Sorry for the delay in reply - I just found your post today! Unfortunately, based on what I've heard from others who have been homeless, your friend may be right about the shelters. Many homeless people prefer the streets and only resort to shelters in desperately bad weather. There are so many people now in the same situation, it probably isn't as easy to get help as it might have been in years past.
The Hare Krishna temples definitely put on the tastiest free feed, though the music and sermon that precede it may be hard to endure!
If your friend is able to work, his best bet may be to Google a program called WWOOF - a network of organic farms where visitors exchange labour for room and board. Lots of intentional communities also accept guest workers for various lengths of time.
If he can put together a tent and sleeping bag, some national parks will let you camp out for $100 a month in off-season.
Sorry not to be more helpful. I have friends locally who have been couch-surfing for weeks, and "special" people undoubtedly have the most difficulty. Last winter I saw a bedraggled person board the bus wearing a frilly pink dress, platform sandals, and a four-day growth of whiskers -and realized that MTF transgendered street people, just like other street people, can't even afford razors.
The Hare Krishna temples definitely put on the tastiest free feed, though the music and sermon that precede it may be hard to endure!
If your friend is able to work, his best bet may be to Google a program called WWOOF - a network of organic farms where visitors exchange labour for room and board. Lots of intentional communities also accept guest workers for various lengths of time.
If he can put together a tent and sleeping bag, some national parks will let you camp out for $100 a month in off-season.
Sorry not to be more helpful. I have friends locally who have been couch-surfing for weeks, and "special" people undoubtedly have the most difficulty. Last winter I saw a bedraggled person board the bus wearing a frilly pink dress, platform sandals, and a four-day growth of whiskers -and realized that MTF transgendered street people, just like other street people, can't even afford razors.
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