Urban Survival

This post contains affiliate links.

The first thing you need for urban survival is a bus pass. You can get almost anywhere on a bus. Locally I use Lyft and SMTD. Find your local bus system here.

The sound thing you need is a big pack or a shopping cart. You can find that here and here. The pack or the shopping cart can help you carry groceries home or hold your clothes and essential items. 

Locating your local homeless shelter or safe places to stay is your next task. United Way has several locations for Helping Hands shelters. There may be more on the HMIS system (Homeless Metric Internal System). I have been trained in it and the more dire your situation the more they bump you up for social services.

If you are lucky enough to have a place...shop at the dollar store for food and only for a few days. It's a lot of trips, but if you are taking the bus it's essential to only carry as much as you can comfortably. You can stash your items in that pack/shopping cart. 

If you are low priority on the HMIS you can get social services sometimes at your local libraries or urban league. They provide rental assistance for a 5 day termination letter at your local Catholic Charity. If you need utilities they have that too. You can also apply for your local heat and energy program at the local DHS. 

For food there are pantries everywhere. If you can there are micropantries that have a give and take. Here is a list of pantries from all across the country. I hope that is enough. 

If you need medical care there are places like we have here called central counties. They also have free or sliding scale dental. They take walk ins. For emergencies that are not fatal go to your local urgent care. These places have a sliding scale if you don't have insurance. Most hospitals, in case you do need to go to the ER, have financial aid services to help you pay for your bill. Sometimes total forgiveness. For transportation to the ER get a Lyft, it's the cheapest ride service.

If you need a phone there is government funding for phones called safelink and assurance wireless. These phone programs help you get a phone mailed to you, but you have to have an address. There are also programs through salvation army that provide a tablet/phone. Go to your local Salvation Army to apply. It's a multifamily address so you can use it as your address. 

Some places have a car program through Salvation Army, but it tends to be major cities. Check it out here. 

I'm a former social worker gone disabled and may never afford a place again, but the most I can do to give back is offer advice. The social worker in me won't quit.