent in a broad range of fields will help you reach your goals and find opportunities in your community.

2) Learn to distinguish between what you need and what you want. You’ll be on the move for a while so everything you bring with you or collect along the way will be carried by you. Focus on your needs in the short term and your needs in the long term and learn to balance the short and long-term needs and build yourself towards your goals.

1) Remember, homelessness is often not a reflection of your choices in life. It can happen to anyone. Just remember that you're not alone and there are people and communities who want to help you get back on your feet.

References by other groups on how to be homeless and things to consider when you find yourself in that position:

• This is a site that provides survival tips and links to helpful tools to purchase to help in your survival in an urban jungle: https://survivallife.com/survival-tips-homeless/
• Here’s an article highlighting 7 things no one tells you about being homeless by someone who has experienced it themselves: http://www.cracked.com/personal-experiences-1246-7-things-no-one-tells-you-about-being-homeless.html
• A great article outlining things to consider if you're going to find yourself homeless soon: https://toughnickel.com/frugal-living/10-Tips-For-A-Better-Life-When-You-Are-Homeless
• A video entitled how to be homeless and thrive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_UY-tyeEf8
• An article on how to find places to sleep when homeless: http://homelessadvice.com/where-to-sleep-when-youre-homeless-html/