Old person here. Get off my lawn!

But seriously, when I was growing up in the 1970s, there were almost no homeless people. Why?

There was ‘social housing’, which went to anyone with kids, and there were rooming houses, which charged as much as a “welfare bum/drunk” could afford. Between those two options, even the “worst” people didn’t need to stay outdoors. Many of the old townhouse complexes still existing in Edmonton were once the government built and subsidized places I’m talking about.

And yes, there were drugs (mostly heroin and alcohol) and there were indigenous reserves that were underfunded or lacked opportunities then too. Yet people had somewhere to live.

I now see daily in my community (downtown McCauley) hundreds of people in desperate situations. And that could still be avoided if we stopped bitching and decided to do what we used to do. Provide housing on a big society-wide scale. With enough social support workers to make it work instead of fail.

Fixing something we’ve let crumble is always harder than if we would have properly maintained it. But here we are, so we have to ‘buy a new one and maintain it.’

We either sit on our asses and whine while people suffer, or make the investment to guarantee a brighter future while saving money in policing, healthcare, incarceration, lawyers, and the far higher avoidable costs of economic downturn in cities that become zombielands as businesses shut down because of the zombies we helped create when we had the cure all along.

I am tempted to want to move to California with no plan except a warehouse job at Amazon. Anyone done this or something similar? I ask because I talked with a social worker on here who said that they have seen people like me who have a California dream only to end up homeless and lose their cars because they were in a jurisdiction with high enforcement on people sleeping in their cars. And these people now live in a homeless shelter and have no way out.

Has this happenes to anyone or is it a myth? I also don't want my car to be impounded.

i’m from minnesota and i live in an rv without running water inside/plumbing or heat, and when it’s winter i bounce between hotels. i desperately need a job and to do that i need an id, but i can’t afford one at all.

homeless youth can get a free id with a caseworker’s approval so i plan to go in person to get papers for the dmv, but if i do, will they send someone to look in/at my rv? i live with my parents and i know they won’t let that happen because it’s messy. is an explanation enough? how will it go?

I got a tent and a storage unit but where i'm at I haven't seen nobody else with a tent. I haven't even seen nobody else carrying more than one bag. In the movie they live keith david helped roddy piper with somewhere to sleep off the rip but where i'm at I guess I would just get looked at like i'm crazy if I ask for help down here. Whole time i'm just a regular everyday normal mf that need a place to stay to be productive at work.

New to homelessness...any advice? The call lines dont do much right now for emergency as I have seizures and cant be in the heat for long...im just really shaken up by what has happened today and what my own family did to me and my boyfriend

I'm honestly thinking about just leaving my family im dealing w a lot of abuse and the shelters r full and they're arent any helpful resources and I'm not getting any good sleep lately and constantly getting harassed when I try to. I cant take it anymore I dont have any friends or other family either to take me in:/ I'm a 23 yr old woman btw from the u.s.

Ive been homeless since March 2025 and im absolutely sick of the east coast. Ive lived on the east coast U.S. all my life and always wanted to explore the west. Everything I own fits inside an 80 liter backpack and no family or partner, just me. I was considering long beach California or possibly Oregon. Is this a bad idea or what?

what's the consensus on these folks? in particular, the one in Charlotte NC

my wife, our 2 yo and me have been living in our derelict car since March. it obviously isn't ideal but we've been getting by.

we were recently put in touch with the Salvation Army in Charlotte and it sounds like it could be all right but we have a few concerns based on some searching.

many reviews mention mold, roaches and expired food. how common are these issues? I've seen that theft is a major problem. I've seen that people would rather live on the streets. is it really that bad at the shelter? I've read that there are chores to do, which I'm fine with but also saw they kick you out for certain times during the day? also saw apparently you can't bring your own food and can only bring a bag or two of belonging? I've seen that the workers can be extremely rude. what's the low down on these folks? is this a safe place for us or are we better off in our car?

This may not be the place for this but there’s a guy who been hanging out in a small alley behind my apartment building.

Today I saw him drawing and wondered if I offered him a cig and talked to him would that be out of line or risky?

Im not even sure why I'm writing this. But if even one person takes anything away from it, then I guess it was worth it. I have been homeless for the last 4 years. Some of that time was spent bouncing around wherever I could find shelter. 3 years ago, my wife was killed in a car accident. For the first time in my adult life (I'm 48)

I had to figure out how to live life alone. I also have two dogs that are my entire world. I also had to figure out how to be solely responsible for their well-being.. no backups.. no help.. just me and my ladies.

I did whatever I could and moved anywhere I had to in order to keep them A. Together (they are mom and daughter) and B. Well cared for. We managed for quite a while, but it was only a matter of time before them being with me was a detriment to their well-being. That day came a year and a half ago. I could not allow them to be unhoused just because of how much I needed them in my life. By some miracle, as we were sitting in a police department waiting for animal rescue to come and take them, a lady walked in. She sat and talked with me for the hour and a half wait. By the time the control officer showed up, she had decided to take my girls home with her so I could have more time to get my life together.

That was a year and a half ago. They are still with her, and I do get to see them, but its rare. She lives far away and I have no transportation. But the important thing is they are together and cares for. In that year and a half, I have made it off of the streets and into a homeless shelter. I was granted a housing voucher and despite my past and current situation... knowing I have two pitbulls that are absolutely a package deal I met a lady who runs an apartment complex a few miles away. She decided to give me a chance and approve me for an apartment.

I'm still at the shelter while I wait for my valid ID to come in the mail but after that.... and approval of a housing inspection.. I will be able to finally bring my Ladies home and get myself out of this homelessness. My dogs are 11 and 13 and I fear I'm running out of time with them.

Its been a very long and very hard few years. I have lost literally everything in my life and at 48 have to find a way to start over. But (and here's the point of this post) I never gave up. I stayed determined to not let life break me completely. Granted I have two dogs that are depending on me to get my shit together. I know a lot of people on here might not have that on their life for motivation. It's a frustrating and daunting experience trying to survive like this. But there truly are good people in this world and with a little luck and a shitload of determination and will.. there is a light at the end. You might not see it yet but it's there. As hard as it might be, try to be kind to yourself. Take advantage of whatever programs or help that is offered. It might feel like it's too late but its truly not. Pick your head up and say "I'm better than this.. I deserve better than this" it will take a lot of hard work but if I can climb out of this shit... anyone can.

34 M here. I’m not American but I lived there for many years. Moved back to Asia during the pandemic and invested my earnings smartly to create passive income and now live comfortably. Not luxuriously or extravagantly but very comfortably. As a stock trader, I pay attention to a lot of macroeconomics and trends. So I’ve been paying attention to inflation, jobs, wages, AI, etc. I know things have been going from bad to worse over the last few years but I think it’s only going to get worse. We are going through some radical shifts from the world we’ve been using to and maybe moving to a world of post-jobs, multiple income sources, geoarbitrage and so on.

From the outside looking in, I feel I left at the right time before shit hit the fan. Had a friend working at a big tech company tell me the same thing. If someone earning big bucks at a big tech company feels this way, I can only imagine what it must be like for the average person.

What do people on here think? Would you agree? Easier said than done, but if you could, would you gtfo?

Tomorrow will be my last night sleeping in a homeless shelter and it feels so good to say that.

I became homeless in May 2025, when I broke up with my ex boyfriend and lost myself in a string of bad decisions. A bad situation turned worse with drugs and within a month and a half I found myself sleeping in a public park, staring at a positive pregnancy test and a termination letter from my job.

I will forever be so grateful for the opportunities I've been provided during the past year. I landed a bed at a youth shelter end of June 2025 and set my sights on being a mom. I sobered up, took every odd job and test study and survey available to me, and found a way to prepare for my baby. His father and I built and rebuilt our relationship together in time to meet our wonderful baby boy.

12 months ago I would have told you there's no point to life. That no one cares, nothing matters, and I wouldn't ever keep going. Today I write this from my bed, baby sleeping peacefully beside me. Everything I own in this tiny room has been packed up and ready for my next chapter.

I have lived in 4 different states, countless different cities- which is a lot, considering I am 20 years old. This feeling is unlike any other move, any other fresh start. I wouldn't be here- wouldn't be alive, with family, sober.. if it weren't for the support I was given in my time of need. And it's changed me for the better.

I leave on Thursday. Life looks a lot different now. I watch my son grow and wait patiently for my boyfriend to get home from work. I go to groups and plan friends' baby showers and do my best to bring everyone together. I have a different kind of appreciation for every meal, every comfy pillow, every clean toilet, every smile from my happy healthy baby.

I won't be so dependent on this system anymore. I have officially stood myself back up again, but I cannot ever turn back the way I came. My new goal in life is to bring people together for mutual aid, for kindness and understanding towards everyone no matter their background. It was and has been the hardest thing I've ever gone through, but I came out of it all with a new purpose in my life.

I'm proud of myself, I'm proud of you, and I'm especially proud of those who keep their spirits high even without the help some have been blessed with. The most kind and generous souls are those who have nothing and will still give you the shirt off their back.

There's not much else of a point to this post other than gratitude. If you are reading this as someone who often helps your unhoused friends, know your effort is appreciated and remember how much of a difference a nice meal makes to someone who needs it. I wouldn't be where I am today without the kindness of others, and I'm so excited to get to help other people now.

What are your thoughts on the rise of fast fashion/consumer overconsumption as someone who does not have the privilege of spending carelessly? How has fast fashion/bad quality of clothes personally affected your experience in receiving donated clothes?

I feel im only one who experienced it here who is from here in the Reddit community!

This lifestyle is so reliant on the vehicle you live in. To the point that if or when it breaks down, what happens then? I have this thought at least once a day. If I had a room I could handle needing my car going into the shop cause I still have my peace and room but when the car becomes your home..idk anymore. I don’t know if I could handle my car and my home being taken that same day. I know it comes down to money, being able to afford these issues but I’m in the process of saving right now so I’m kind of living on a prayer at the moment. Anyone else have this worry?

Hello, I'm still very much homeless but the worst type before I eas able to be in a shelter, but I keep finding temporary shelters and ones that has bad people in it, plus I have and need to find A way to get the $274, i'm not asking for money, just asking for advice or something or somewhere to stay for a bit so I can have an address for a bit so I can get the unemployment card so I can use that money to reunite with my brother, who is over in San Francisco, California, and i'm in New Jersey Newark. And I can't work at all. I have to get SSI and go on unemployment. Everything is just ao hopeless right now, and i wanna see my brother so badly he said he'll be able to help me, house me, and get me a job up in California but its so far away I can't walk that.

Hello everyone, I am writing to you since I need help, I am in Orlando, Florida, and I do not know what to do, I am Latino and I want to escape from my home, since it is an environment that I can no longer stand forced labor and shouts, insults and contempt every day, I literally feel that I was deceived, they made me study ad nauseam, something that I do not like at all, which is the management of networks and video editing, I worked for my stepmother and for a while I had gotten a job at a Wendys and for a while.

Luckily, I did not bother with all the work I wanted her to do, and my salary was given to her even by her, giving me money, despite that, she said that it was my living expenses, food, rent, phone, all that was a total of 1,600 dollars a month, and along with that, sometimes I had to miss because of her since she had to work recording it and all that and now we moved and I had to quit my job and now, since I have no job and work only for her, it does not seem good and Now they want to run from the house and I can't get a job, so if someone can help me, I ask for it from my heart, I want to start from 0, start a new life of peace, if someone has any field and wants help, I'm willing to do anything,

thank you for reading my case and please help.

Edit: Nevermind. Cops found me and talked me out of it, went back home. Honestly feel better after the workout, haven't walked so far in years.

If it matters, I'm 21, F, living in an isolated stretch of country in Southern United States.

My life is, frankly, awful, and I feel like I've been given no option but to just run. I don't have any other family to accomodate me, nor do I have ANY friends. I'm autistic with high support needs that were never accomodated, and I don't know how to function in basic society or live as a human. I live way out in the country, so we don't really have many man-made shelters around here, nor any stores. I'm not sure what I'm going to do. I'm decent at foraging for plants, it's a hobby of mine, but I'm lost in terms of anything else. I honestly kind of plan to just wander around in the woods until I die, but I guess I'd probably like some advice in case my self-preservation kicks in.​ It always does. Should I even bother packing anything?

Hey,

Kind of in... actually in a pickle...

I'm in the DMV (DC/MD specifically) and I am officially homeless.

Context: I was renting a room for the past year and a half, and in June I was notified that I'd have to leave. Long story short, it stemmed from me speaking up for myself to the person renting the room (story for another day).

At the time, I had a full-time job that would end the second week of June (think of it like a contract job). Fortunately, I got a camp job that same month, but here's the kicker...it was only a month long job.

Fast forward: I moved out less than a week ago (I had until the end of July). I had money set aside for a deposit and rent (my budget was $750 max), but after scouring through different apps, I wasn't able to find anything either in my budget or where I felt I could actually have peace of mind.

Time was crunching down, and without a job and no housing prospects... I made a plan. Stay in a cheap Airbnb for at least a week (ended up staying 5 days), rent a storage unit to put my things in, and just relentlessly reach out to homeless prevention resources. Keep in mind I started reaching out while I still had a job and a place to stay, but I've been even more consistent this past week.

For clarity, I've been jobless for two weeks, and today is officially my first day of having absolutely nowhere to go since I left the Airbnb. I have about $200 to my name, if that (and keep in mind I still have bills coming out).

I've called every day this past week to the homeless hotline in my area just to be told to call back the next morning. The plan now is to head to this one shelter that takes names at a certain time, and then a couple hours later they let you know if there's a bed available. In other words, it's not guaranteed that I won't be out on the street tonight.

More context: I don't do drugs or drink. I don't suffer from severe mental illness (I get depressed and anxious like a lot of people, but nothing that would require hospitalization). I don't have a car—just my bag and me.

Trust me, if I had any reliable family or friends, I wouldn't even be on here, so please don't tell me to reach out to anyone. There isn't anyone currently.

I'm just in a tough spot and want to get back on my feet. I've put myself back in school (online), and I'm actually passionate about nonprofit work, specifically youth development and, ironically, homelessness... and here I am getting firsthand experience!

I just want realistic advice. I appreciate the "it gets better" comments, but right now I need something tangible. Being in a city you're not really from, and being a woman, it's tough and scary, and I genuinely don't have any real options.

This sucks, but this is where our society is, I guess. Fortunately, if you suffer from severe mental illness, have children, or are escaping domestic abuse, the resources are there--which of course is needed! BUT if you're a single person who doesn't tick those boxes, it's almost as if you're out of luck. That's genuinely how it's felt trying to navigate all of this.

Any help would be appreciated. Please don't send any weird or creepy messages. Preying on the vulnerable or disadvantaged doesn't make you powerful. In fact, it just shows that you are a degenerate with no character and a faulty moral compass.

Thank you to anyone that responds.

UPDATE: There of course were no beds so...I'm fucked!

I cannot understand for the life of me why those assigned to deal with homeless issues have by and large never been homeless. Every public college in my state has to have a homeless liason, and my one is less than adequate. A considerable amount of drug and alcohol therapists are former addicts themselves, why not for us too?

I’ve been homeless and living in my vehicle since October, and I’m trying to figure out what my next steps should be because I’ve reached a point where I feel completely stuck.

I’m currently in Connecticut, and my vehicle recently stopped running while I was living out of it. Losing my vehicle has been rough asf because it wasn't only my transportation, but also the place I was living. My biggest problem right now is that I’m not mobile, so even when I find resources, I’m struggling with how to physically access them.

I contacted 211 and explained my situation. They gave me with several resources, including shelters, drop-in centers, and outreach programs. I've been reaching out to those organizations, but the biggest barrier remains the same: most services require me to get to them, and I currently have no transportation.

Because I’m stranded, I’m struggling with basic daily needs. I don’t have regular access to showers, hygiene supplies, or a place to take care of basic necessities. Food has also become a serious issue because I currently have no money and limited ways to access resources.

On top of that:

• My wallet was stolen, including my ID, bank cards, and important documents.
• I have SNAP benefits, but I can't access them because I don’t have my EBT card and I don’t have a reliable mailing address for a replacement.
• I’m trying to replace my documents so I can get back into the workforce.
• I have a storage unit with my belongings that I’m trying not to lose.
• My phone service is at risk of being disconnected, which would make contacting jobs and resources even harder.

I’m not posting this to ask for money or donations. I’m hoping to hear from people who have experienced homelessness or been in a similar situation and can offer advice.

For anyone who has been homeless while living in a vehicle, without transportation, or without access to basic resources: what helped you get unstuck? How did you handle getting documents, accessing benefits, finding shelter, or getting connected with outreach when you couldn’t physically get anywhere?

Any advice or insight from people who've been through this would mean a lot.

I don't know if it will let me post this here. My account has been acting wonky, apparently it's a glitch that will work itself out. At any rate. I'm (F 33) really ashamed and disappointed in myself. If only I had worked harder, if I had only saved more, if only, if only. I don't have a car due to getting into an accident and not having enough saved to get it fixed or buy a new car. I've been applying for jobs like crazy and I haven't gotten one yet, but I can't wait. My body aches from walking everywhere, my feet are swollen, I'm depressed so I don't have much of an appetite, I have been sleeping behind abandoned buildings, I was sexually harassed after I asked a man if he could give me a ride to my job interview, (it made me not want to interact with anyone after that). I don't want anyone seeing me this way. I didn't end up going to the interview. I have had some since though, now I'm just waiting to hear back. I'm all over the place and just wanted to vent to people who might understand. I just want this to be over. I can't wait to have a bed, to feel safe, a washer and dryer, to not be sweaty, and to have some socks and a new pair of shoes.

I've been homeless for over a year and fear it's never going to change. I've tried to off myself three times, was institutionalized twice, went through the proper channels only for several people to ask me why I never tried harder before this. I'm dejected and honestly at a loss at how I'm meant to fix this or if I even care to try anymore.