Survival and Safety Tips for a Shelter Atmosphere

1. Remember the shelter is NOT your home.

2. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. Keep your eyes and ears open.

3. Everyone who says they are there to help you may NOT have your best interests at heart.

4. Learn to go with the flow of things. Things sometimes change without notice.

5. Learn to think before you speak. That last word you thought was important might cause you to lose your place at the shelter.

6. Be quick to listen and slow to get angry.

7. Have compassion for yourself and others. No one is perfect. We all have bad days.

8. Keep personal belongings with you at all times—money, i.d., phone book, keys, etc.

9. Carry a backpack instead of a purse. Backpacks allow more room to carry things.

10. Try to eat and drink daily to keep up your strength.

11. Try to care of yourself physically. Go to sleep early and wake up early for quiet time.

12. Do positive things.

13. Find and keep a strong support system. These people can help you get through a bad day and/or tough circumstances.

14. Do fun things that make you laugh.

15. Hang around fun and positive people.

16. Carry trial size items that fit in your backpack: tissues, hand sanitizer, tampons or pads, hard candy, Tylenol, hand soap, toothbrush, and toothpaste. Also carry underwear and socks.

17. Take vitamins to help keep your body stay healthy.

18. Do at least one thing a day to make you feel good. This does NOT always have to cost money. For example, you can look in the mirror and say, “I’m something special and God loves me!”

19. Get a hobby or something that you can use to turn yourself around when things are too overwhelming to deal with---listening to music, sewing, reading, etc.

20. If you can, make a good friend who you can talk to, go places with, and most of all, support and get support from for life’s burdens.