City living challenge

[durulz]

I kind of did something like this for 6 months.
After I graduated (a scary number of years ago now) I felt rather lost and aimless (like most arts graduates) and didn't really know what I wanted to do or where I wanted to go.
So I voluntarily chose to be homeless and wander. I didn't see it like that at the time though (that would have been a bit crass). I can't remember what my real motivation was at the time, it'd be too easy to say something like 'find myself', because that'd be both right and wrong.
Anyway.
I spent my time going from town to town along the south coast. Sometimes I'd only spend a night in a town, sometimes a week or two. It would all depend on what opportunities and situations offered themselves. It's fair to say that I existed solely by taking part in illegal activities. Mostly just petty acts of theft. But seriously crossed the line a couple of times. Learnt a few tricks of urban survival (man), but I won't mention them since they are illegal and there's no need to give details.
Urban areas offer good opportunities for all manner of down-at-heels gain. Mostly because of the increased number of people (and, therefore, waste) in towns and cities. I never slept rough in towns though. If I couldn't find somewhere to squat then I headed out of town into the countryside for the night - easier to hide and disappear and not be woken by someone beating the living daylights out of you for things you don't have.
I found smaller cities/towns better than large cities - it's not easy to walk out of London for the night, but you can wander in and out of Portsmouth pretty easily.
I managed quite well. Never really went hungry (well, not THAT hungry). But that may because I knew I could end it at anytime (a quick phone call home would have got me away) and, therefore, my motivation was high at all times. And I've never really had too many problems breaking some laws, to be honest.
Others have mentioned how 'going feral' and being a moral chameleon are important factors. And that's absolutely right. Was in my case. With all the laws and restrictions in place, it's hard to see how you couldn't be in that situation.

 

[Chris the Cat]

I was homeless in Leeds in the 1980's for a while.
The two things I remember the most are the cold and the way time drags!
C da C.

 

[Oblio13]

I would rather be on my own and lost in a large forrest than a large city.

Surviving on our own in a forest is a romantic notion that probably everyone on this forum shares. But the reality is that it's extremely difficult. In the military I went to survival schools for a number of different environments, and lost a lot of weight at every one of them. The best thing I ever caught to eat was a small raccoon, and that was pure luck - it was up in a tree as I was wading through a swamp, and I was able to knock it down with a frog gig and hold it under water. It was a feast. Most wild foods are bland, and it's almost impossible to gather enough calories unless you're extremely well-equipped and in a game-rich environment. Even indigenous peoples, who were true experts with a tremendous amount of knowledge that's since been lost, starved to death on a regular basis.

 

[tytek]

I was homeless in Leeds in the 1980's for a while.

Where about's in Leeds did you stay?
Leeds is a very different place to how it was in the 80's - especially the centre.

 

[Tengu]

Im ok for inning and outing. I have a bus pass.

Ive even got a companion on it. Anyone want to come with me?

 

[Klenchblaize]

This reminds me of a chapter in Archie Hill's book "A Cage Full of Shadows" when whilst in prison, for stealing to survive, he asks himself why he did not simply retire to the woods as would John Fenna and deploy the skills learnt from "Old Conk" his childhood mentor and poacher.

Notwithstanding there was alcohol problem involved; not much of that to be had on-tap from a hedgerow, I can't recall what he put his oversight down to unless it was the realisation that poaching and trespass had got him into similar trouble with the law.

Cheers

 

[Joonsy]

This reminds me of a chapter in Archie Hill's book "A Cage Full of Shadows" when whilst in prison, for stealing to survive, he asks himself why he did not simply retire to the woods as would John Fenner and deploy the skills learnt from "Old Conk" his childhood mentor and poacher.

he did later in life in an experimental three month period told in his book ''The Second Meadow'' when he lived in a wood at Kinver, Archie Hill's books are good reads especially for anyone with a black country connection, however he lived his later years in a caravan in Hampshire where he commited suicide by hanging himself i believe.

 

[m.durston]

this is an interesting thread to say the least.
in my current job as a pay n display machine engineer naturally my job revolves in travelling around the town centre checking my machines in the various car parks. in the 5 years of doing this job i've met most of the 'down n outs' as they have camped out under concrete bivis and witnessed the squalor that they live in.

i know with my company and the council there has been a real purge in getting the homeless to vacate the various dark corners that they inhabit and 'clean' the area up. methods include painting the concrete interior of the car parks white and installing better lighting, adding the odd security dog patrol and instigating a bylaw stating it is illegal to use the premises to eat,drink, or cook food and camp overnight!
admittedly this has been in response to junkies and alcoholics leaving their paraphenalia scattered around ie used needles, empty cans/bottles, and my personal favourite the dominoes pizza box filled with turds lol

at lot of the homeless used to raid the bins round the back of retailers and used to get some tasty treats from marks n spencers, until the store introduced a policy of emptying everything from the packaging and spoiling it with bleach (exactly how cap'n badger describes)

these measures have forced a few away from the area but everyone else heads towards the homeless shelters but these are overwhelmed some nights and cannot provide the bedspaces needed. they also do a policy of something like 14 overnight stays followed by the individual barred for a month, then they are allowed back again for another 14 nights etc.

bearing all this in mind when i type my response on how i would survive in a city, i would steal everything i needed to survive in the countryside ie nick a tarpaulin from a building site etc with a view of going back into town to either forage in private individuals bins or shoplift from supermarkets if all else fails.

 

[Klenchblaize]

he did later in life in an experimental three month period told in his book ''The Second Meadow'' when he lived in a wood at Kinver, Archie Hill's books are good reads especially for anyone with a black country connection, however he lived his later years in a caravan in Hampshire where he commited suicide by hanging himself i believe.

Yes, I have that book too and as serialised by Radio 4.

Very sad as it sounds like he never did find that "3rd Meadow" of self expression.

The point I was trying to make though is his 3 month "experiment" was with landowner permission. Try doing what he did without consent and you'll be enjoying 3 meals a day courtesy of HMPS along with the unfortunate city feral types!

Cheers

 

[Glen]

A few years ago while in Paris I noticed that an artist had donated a number of 1-2 person pop up tents to the local homeless.

They may be somewhat ( a kilo or 2 ? ) heavier than an equivalent sized non pop up tent but the advantage is they can be pitched easily on hard surfaces. A couple of layers of scavenged cardboard would do as a sleepmat as inside it shouldn't get wet and soggy in the rain.

 

[helixpteron]

Setting aside the fact that in cities there are numerous organizations which (variously) will provide:

Breakfast.
Lunch.
Evening meal.
Hot and cold drinks.
Snacks and sandwiches.
Take away food, drinks and hot meals.
Mobile food runs.
Shower, toilet & laundry services.
Optometrist, Dental & Podiatry services.
Personal health services, including TB screening & Swine Flu vaccinations.
Alcohol and Drug Dependency & Mental Health services.
Free clothes, sleeping bags and personal hygiene items.
Temporary bed spaces.
Advice, support and advocacy for those whom need it.
Drop In Centres.
Free books.
Free personal, private voice mail service.

Fresh, free food is available at every market as traders don't keep bruised fruit & veg. You don't even have to wait till its thrown away, speaking with the traders before they're packing up, you'll find that most will keep it all in one box, ready for you to take.

Asking in sandwich and take away food shops and restaurants if you may call in and collect any food which they may dispose of at close of business is often welcomed, as the owners and staff are happy that they don't have to waste food.

Using free (library) internet access to obtain information on services in your location, checking for specialist, free (monthly) publications such as 'the Pavement', whose website is here, are invaluable aids to keeping informed.

I've known manufacturer's, garage and factory owners and a large (computer) charity to appreciate and welcome that having the right person on the premises would prevent vandalism, break ins (and damage incurred) stock loss, down time, increased insurance premiums, business disruption and assure their staff's sense of safety.

For being 'on site' at night, I was given my own set of keys, alarm codes, full 24 hour access and use of their washroom and catering facilities, they'd also act as a contact point for me in that I could use their mail address.

At one location I had a 21' x 8' 1960's holiday home next to a large garage/workshop/specialist vehicle hire company based on a very large industrial estate in London. The police and neighboring companies greatly appreciated having a secure presence there.

Whilst sleeping in railway arches, factories, workshops or a cabin like (ridge roofed) mobile home may not sound like utopia, having your own personal, private space is invaluable. No one ever touched my gear in the arches or factory in which I had my own sub divided personal space and the 'cabin' was for my sole use, I loved it so much that I bought it!

Interestingly enough, there is now at least one commercial company which contracts people to occupy and live in empty commercial premises to thwart squatters, break ins and vandalism.

The availability of other discreet locations in which to make a secure, dry bivouac for immediate or longer term use is limited by imagination only!

Stealing from charity shops, irrespective of the perceived self justification, simply shows a lack of integrity!

 

[Mr Cake]

The homeless charity for which I work set up a homeless challenge in 2008 with four volunteers living on the streets for seven days. Admittedly it was a bit of a contrived scenario but two of the four dropped out and the other two found it very hard. Although local support services were there for them as homeless individuals it was the psychological side of things that were the biggest strain: the boredom, the fear and the loss of self esteem.

With regards to going into the countryside rather than the town our volunteers ended up commuting into the town during the day as that's where the services, handouts etc were and then going into the countryside in the evenings as they felt safer there. Anecdotal evidence from a number of street homeless people I have spoken to suggests this is quite a common strategy.

For an excerpt of our video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuKbr7SjVEY

 

[tytek]

I watched your video and wasn't suprised to see people dropping out after a few days.
If you get thrown into a situation where you are out of control there are only 2 ways it going to go.

1 - Fail
2 - You get on with it.

 

[Oblio13]

The homeless charity for which I work set up a homeless challenge in 2008 with four volunteers living on the streets for seven days...

I'd like to know more about that.

And your video link led to some other interesting stuff.

Thanks.

 

[helixpteron]

Yet another 'Awareness' or 'Empathy' exercise in the staged play acting of 'Homelessness'.

The last high profile act being that of Prince William, at a predetermined, 'sanitized' location, fully protected by armed guards!

Life on the street? What, for a few preplanned hours or days, in the absolute certainty that when you get bored, its a cab ride home!

Tough going huh!

 

[Oblio13]

... Life on the street? What, for a few preplanned hours or days, in the absolute certainty that when you get bored, its a cab ride home!

Tough going huh!

Sounds like a good plan to me. I have no desire to do it "for real".

 

[tytek]

In reply to helixpteron

Prince William has spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of London to experience being homeless, as part of an event organised by the homeless charity Centrepoint.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20091222/tuk-prince-william-sleeps-rough-dba1618.html

I say fair play to him - he was challenged to do it and he did.
I dare say he wasn't left without his security or ate out of bins but he is the future King...

 

[helixpteron]

In reply to helixpteron

Prince William has spent a night sleeping rough on the streets of London to experience being homeless, as part of an event organised by the homeless charity Centrepoint.

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/4/20091222/tuk-prince-william-sleeps-rough-dba1618.html

I say fair play to him - he was challenged to do it and he did.
I dare say he wasn't left without his security or ate out of bins but he is the future King...

Sleeping Rough!

I dare say that the chosen location was nicely prepared, and the local police suspended their controversial practice of moving on those whom are sleeping in doorways and carrying out a stop and search.

Perhaps the prince was inspired by Gwen Thompson, here!

 

[tytek]

Sleeping Rough!

I dare say that the chosen location was nicely prepared, and the local police suspended their controversial practice of moving on those whom are sleeping in doorways and carrying out a stop and search.

Perhaps the prince was inspired by Gwen Thompson, here!

I guess you're not convinced. You're entitled to your point of view.
He didn't have to do it but he did. He will have had his personal security with him and a decent sleeping bag and a full belly.

But like I said before he is is the future king...

 

[crushthesystem]

I would say that a lot of people go to the cities and towns for the illusion of security, more people means more of a police presence. If you are in the woods and some "bad eggs" come across you there is nobody around to see what they do so they're more inclined to go through with it. In a built up area there are eyes everywhere. I am more at home in the woodland and forests but if down and out and under nourished and weak i would be very wary since it would be harder to defend yourself so your only hope would be a good samaritan seeing.