What would you do if you were a single homeless person ?

[Lardlizard]

I think I’d try n get in prison or stay in an airport
Where you get toilets for going to the loo and washing
Power supply for a phone and WiFi

I would use every service, night shelter and hospital available, sofa surf if I could, find a crappy room to rent, work any job and/or busk, sell the big issue etc.

Hostel not hospital

Yeah, I'd do the prison thing.

Roof over your head, bit of breathing space and maybe get to do a couple of courses (if that's still a thing).

It’s so sad how many homeless people there are in this county and it’s just getting worse
It’s a real disgrace

im always checking about for places id pitch a tent if i became homeless, but in reality id try and sleep in my car

Honestly? Get pregnant.

To get from where I am now to being single and homeless my mental health would need to take such a downturn that I wouldn’t be the same person I am now; and not making rational, sensible decisions.

I can well imagine that my theoretical self would think it logical to get pregnant to access better support services and climb my way up the priority list for a flat/bedsit.

No idea if that’s what happens though!

I think most people would be surprised at how many people sleep in tents in wooded areas. Most people don't go and sleep in a shop door way, would you? I work in homelessness prevention and there are so many who you would not know are rough sleeping if you saw them about, they put their tent up late at night and off again early morning.

What about saying in an airport or train station or would you be asked to leave

Topiary
Yes I’ve seen people with backpacks in and what looks like tents and sleeping bags
Wandering around town

You would be asked to leave, I know this happens, might be able to do it for a bit though.

Sadly funding is being cut for all these services including prevention work and mental health services so it will only get worse.

I wonder if you would find much help, if you slept in a church doorway ?

I suppose if you looked “smart” you might get away with it for longer

A tent somewhere quiet. Also I would get a key to the showers and laundry room that service canal boat users. And stay near our city where there is a cafe and other services for the homeless.

Lardlizard I’d have thought that airports and the larger train stations would clock you loitering and you’d be moved on - so much counter terrorism surveillance nowadays you wouldn’t just be able to bed down unnoticed and someone would definitely ask what you’re doing there - you could probably get away with a couple of hours if you looked vaguely presentable but they’d probably clock you if you tried it too regularly.

I often wonder how often I could stretch out one cheap cup of tea/coffee in a 24 hour McDonald’s or similar - again, as long as you looked vaguely presentable, didn’t cause trouble, and it was quiet they might let you stay there for a couple of hours? Could charge phone, use WiFi there.

I’ve often wondered if I could scrape together £20/month for a cheap 24 hour gym; again could probably spend a few hours there and would also have access to a secure locker and showers.

Present myself as homeless to the council, stay in a hostel, engage with Services, homeless charities etc. Where I live there are empty council flats (in horrible areas) but homelessness isn't just about lack of housing. Normally there are a host of other complex issues.

I work at a train station and doors are closed at 1am open again at 5am. Homeless people come round about 3am and pick up the fag ends to smoke that are left outside before it shuts they come in and check vending machines for money in the change drawer and underneath, occasionally try to sleep in the waiting room, def freshen up in the toilets.

I think I would find somewhere isolated and set up camp in a none intrusive way - leave no footprint etc. I would also contemplate going round festivals selling things I had made - sticking to lower key ones to keep costs down. I am a bit of a planner though so have thought about this alot and we have had some difficult times last few years and have raised money a few different ways to continue paying our cost and cover self employed income lows.

Some are very intimidating though. They also find bus tickets and try to forcefully sell them to passengers when they get silly they are asked to leave.

Twatty

What I don’t get though if a homeless person is offered a flat somewhere
Even if it’s not somewhere they like why wouldn’t they take it ?

I know there can get a lot of substance addiction etc
But why do you think some would turn down offers of a flat somewhere they don’t like

I would seek sanctuary in a church, drink the communion wine and rob the collection boxes.

Quite honestly... I would commit suicide because I wouldn't be able to bear it.

I was homeless at 17, too old for the care system. I lived in a hostel for 9 months until I was offered a council flat.

I would do that again.

Assuming that staying with friends and family wasn't an option (did have to do that for a couple of months in my early 20s after a confluence of events meant I had a job but nowhere to live)

I'd engage with local homelessness services, but I don't know if I'd get into a shelter as I have a dog. I'd not give the dog up as I know that if I was homeless and lost my dog my mental health would implode and I'd never forgive myself.

Assuming I couldn't get into a shelter I would follow the example of our many other local homeless people and pitch a tent and hope that non residential homeless services could help me

Glasgow.
I would get to Glasgow, they still treat homeless like humans there.

Kill myself.