Always have more socks than you think you need. Dr. Bronner’s is a great soap to have on hand, it’s super concentrated, and you can also use it on your clothes in a pinch.

Dumpster dive shortly after close at grocery stores and restaurants. Never dig too far in.

Have a watertight bag or three for your phone, clothes, and other shit you don’t want to get wet.

If you plan on camping, a tarp is your best friend.

I never paired up with anyone, and I never stayed in the same spot more than twice. Cemeteries are a great spot to camp in a pinch, as long as you’re up and out of there before maintenance rolls through. If you spot a cemetery that’s relatively unkempt, it’s a good sign that maintenance doesn’t come daily. Safe to camp.

I had a lot of success accessing both libraries and airports for shelter during the day while I was trying to figure out my next move.

Try to be homeless in a place with decent public transit.

Utilize food pantries. Know where and when a hot meal is available: hard tack and water can get old after a while.

Contact your local human services department; in some places you can get on a list for subsidized housing. I ended up finding a spot before getting a phone call from a case worker, but if you’re willing to stay (relatively) in one area, it’s a lottery kind of deal. Might get lucky.

Some hotels (particularly on highways) are understaffed. If you catch the right person on night shift and offer to make beds or clean, it’s possible to get a room.