The Homeless Survival Guide, page 8

Great thread, I really enjoyed reading all the advice. I grew up with nothing, and my family was never anything that I could depend on, in fact, I was the resourceful one who helped everyone else out. I have never been homeless, but I spent a lot of years on the edge of being on the streets. One time I found myself without a job, and needing to come up with the rent money soon. I went and hit every business nearby looking for work, and within a week I had three part time jobs. Construction sites are always a good place to find work. Be nice, be honest, kiss butt if necessary, keep your mouth shut about your opinions, agree with what ever these peoples beliefs are unless they are looking for honesty, and show that you can be trusted, and you can find sources of income.

What seems to be common throughout the thread for most people, and what I have found myself, is that good friends and allies are are your best assets in life. There is safety in numbers, and help when you are down, both physically, mentally, and spiritually. If you are a decent trustworthy person, other decent and trustworthy people will want to be friends with you.

As far as food is concerned, I say forget the top ramen, and go with potatoes, yams, and eggs. Chicken broth and beef broth also do wonders to spice up a meal. A meal of a raw yam and a couple of eggs are about the most nutritious things you can eat, and the cheapest as well. Don't want to eat things raw, I understand. I suggest anyone about who winds up on the street, or is living on the street with a little bit of money to spend, go to a camping store, or the sports department of someplace like Walmart, and get yourself a stearno stove and a mess kit. Stearno stoves are very efficient, easy to pack up and carry, and can cook most meals easily and quickly. Slice up half a yam or a potato, throw in a couple of eggs, some cinnamon, or salt and pepper, some vegetable oil, or those butter packets from KFC, and you have yourself an extremely rich vitamin and protein fuel source for the body. Limes are another great food source. Limes pack the most punch in vitamin C, and also work as a great spice for cooking. Squeeze a slice of lime into a cup of water daily, and you can avoid getting sick. Also, if you have any cuts or sores, or acne problems, rubbing the lime on the affected area after squeezing most of the juice into your cup of water will avoid any infections and clear up such problems faster than any medications you can buy that cost a whole lot more money. Sure it will sting like hell, but it will also cure the problem much more quickly. Instead of buying Top Ramen, buy a big cheap bag of pasta, and flavor it with chicken broth. Raw vegetables are also a great food source. Buy a bag of mixed vegetables and eat that as a snack, you will get far more nutrition than you will from about any other food source.

Also, if you are young enough, and you don't have a criminal record, the military is a good way to go. Join the Navy of the Air Force if you don't want to be on the streets of Baghdad. If you get good test scores on your entrance exam and make it through boot camp, chance are good that you can learn a trade to help you throughout your life. That is how I succeeded at life. Also the military teaches you discipline, and gives you confidence in yourself. Not only that, but you will be forced to learn to tolerate other cultures and ways of life, and probably have quite a few excellent adventures and make some great friends. I highly recommend the military to all young people, it is an incredible learning experience.

For families who are homeless or facing homelessness, I feel for you, as a father that is the greatest nightmare I can think of. Finding other families that you can trust is probable the most important thing that you can do. If you don't have family that you can rely on, find a good group, or an association that will help you. You will need help. Swallow your pride, learn to be a good judge of character, and seek out good help. Obtaining and maintaining a good vehicle is probably one of the most important things a family facing dire straits can do. A vehicle can be a home, and will always be better than being on the streets with children. Obtain tools and learn how to work on your vehicle. Keep it filled with the proper fluids, let it warm up a few minutes before driving, and don't push it hard. Being careful not to push a vehicle too hard when driving, it is one of the most important things to keeping a vehicle running properly. If I was facing homelessness with a family, I would head south before the winter. Single parents should be very leery about partners, but a good partner could be the best thing for hard times. You need someone to look after your children while you are working, or looking for work. As a last resort, I would turn my children in to child services rather than try to live on the streets with them, without a vehicle.

From my understanding, even if you don't have rent money, in most states, the Landlord still must give you at least thirty days notice before eviction. It would be worth it to seek out free legal assistance if facing eviction. If the landlord shows up telling you that you have to leave immediately, with out prior written notice, chances are that you can call the police, and they will not force you out of your home without prior written notice, especially if you have children. Most places offer families in such dire times assistance in order to avoid kicking them out on the streets. Be proactive, find out what resources are available to you ahead of time.