What to Do When You First Become Homeless: A Survival Guide

The First 24 Hours

Find Shelter Tonight

Your immediate priority is a safe place to sleep. Options include:

• • Emergency shelters: Call 211 for locations. Most have evening check-in times (typically 4-7 PM)
• • Churches: Some offer emergency overnight stays
• • 24-hour establishments: Hospitals, airports (short-term only)
• • Vehicle: If you have a car, park in a well-lit area like a Walmart parking lot

If you must sleep outside, find a hidden spot away from foot traffic. Avoid areas known for crime or drug activity. Stay dry—hypothermia is a real danger even in mild weather.

Protect Your Belongings

Theft is common. Keep important items on your person at all times:

• • Identification (driver's license, ID card, Social Security card)
• • Phone and charger
• • Any cash or cards
• • Medications
• • Important documents (birth certificate, discharge papers, benefits letters)

Find Food

You need to eat. Free food is available:

• • Soup kitchens and meal programs (211 can tell you locations and times)
• • Food pantries
• • Churches often serve meals on specific days
• • Some fast food restaurants will give away unsold food at closing

The First Week

Connect with Services

Once you have survived the first night, start connecting with organizations that can help:

• • Homeless service agencies: Get a case manager who can help you navigate the system
• • Day centers: Provide showers, laundry, mail services, phone charging
• • Healthcare: Federally qualified health centers serve people without insurance
• • Benefits offices: Apply for food stamps (SNAP), Medicaid, emergency assistance

Establish Basics

You need certain things to function:

• • Mailing address: Many shelters and service agencies provide this
• • Phone: Apply for a free government phone (Lifeline program)
• • Identification: If you do not have ID, get help obtaining it (many programs cover the fee)
• • Bank account: Some banks offer accounts for people with limited income

Apply for Benefits

You may be eligible for assistance:

• • SNAP (food stamps): Apply at your local DHS office
• • Medicaid: Health insurance for low-income individuals
• • SSI/SSDI: If you have disabilities that prevent work
• • Veterans benefits: If you served, call 1-877-424-3838
• • Emergency assistance: One-time help with deposits, rent, utilities

Staying Safe

Homelessness is dangerous. Protect yourself:

• • Trust slowly: Not everyone who offers help has good intentions
• • Avoid isolation: Stay in areas with other people when possible
• • Keep your location private: Do not tell strangers where you sleep
• • Avoid substances: They make you vulnerable and drain resources
• • Stay visible during the day: Libraries, day centers, public places
• • Keep important items on you: Never leave ID, phone, or medications unattended

Protecting Your Health

Homelessness is hard on your body. Take care of yourself:

• • Stay hydrated: Carry a water bottle and refill at public fountains
• • Eat regularly: Even when not hungry, your body needs fuel
• • Keep feet dry: Wet feet lead to serious problems
• • Use sunscreen: Hours outdoors cause skin damage
• • Take medications: Do not stop prescriptions just because you are homeless
• • Seek care: Do not ignore injuries or illness. ERs must treat you regardless of ability to pay.

Mental Health Matters

Becoming homeless is traumatic. It is normal to feel:

• • Shame, embarrassment, humiliation
• • Fear and anxiety about the future
• • Depression and hopelessness
• • Anger at yourself or others

These feelings are normal but can be overwhelming. If you are struggling:

• • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988, 24/7
• • Community mental health centers: Offer services on sliding scale
• • Peer support: Other homeless individuals understand what you are going through

What to Avoid

Some choices will make your situation worse:

• • Substance use: Alcohol and drugs feel like escape but create new problems
• • Illegal activity: A criminal record makes housing harder to get
• • Isolation: Withdrawing from help guarantees staying homeless
• • Giving up: Many people have escaped homelessness. You can too.

There Is Hope

Homelessness feels permanent but it does not have to be. Most people who become homeless exit within a year. The keys to getting out:

• • Connect with services immediately—do not wait
• • Be honest about what you need (mental health, addiction, employment)
• • Follow through on appointments and requirements
• • Accept help even when it is hard
• • Keep going even after setbacks

Programs like The Steady Ground exist specifically to help men rebuild. We offer comprehensive support—housing, mental health, job training, community—in a long-term program designed for real restoration. Visit Dr. Hines Inc. to learn more.