How to Live in Your Car
With the massive looming economic crisis in the USA and especially the number of Americans who lost their homes due to the predatory sub-prime mortgage crisis, more and more people are resorting to living in their last personal possession - their cars.
The numbers of the so-called “mobile homeless” increase whenever rate of growth of the cost of living exceeds the rate of growth of wages. While their are many reasons for homelessness, such as addiction and mental illness - which still make up the lion’s share of causes, many people are being forced into mobile homelessness simply because of economic factors.
A car is a viable means of keeping yourself and your property safe until things turn around. One can live in a car for extended periods of time, provided one is careful. Not surprising with the erosion of many civil liberties in America today, many States are passing laws against living outdoors and homelessness.
How to live safely in a car:
- Choose where you park to sleep carefully. Do not choose to park in a crime ridden area. This goes without saying obviously, but at the same time, you don’t want to look out of place and park an old beater of a car in an upper-class neighborhood either. Use discretion. If you live in or near a rural area, you could find a place to park on the outskirts whereas not to attract too much attention. Using the help of a friend or friends where you can park in their garage of back of their shop might be an idea. Find a place where you blend in and do not attract any undue attention. Sometimes large big box stores encourage campers to sleep in their parking lots. This can be a safe option as there are usually others around and the places are well lit. Maybe get a map of all the National and State Parks and Walmart stores along your way.
- Don’t keep all of your valuables in the vehicle. Keep the most valuable in a safe deposit box, or cache your valuables underground.
- Get a cooler that plugs into the lighter. Extension cords, a Brita water filter, plastic one gallon water jugs, gas stoves, a small hibachi, clotheslines, Rubbermaid washtub, battery chargers, flashlights, multi-purpose Leatherman tools, broiler oven, small microwave, self charging radio, pay as you go mobile phone, are some the things that will be essential gear. Think of the exact things you would take on a camping trip. Look into getting a car cigarette lighter converter to power some small appliances.
- Think of your situation as temporary to combat despair and isolating depression. Keep looking for employment and affordable housing and anything gainful. Make this your “days work” and keep rolling the dice.
- Build a social network of people you can trust with knowledge of your situation. Social workers, employment agencies, religious organizations all might have an out for you one day when you least expect it.
- If you are looking for a place to get a restful sleep, pick an area that has as little pedestrian traffic as possible. A street without sidewalks to avoid nosy people. And maybe one close to a washroom or source of water. Getting a good set of earplugs will help you sleep better, but then again you might want to rely on your hearing to warn you of any potential dangers.
- Look for free and accessible resources, such as places to shower where you can sneak in. Often this could be a college dorm or gym area in a university. If you still have a gym membership, use this to its fullest to maintain personal hygiene.
- Keep your nutrition up. If you are working and have an income, you can live off of prepared meals and take-away food. However if money is tight, you need a supply of non-perishable high quality foods such as tuna, canned meats, canned stews, etc. Bulk food stores are a great source of dry goods such as oatmeal, grits, nuts and other staples — even tea and coffee.
- Make sure your vehicle is as concealed as possible.. Consider tinting your windows while you can afford it. If not, go to a Walmart and buy a tarpaulin car cover, or better yet, a camouflage car cover for parking in a wooded area. This can throw people off of suspecting your car if it is parked in one spot for a while. People will think the car is parked for the season, while you slip under the corner of the cover, and lock yourself in your vehicle.
- Deal with the police politely. If you are approached by the police or security, don’t argue, be polite and tell them you are merely sleeping for a bit because you are too tired to drive.
- Get camping gear. If you have access to year-round weather that allows you to sleep outside, consider getting camping gear, like a small tent or a camping hammock.
- Do not have any alcohol in your car. Should the police find you in your car and you have been drinking, or have any alcohol in your car, the vehicle could be seized.
- Find secure places to store your valuables. Keeping your most valuable possessions in a safety deposit box is a good idea. So is using a PO box or a so-called “mail drop” service.
- Keep connected to local and world events. If you can get a cheap laptop, you can even watch free DVD movies at night, as most libraries loan them. if you need a free operating system, throw Ubuntu Linux on it. WiFi hotspots make internet access easy when you are on the go.
- The best way to avoid being persecuted by anti-homeless laws is to avoid looking homeless. As mentioned earlier, our world is increasing its fascist tendencies. More and more laws, less and less freedom. Stay clean, healthy, keep your clothing and grooming up, work out, avoid unhealthy behaviors, individuals or groups.
Another thing to remember is The fourth amendment of the US Constitution, which states:
Share this on the Social Web“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
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