Hello.....Need some advice

[savvygrl]

I am currently living with my sister-in-law but want to move out
so I think I will go live in a shelter. I won't be homeless.
Can anybody tell me what is in store for me if I go this route?
Also how long can you stay in shelters,what are the requirements,
do I have to bring IDS when I go there or do they take just anybody?
Thank you.
N.

[beatonthestreet]

Howya savvygrl
welcome to the forums...

Im sure we can give u some sort of advice here... where abouts are u based, so we might be able to point you to advisory services/shelters etc in your area...

Im based in Ireland but we have members and a wealth of info here from across the globe...

stay close n safe

[Ibu Oni]

Hi Savygirl and welcome...

I could probably give you some advise if you are based in Seattle...it all depends on the location and also the place...you can go from nightmarish and totalitarian to pretty cool to tent cities if you are more the pioneer type...

Talk to you soon and good luck

Bea
One thing I can tell you is that a shelter might be a bad idea if you are not a morning person...most kick people out VERY early either because of $$ (can t pay too much staff) or because of some crazy religious idea about sloth and whatever!!
In our shelter system, we are dependent on the hosts...the one shelter which opens the latest is ULU (woman shelter 8 pm to 9 am)...but still SHARE is pretty cool with participants being in 12 hours a day (mostly 7 to 7)
Tent Cities are 24/7 you can come and go as you please. In some of our shelters people have to come as a group[ (we are decentralized) but others if you are in school or at work you can come in whenever
Now that s the kind of self managed shelters where sobriety is required and for high functioning people (mostly people who just happen to be poor or sick)
I heard horrors stories about shelters where the women go in at 11 pm and are kicked out at 5 50 am and others which are downright dangerous or spiritually abusive)...
let us know which City you are at and I m sure someone here might be able to help
Also I heard than in regular shelters, if you take the night out to visit a friend or just rent a motel room to have soem privacy, you might lose your bed...at TC3 and Nickelsville no one cares what you do as long as you work your securities and do a community credit. Our indoor network allows people to take two nights out a week...problem is that except with BHN where the curfew is midnight, most have either a time where everyone leave as a group or a 10pm curfew unless you work..I mention it because if you are still a young woman, it might curtail your dating or social life

Bea
My recommendation would be a Tent City it s a rough life but I liked the independence, the dignity of coming and going as I wanted and also being able to rest on my days off from work. No system is perfect and SHARE has its flaws too...we do our best but we also have to respect the hosts and neighborhoods stipulations...

[savvygrl]

..Thank you for replying.
I am in Illinois....
What's a Tent City?

[Ibu Oni]

a Tent City is a permanent or itinerary homeless encampment where people live in tents.
Most tent cities have rule of conduct and residents have to do chores.
Tent City 3 is the oldest legal encampment left in this country and my alma mater (I lived there) since 2000, tent city 4 is her sister (2004) on the East side.
Nickeslville is currently an intinerary tent city but its mission statement is to be a permanent shanty town for up to 1000 people. Nickelsville is not legal and over the course of a year we took over public land 3 times...right now they are staying on a church parking lot til February and for the first time, the City granted them a permit the same day with no hassle and waived the 5oo$ fee..before that the City went out of its way to hassle them and their friends going as far as suing all Joes and Jane Does who help out (like me lol)..Even though Nickelsville is not a legal encampment and got swept3 times and its participants, friends and supporters arrested, the Nickelodeons have a strict code of conduct (including sobriety and non violence) and cooperate fully with the fire department ...they conduct a check for sex offenders too.
You might want to check out the Tent City section on this site as there are other tent cities nationwide who operate differently. TC3, TC4 and Nickelsville are self managed.
here is a link which pretty much explains it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tent_ci...hington.2C_USA

[persistentchickainti]

don't know where in Illinois ya are so it's kinda hard to direct to which area to help ya, I'm in the southern area

[beatonthestreet]

We are currently working on the Illinios state info for our city guides... I would hope in the next week or so we should be able to add it to our main directories...

I have more local info if I knew whereabouts in Illinois you where, nothing too specific just a rough idea of your current location...

I would recommend as a first port of call:

211

The best way to find a shelter or information is to call 211 in your area.

http://www.211.org/
Illinois Department of Human Services

The Homeless Prevention Program provides rental assistance, utility assistance and supportive services directly related to the prevention of homelessness to eligible individuals and families who are in danger of eviction, foreclosure or homelessness or are currently homeless. The program is designed to stabilize individuals and families in their existing homes, shorten the amount of time that individuals and families stay in shelters and assist individuals and families with securing affordable housing.

DHS Help Line
1-800-843-6154
http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=30360

US Dept. Of Housing and Development
Homeless Information:
Illinois

Feeding America.

Use our interactive map to learn about hunger across the nation and our food banks that address the issue locally

http://feedingamerica.org/default.aspx

Hope this might help... Speak soon..

[savvygrl]

Hello,
Thank you 4 all the advice...I am abt 5 miles from Chicago and unsure if I should do this..is it wise,do you think?
I'd like to hear your stories,how you came to live that kind of life,if you don'y
mind.....some advice would be great!

[beatonthestreet]

Whats wise? and why?

tbh If you have the opportunity, stay out of the 'homeless' services...

Read around the forums of peoples experiences...

If you choose the shelter route we will be here to advise..

hope all good n take care

[savvygrl]

...is it wise to even consider striking out on your own like this?
I dunno,I don't think it is but what other alternatives are there?

[Ibu Oni]

You are in Chicago? then I d retract my advice to consider a Tent City, it is too darn cold out there. You might also look thought into working for housing but you got to be careful if you look online, you have some legitimate offers but also some predators who would do anything to get in the pants of some desperate woman...anyway I give you a hug and I hope it all works out...if you decide to go West, give me a shout I ll hook you up

Bea

[Chando]

Spent some time in Quincy Ill. a few years back..The town is small but the Salvation Army shelter there is the best I've seen in 30 or so years out here.Also found work and an inexpensive apartment $175 a month bills paid furnished there in less than 2 weeks.Cold cold cold though..

[Jor-EL]

Originally Posted by savvygrl

...is it wise to even consider striking out on your own like this............ what other alternatives are there?

Alternatives :

Do you have any siblings (brothers, sisters) anywhere in the United States that would be willing to let you stay with them until you get on your feet (employment) and are able to live on your own, like in an apartment ?

How about parents ? Would your mother or father (or both) be willing to do this for you or are you cut off from your entire family ?

Any close friends anywhere that are kind enough to help you out and let you stay with them for free or cheaply for awhile until you could live on your own ?

Employment ? Have you tried to get work somewhere around your area that would enable you to live on your own ?

--------------

By the way, is it absolutely necessary that you move out of your sister-in-law's place ? Do you two not get along ? Is she suggesting you move out or telling you that you must move out by such and such a time ?

[savvygrl]

Originally Posted by Ibu Oni

You are in Chicago? then I d retract my advice to consider a Tent City, it is too darn cold out there. You might also look thought into working for housing but you got to be careful if you look online, you have some legitimate offers but also some predators who would do anything to get in the pants of some desperate woman...anyway I give you a hug and I hope it all works out...if you decide to go West, give me a shout I ll hook you up

Bea

Hi its Savvygrl. thought id give u guys an update.
i have been living in a shelter now but tired of it.
been living outside when the weather is nice. i hate illinois and want to go
to california and check out the tnt cities there....but my bf likes chicago and does not want to leave. i think this is best for both of us. help me convince him BU FIRST the pros and cons,please.
hope everybody is doing ok.
god bless.
savvygrl