finding a way to survive

by mac huffman associate editor

Rob grew up going on camping trips all the time with his family. They stayed in rural northeast Pennsylvania, where he learned how to survive the elements. On his trips, he learned how to find a good spot to sleep and how to pitch a tent. But he never thought he’d use his camping skills to survive losing his house decades later.

“I take the train out to Illinois [and] find wooded areas [to stay for the night in my tent], anywhere near water or trees,” Rob, homeless since September 2022, said. “Nowhere urban — I don’t sleep downtown. [That’s] a good way to get shot.”

While Rob values seclusion over everything else, he's not alone. He camps and commutes with a friend, so they’re able to watch each other’s backs, staying safe. However, most people are alone, so they have to rely on other methods in order to stay safe.

Kevin, 33, has been unhoused for 15 years. He lost his home due to drug addiction and has been in and out of prison ever since.

“[I stay] in an abandoned building, but I don’t tell no homeless people,” John Doe* said. “I have stuff there, and I don’t want them coming in and robbing me.”

When visiting St. Louis, Doe lost his job in Atlanta, so he decided to stay in St. Louis to find temporary work. He used his phone to search for online job listings and then used his state ID to apply. But most homeless people don’t even have an ID. Therefore, for them, this process of getting an ID is littered with barriers.

“You have to certify that you’re homeless at the shelter, but only certain people can sign for it,” Rob said. “It’s a complicated process.”

It’s easier to get an ID from a shelter you’re staying at, but neither Rob or Doe stay at shelters.

“I don’t like the way it’s 20 people in one room [in shelters],” Doe said. “I’d rather be on the streets.”

In addition to overcrowding, Doe avoids shelters because of the issue with theft.

“Homeless people love to rob [other] homeless people,” Doe said. “[They’re] the biggest crabs there be. [If] one homeless person has $2 and one has $4, they want your $4.”

While living in Atlanta, Doe was robbed. Now, when he has to leave his possessions, he learned to hide them. Despite all his efforts, sometimes Doe has to face the uncontrollable environment of a shelter.

“It’s easier to be homeless when it’s hot than when it’s wintertime,” Doe said. “When it’s wintertime, I [have to] look for a place to sleep, like a shelter.”