At the time of this writing, homeless shelters are 100% free.
It may cost money to get to it, i.e. by way of bus or cab, but other than transportation costs, staying at a homeless shelter costs no money.
More permanent solutions to homelessness such as low-income housing, and transitional homes may charge a small fee, but homeless shelters do not.
What to expect at a homeless shelter
Graffiti on a white wall that says "What now." | One thing to expect when you go to a homeless shelter is that the shelter will require I.D.At a homeless shelter, you'll be expected to sign in. Some require an I.D.
All only allow a certain amount of possessions on a person into one. So make sure, you don't have too much stuff with you.
The exact amount of possessions that will be allowed into the homeless shelter varies from location to location, but in general, a good rule of thumb is any more belongings than what will fit into a 50-gallon container will not be allowed.
Therefore, leave your blankets and other non-essential items somewhere safe outside the homeless shelter. Just bring your backpack (if you have one) and load it up with your most important items.
What to do if you don't have an I.D.
If you don't have an I.D. and you want to stay at a homeless shelter, consider whether you have anything that identifies you like a birth certificate, social security card, or an old school I.D. For the homeless shelters that do require I.D., perhaps some do allow people to slide in with an alternative form of I.D.
Also, before you show up at a homeless shelter, call them in advance and tell them your situation. Tell them that you do not have an I.D. but you really need a place to stay.
To stay for the night, ask them if they even require an I.D. If they do, ask them if there is any way they can make an exception for you, because you do not have an I.D.
A homeless person not having an I.D. is a pretty common thing, so if you're lucky, the shelter that you are planning to go to will have some sort of workaround for people without I.D.s already set in place.
Can you pay to stay at a homeless shelter if the homeless shelter is full?
No. Homeless shelters do not accept cash for lodging and do not reserve beds for homeless people who are willing to pay for them.
Therefore, if no availability exists at the homeless shelter at which you seek to stay, your best bet is to look for availability at other homeless shelters in your area.
Summary
It costs no money to stay at a homeless shelter. However, if you plan on going to a more permanent housing solution like low-income housing, then you may be required to pay a small fee.
Some homeless shelters require an I.D. If you do not have an I.D. then call before going to one and ask if they accept alternative forms of I.D. or, for any reason, make exceptions.
If the homeless shelter you want to stay at has no availability, then your best bet is to find a different homeless shelter to go to in your area. Homeless shelters do not accept cash for lodging from homeless people.
Finally, you can only bring a limited amount of possessions with you into a homeless shelter. Therefore, leave all of your belongings except for your backpack somewhere safe that you can return to later.
further reading
This article focused exclusively on how much does a homeless shelter cost. What it focused little to none on, however, is homelessness and hunger...
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOMELESSNESS AND HUNGER?
Read "Homelessness and Hunger - An epidemic to be solved."
other helpful resources
- "Resources for the Homeless Articles." This page is an excellent next stop because it offers dozens of other interesting articles related to resources for the homeless.
- "Why Should the Government Provide Shelter for the Homeless?" Do homeless people need help? This article explores the 7 top reasons for why the government should provide shelter to the homeless.
- "Why Is Homelessness Bad For Society?" Some people wish homelessness would leave and never return. Why? This article explores why homelessness is bad for society.
- "Homeless with a Job." When you work full time and cant even afford to pay the rent, something is terribly wrong. This article explores being homeless with a job.
- "Why Do Homeless People Live in Cities?" Homeless people sleep in crowded cities on concrete blocks. Why not go to wildernesses? This article explains why homeless people live in cities.
- "Where To Go When Homeless." Need a quick, safe, free, and legal place to sleep? This article identifies where to go when homeless.
- "Why is Being Homeless Good?" Some people become homeless and then never want to be housed again. Why? This article explores why being homeless is good.
- "Why is Homelessness Still a Problem?" Is homelessness ever going to end? Why does it never seem to go away? This article explores why homelessness is still a problem.
- "How To Help A Friend Who Is Homeless." When a friend becomes homeless, what can we do? This article explores how to help a friend who is homeless.
- "What To Do If You Will Soon Become Homeless." About to become homeless and feeling uneasy? This article identifies what to do if you are about to be homeless.
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