Weathering the Winter: A Quick Guide to Temporary Urban Survival

Kari Sutton

Homelessness is never an easy experience. Throw in the harshness of winters in Colorado, and you’ve got a pretty rough situation. Nobody said it was easy, but Colorado’s homeless population has found ways to get through it. Facing a winter of surviving on the streets? We’ll get you pointed in the right direction.

Know Your Resources

You can’t take advantage of it if you don’t know it exists. Looking for a hot meal? Many organizations that offer support will have a printed weekly calendar with times and locations for where meals will be served. Grab one of those, and you can always know when and where the next serving will be. While many organizations that connect people with options for shelter are county- or city-specific, they may be able to help you out for just that night even if you are from outside of their locale. Call 211, or search online for United Way’s 211 program to find county-specific referrals for food, shelter, and other resources.

Make Friends

We’re social creatures, right? It follows that having social support doesn’t stop being important for urban survival in the winter. Beyond the company, friends can be a wealth of support. From leads on local resources to being gifted that extra blanket they picked up, friends can make all the difference.

Hang on to the Gear That Works

Finding the gear you’ll need to survive the winter can be hit and miss, but keep an eye out for the items that will really make a difference. A good pair of boots, a warm jacket, and a bedroll if you’ll be sleeping outside are all critical. Given the choice, mittens are superior to gloves when it comes to keeping warm.

Hang on to Your Gear, Period

‘Cause sometimes you get kicked when you’re down, theft can be a serious problem. Friends who have a place to stay may be able to hang on to your belongings for you from time to time. If you’re able to lock it up when you’re not with it — in lockers, at a church, where ever works — do so. Remember that part about making friends? It never hurts to have somebody who can watch your back and keep an eye on your belongings.

Stack Your Odds

It can get demoralizing calling shelter after shelter. Stack the odds in your favor. Ask them when the best times to call are, and how often you can call. Find out if they use a lottery system. Sometimes it’s just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Find out when that’s likely to be.

Grab a Radio — And Not Just for the Music

When you’re living in the elements, the weather forecast gets real important, real fast. If you can get your hands on a battery-powered radio, you can keep up on the news and weather, and plan accordingly. Plus, music!

It’s going to be cold. It’s going to be rough. But you can survive it.