If you are facing homelessness, or experiencing housing insecurity, chances are your primary concern is usually finding a safe place to sleep.
Housing in every community, from big cities to small towns, is expensive. Even if you have a job, you may not make enough money to be able to pay rent on a room or apartment. If you are underage, it might be impossible to rent somewhere to live even if you are making money. Homelessness looks different for everyone, depending on things like your age, where you are, and what resources exist in your local community. If your housing is becoming unstable, and you are trying to figure out where you are going to live, here are some tips for staying safe in different sleeping situations.
Street Homeless
If you are experiencing homelessness, you may at some time find yourself without any options for places to stay inside, and find yourself needing to stay outside for the night.
Street homelessness can be particularly dangerous because you are exposed to the elements and to people who might mean to do you harm. Some places will be safer than others for sleeping outside, and in some places it’s even illegal, putting you at risk of being picked up by police. If you are sleeping outside on the street, in parks, or in public areas like in bus stations or on subways, try to stay with other people who you trust. This is a situation where building connections with other youth experiencing homelessness can be especially important. There is safety in numbers, but it can also bring unwanted attention which can lead to harassment or you losing access to your sleeping spot. Staying in or near more populated areas can also help keep you safer while sleeping outside, but safety in numbers is something to always keep in mind.
Car Living
If you are able to drive and have a car, staying in your car some or all of the time may be part of your homeless experience. Sleeping in a car can offer protection from the elements, and can allow you to lock a door, keeping you much safer than if you are sleeping outside. If you are living out of your car, you may be able to park in the driveway of friends’ houses which can provide you extra layers of safety, and also possibly give you some access to resources like bathrooms and showers. Safer public spaces to park overnight include public truck stops, campgrounds, rest stops, and the parking lots of 24-hour stores like Walmart can also be good options. These parking lots are likely to be well-lit and populated which can make them safer.
Squatting
Instead of sleeping out on the streets, many homeless youths find themselves sleeping or staying with other youth in squats or other locations that are abandoned. Squatting with other youth can provide group protection, and also protection from harsh weather conditions. Depending on how dilapidated the building is, squats can range from physically comfortable, to physically unsafe. Before moving into a squat, talk with other youth about conditions in the building, and find out what other people stay there, to get a sense of how safe it feels to you. Be sure to do some research about what is legal regarding squatting in the area where you are staying. In some countries, squatting is legal, while it is illegal in other places. The legality of squatting in your location can impact if you’re going to be at risk of being picked up by the police and either returned “home” against your will, placed into a youth services like a group home or foster care, or even arrested.
Couch-Surfing
If you get kicked out or run away from home, one option for places to stay may be couch-surfing: staying with friends or extended family members temporarily on a couch or in a room they might have available for you. If you know stably-housed people you trust who are willing to let you stay with them, this is often one of the safest ways to manage being unhoused until you are able to get connected with supportive services. If you’re going to be couch-surfing with people, make sure you discuss household rules and expectations to ensure you feel comfortable with the arrangements.
Homeless Shelters
Depending on where you live, homeless shelters and youth-specific homeless shelters may be an option for you. Shelters are generally considered an emergency housing option where you may be able to stay for days, weeks, or in some cases, months. Not all shelters are the same, some are all-ages, while others are youth-specific. Some are open, while others are lock-in (not to keep you there, but to keep you safe from people outside the shelter). When staying in shelters, you often will need to follow strict rules about substance use, and some shelters are run by religious organizations and may or may not be LGBTQ+ affirming. Shelters should have case management and other support to help connect you with education, employment and housing/transitional living programs and other resources to help you get connected to services and supports. Unfortunately, youth service providers in many areas are mandated reporters, meaning they will have to notify authorities of any homeless youth they encounter. This could mean sending you “home” if they determine it’s safe regardless of how you feel, or placing you into foster care.
On Your Own Or With Someone Else?
There are pros and cons of going solo, or mostly spending time around others. Though there can be safety in numbers, if the person or people you are spending time with aren’t safe people, that might mean you would be safer on your own. Being with other people can be helpful as you can watch each other’s belongings, and watch for people or situations that could cause you harm. If you trust the people you are around, it can give you an opportunity to relax and be less stressed, knowing that there are people looking out for you. On the other hand, if you don’t feel like the people around you are trustworthy, you could be safer on your own.
Assessing Safety
Everyone’s sense of safety and understanding of safety is going to look different. What feels wildly unsafe to one person might be completely normal and feel safe to someone else. As you are navigating homelessness or housing instability, you will need to make assessments for yourself about what does and doesn’t feel safe. Safety considerations to keep in mind include who you are with, as well as the physical environment and location where you are sleeping.
You are the expert on your experience, and that includes knowing if you are safe. If something starts to feel off, or you aren’t sure if you feel safe in a situation, get somewhere that you do feel safe as quickly as you can.
We all have intuition that can help to keep us safe. For homeless youth, that intuition is often heightened because we rely on it to protect ourselves.
No sleeping situation is ever guaranteed to be safe. Sometimes a sleeping situation might feel safe for a while, and then start feeling unsafe later. Some sleeping arrangements like staying in a car or on a friend’s couch are likely to feel safer than sleeping on the streets or in a shelter. However, only you know what feels safe to you, and where you’ll be comfortable. Regardless of where you are staying while homeless, stay aware of your surroundings, and pay attention to your instincts. If at any point you feel unsafe or uncomfortable, trust your instincts. If your sleeping arrangements start to feel unsafe, that’s a good time to find somewhere else to spend the night.
