Rules of Being Homeless (Expanded)

If you read the "Basic Rules" page, then you have a good idea what you need to do. This page goes in depth about the rules.


Be Invisible - People will call the cops if they notice you hanging around too much at a residential or commercial area. Try to appear as if you are just passing through, specially at night when looking for a spot to sleep.

Carry Only what you Need - A good size backpack should hold a spare set of clothes, toiletries, one roll of toilet paper, a water bottle on the side and maybe a little bit of food (like energy bars and such, snack size). You can even have the backpack on and carry a small bag with a bit more, but having more than makes being invisible much harder.

Be Friendly and Humble - The fact you are homeless does not mean that people must give you money, food or clothes. Always remember that. Appreciate everything offered, even if it's just kind words.

Find Food -  If there isn't a soup kitchen nearby, then start looking for a Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks or Pizzeria. Those three business usually have leftover food at closing time, and you can HUMBLY ask for leftovers. Be sure to say if they have "leftovers" and not "food". If the answer is "no" then just say thank you and walk out with a smile. You need to keep hydrated all day and for that you can go into most places that serve food and ask for water. You must eat at least once a day, aim for 2-3 meals a day. Be aware that some soup kitchens will provide a lot of pastries and sweets as part of a meal which certainly won't do you any good if you are diabetic.

Find Clothes - Ask people where is the nearest church and head there. Not all churches have resources to help the homeless, but it's almost guaranteed that they will look up where you could get donated clothing.

Bathroom Use - If the bathroom has a drain on the floor, you may be able to wash you entire body if you have no access to a shower. If you are going to wash up, then be sure to be quick and not make noise which may get the staff suspicious. Always leave the bathroom as clean as you found it or cleaner. Never make a mess. Always use different bathrooms as the day goes by.

Look for the nearest Library - You can spend the day out of sight there; if you have a state ID you can probably even get a Library Card. Every library has different rules for use of their computers, but most require that you have a Library Card. Without a card you may have limited time or no access at all to Library computers. You can take advantage of the library resources to learn new skills or sharpen old ones. Some also provide free classes/courses that probably require registration.

If you have few choices, this page will help you.

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