Tent Camping And The homeless

While for many, tent camping is something of an adventure, and a holiday pass time, for some people, it is the only option they have in order to have a roof over their heads, and a dry place to sleep.  With the unstable economy, and rising costs of almost every day to day essential, more and more people are falling on hard times, and tent camping for the homeless is something that many turn to.

Staying Safe When Camping

There is safety in numbers, and camping with others can deter attackers, but if you have to camp alone, remember to keep safety and security in mind.  Try to pick a safe place to pitch your tent – avoid public parks, as they tend to be more routinely searched – abandoned homes, or strips of grass near railways are usually better choices.

One tip for those who are tent camping alone is to try to adopt a dog.  Many animal shelters will not give dogs to homeless people, even if the dog is scheduled to be put down.  Their caution is understandable, but you may be able to find a local stray to take in and care for, and as long as you are able to take care of it, taking the dog in is a good idea as it will offer a little extra protection for you.

Bad Weather

Tent camping can be a rather miserable experience during bad weather – especially if it rains for several days.  It is possible to still stay reasonably warm and dry, but you will need to be careful.  Once the tent gets drenched on the outside, even the best quality 'waterproof' tents will still be wet inside from condensation.  Don't let anything that you want to keep dry come into contact with the sides of the tent.   If you are leaving anything, such as your boots, outside, make sure they are covered in a plastic bag so that they stay relatively dry inside.

This is when having a dog really comes in handy.  Dogs are programmed to curl up and sleep during bad weather.  The dog’s warm calm body will help you sleep through the storm as well.  At least in the rain, you will not have to worry much about any of the law or landowners kicking you off.  They usually only bother going out to do evictions of any tent camping homeless during nice weather.

Make sure while you are living in a tent you make an effort to keep the area clean and tidy.  Litter attracts negative attention, and you may be asked to move on, or forced to leave if you let the area become a mess.  Keeping your living area clean also promotes a sense of self worth, which will help keep you motivated during these hard times.

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