For People Living Outdoors

For people living outdoors

You deserve respect and a way back to your request without explaining your whole life.

Before sharing anything

Ask the intake worker: What will be public? What stays private? Who can see it? How long is it kept? How do I correct, withdraw, or recover it? You may decline optional fields and ask for an interpreter, paper, extra time, or an advocate. Unrelated help should not depend on giving optional information.

Recovery

A paper card can help you return from a borrowed phone, kiosk, or partner site. Keep it private. The first-three-letters/date/ZIP pattern is memorable but guessable; use a separate PIN and never give the code to a stranger. If the card is lost, ask for advocate-led restore. The card is not proof of identity.

Staying safer outdoors

When possible, avoid doorways, curb ramps, fire lanes, transit stops, flood channels, unstable slopes, rail corridors, and active construction. Keep paths and exits clear. Bag waste, never burn trash, and place sharps in a rigid closed container for service-site disposal. Ask where bathrooms, showers, water, charging, storage, outreach, medical care, and crisis support are available. Keep noise low during agreed quiet hours, secure pets, and leave if conflict becomes unsafe.

People may be frustrated, but that never makes harassment or violence acceptable. Ask an advocate how to document a threat, citation, missing property, or denial of service safely.