A sense of losing personal/private space continues. Brushing teeth in a public washroom, and having people walk in and look at you funny is the reminder that you don’t have a home and they do. All basic personal hygiene is compromised. This is a novelty when you are camping – you know it is short term and everyone else is doing it. But when you are homeless, it becomes almost a “class” thing. You are 2nd, 3rd class. Less than. Fading dignity. On the streets, you draw strange looks and you don’t know when it is going to end, if ever. Do we have a class system in Canada?

Have you ever shaken hands with a homeless person during the winter? One who sleeps outside? It is life changing to feel the icicle that he has become. His body temperature will have dropped.
How does he recover from a cold or flu while sleeping rough?
Sleeping in a van, it usually takes me a couple of hours to warm up and stop shivering in the morning.

Well, I already have had friends walk right by me and not recognize me. Just a few days of beard growth, different body language and grubby clothes apparently will do it.
Some folks say it will take 1-2 weeks to get “into” the lifestyle and then everything will be ok.
Ed says “the first 2 weeks are a bit like camping, then the novelty wears out and reality really sets in. And then your mind becomes your biggest enemy”. My gut tells me Ed’s version is closer to the truth.

Note that all the best places to park overnight are banned as such. The rest are either illegal or bright and noisy. Rained last night but was warmer. Biggest challenges so far: 1. Where to sleep at night? 2. How to feed myself on this budget? Personal hygiene. Thank you for the warmhearted and supportive notes. Don’t forget our campaign goals

A warm day yesterday dipped just below 0C after the sun set. Hard to fall asleep with all the city lights flashing in my eyes, and I hear every footstep and car passing. Awoke from light sleep at 2am from the cold. All cars around covered in frost. Where do you find a washroom at 2am? Awoke at 6am with a sore back and hips. Stretched and went for a walk. Ed is coaching me on homelessness strategies. Where to park overnight?. “Gotta blend in and disappear” for safety reasons as well as away from police asking you to move along.Where to brush teeth? Shower? ugh????