Any advice for surviving homelessness as an Aspie?

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Story of my life.

Stampede, I hope people here can give some specific advice on finding a good lawyer for SSI.

It sounds like you don't have much of a work history, and that's often the biggest hinge point, and that with the diagnosis, you should eventually get it.

The lawyer, when he or she accepts your case, will work on contingency. That means you are agreeing to the lawyer taking something like 28% or 35% or maybe even 50% of your initial payment for back disability. After that, you keep each monthly payment, which is not enormous, maybe something like six hundred dollars, but it is something.

Now, the crappy part, this can often take two or three years, maybe a little more. This is idiotic and unacceptable, but apparently that is the turtle like speed at which the social security system combined with the legal system works.

Do you own a tent? You said you live in a southern state, so living in the woods in a tent may be an option for you. If you don't own one, maybe you can get a used one cheaply. As someone else mentioned, insulation from the ground is key. You may want to try to get your hands on an insulating camping pad, or some other similar material. Anything to help insulate from the cold, wet ground. You also may want to look up how to make a debris hut, which can provide an insulated shelter and potentially save you from hypothermia in cold conditions. In terms of a blanket, I would try to get a wool one (try military surplus stores), which are heavy, but very warm, very hard-wearing, and retain their insulating abilities even when wet. They also won't melt if they catch a spark from a campfire like a blanket made out of synthetic materials will.

There are forums and blogs for homeless people (don't know any off hand right now, but I have stumbled across them before) where you can probably pick up tips. If you do want to live out in the woods, you may also want to look up videos or tutorials about DIY outdoor gear and bushcraft skills, like building basic shelters and making pop can stoves.

I'm sorry you're facing this difficult situation, but the more information you can arm yourself with, the better. There is someone in my area who lived in the woods half the time by choice, and he often would run into homeless people. He tried to teach them basic skills like making debris huts, but apparently they weren't interested for the most part. These are skills than can save your life though.

Here is a blog by a homeless guy who also believes he has Asperger's (I don't think he is diagnosed):

http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/

If you're in the wild, building a makeshift tent and rain catcher for water using tarp or other kind of plastic sheet is helpful. Any food that you might find is best stored in a sling in a high tree branch to prevent bears from getting to it. As for the concrete jungle, I wouldn't know how to survive if you told me.

Have something to look forward to in the future. You can sign up for ssi, now today. You do NOT need a lawyer yet, [ you will eventually] Apply today, because if you are awarded it, back pay will be determined by precisely when you applied. You will get denied [late husband received a denial letter several weeks after his death] Do it TODAY.

Make sure that you have a mailing address to use, even if you have to ask a church. When you receive your questionaire it is dated material. WHen answering the question, you have to be extremely specific in your answers why you cannot do anything. answer as though you would on your worst day. That is fair because they will judge based on what they perceive as your best possible day. Then you wait. You get denied. You will continue to get denied through the actual time you speak to the judge. Autism in itself will not get you awarded. Look at co-morbidities.
Are you suicidal? Get yourself locked in a mental hospital. Depressed? Probably. right? OCD, tourettes, learning disabled, bad back. Whatever, just document away. With no money, you might have to o to the emergency room fairly often. [don't feel guilty because they are the ones who made these ridiculous rules. My late husband just trusted the system, and, like I said, was told he was too healthy after he died]

So, how long before you are homeless? Have/will you apply for food stamps? You should. Make sure you know where your resources will be. Get some counseling.

It's going to be a few years, but we are working on a project so that our brothers and sisters are no longer forced into homelessness.

I respect if you have no desire to go to a shelter. They can be pretty rough and dangerous. But, I have heard that there are some not that bad.

I hope things get better soon.

True. Anything that has any smell, including toothpaste and deodorant, plus any used plates/silverware (even if washed), should go in the bear bag. Even better than just hanging it from a branch (because bears are awesome at climbing), is to string it from a rope going between two trees, so that it can't be reached from either tree. A tip for getting your line over the rope strung between the trees is to tie it to something with some weight, like a full water bottle, and then fling it over the top of the rope. The weighted object will fall down the other side, bringing the line with it, and then you can hoist your bag up.

Contrary to what at least one poster has said it is not much fun. I was homeless in London in the early 80's and I think it was easier then, we had laws protecting squatters which have now been removed. If you have to live outside then it is going to be difficult to stay warm and safe. It would depend upon your ability to cope whether you mix in with the homeless community or go it alone. One issue with having As is that you tend to be vulnerable to con tricks, on the other hand seeking out your local homeless community and finding someone helpful would bring its rewards. If there are any charities in your city/town go to them and see if that can offer any assistance, certainly they will either provide or know who does provide a hot meal. If you are going to be outside I would minimise your possessions to the absolute essentials, looking after and moving around "stuff" can be very draining.

Personally if it were me and there was no chance of emergency accommodation and squatting is not an option I would find out where the local soup kitchen is and get my heads up from there, people there will know what benefits you can get and where the safer places to sleep are. Good luck and be aware of your surroundings.

Maybe you could try busking.

How is everything going, Stampede?

Horrible. No money, no driver's license, no friends, no family, no allies in life, no future. I've been in this state for several years. Homelessness approaches, and I probably won't last long out in the woods. My life is slowly rotting away, and every day is spent in a state of semi-despair with no way out. I have nothing to exist for.

I'm in the same boat right now

I was once there. it certainly becomes motivation for change.

get some blankets. a bag to carry them with you. find places that you can shower at, (lots of 24 hour gyms are relatively easy to get into just dont be predictable with your routine). hanging around a university campus is good advice if you look about the right age. its not unusal to see students sleeping under desks.

good luck.