by Michael Avila

Created on: July 30, 2011

Some Tips for the Newly Homeless:

After I lost my job back in 2009, it was not long before I was forced to move out of my apartment due to lack of funds to pay rent. With no close relatives in the area, I soon found myself sleeping under the stars. In the time I have been homeless, I have gained some valuable knowledge on how best to deal with it, and so here are a few tips that should be of benefit to you.

1) Never sleep in the vicinity of a restaurant dumpster or any dumpster whose place of business deals primarily with food. Besides the problem of stray odors, stray animals, and various other critters and crawlers, you also must deal with the trash man who arrives early every morning with his loud wailing trash truck that could wake a dead man from a sound sleep. If you must sleep near a dumpster, better to choose one whose place of business does not deal with food, like a stationery store or chiropractor's office. An added benefit-the dreaded trash man doesn't show up as often at these places.

2) Regarding potential sleeping areas: don't make the mistake of thinking a peaceful corner in a quiet park is a great place to sack out. The reason parks are green and lush is water: and that water comes from sprinklers hidden during the day but fully engaged at night. Unless you are willing to take a 30-minute shower with your clothes on, better to stay away from parks at night.

3) Of course, sometimes it's Nature that brings the water, and tons of it. For these times, you had best be prepared. The best time to prepare for the rainy season is during the dry season. Take the time to check the various areas where you live: look for covered areas where you might be able to sleep at night. Go by these places at night and in the early mornings to make sure there is no foot traffic going through the area at these times.

4) Another problem about being homeless is trying to stay clean. Your best bet is to find a local Del Taco or other fast food establishment that has a restroom with a door you can lock behind you. There you can take a stand-up bath, which is exactly what it sounds like-you stand up while bathing. If you don't have your own, use the towels and soap in the restroom to wash yourself down. It's also a good place to shave and brush your teeth. When you're finished, check the floor and sink and clean up after yourself. Just because your homeless doesn't mean you have to live like a pig.

5) Beware of whom you befriend on the street. One man I made friends with

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