Yeah. I have a job, a car and a planet fitness membership - mentioning as I believe they have showers. I have a place lined up in 2 months but for reasons I won’t get into (unless you’re really interested) I have to leave my current residence soon. I am not sure when.

I’m gonna get to spend my birthday homeless. 🎂 🥳

  • @Navaryn
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    151 year ago

    Could you describe your situation a bit better in terms of general conditions? I have some knowledge but it is mostly relevant to the conditions in my country. Stuff like wheater, police attitude, crime, etc.

    Anway, some things i suggest to the people i work with (i am a social worker, have experience with migrants who received little to no support) include:

    • there are apps that allow you to buy leftover store products at a dirt cheap price. In my country it’s called “TooGoodToGo” and you can buy “closed boxes” of products for like 2 dollars. For example a bakery will throw in some croissants, some bread and a couple sandwiches. At least in Switzerland, with high living costs, it is by far the most efficient way to spend your money and getting stuff that’s ready to eat.

    • Get to know the public spaces in your area. You can spend a lot of time in a nice and comfortable building if you care to look for places like libraries, public centers or clubs, and you’ll also mitigate one of the main dangers of homelessness: social isolation.

    • Prioritize hygiene, washing your clothes and your car. You say you have a job so money shouldn’t be a giant issue - don’t be cheap on this stuff. It’s way more important than we think, both practically, socially and psychologically.

    • Do anything in your power to maintain your network of friends and acquaintances. Being socially integrated negates most of the psychological challenges normally posed by homelessness.

    • This is obvious, but in general keep yourself occupied. The more time you spend doing stuff in places, the less time you spend thinking about the feelings of instability and vulnerability that comes from not having a house.

    Anyway, i feel like having a job and a car (assuming you are financially somewhat stable) puts you in a good situation. It will suck for a while, but you have all the cards to make it. Good luck comrade, let us know how it goes