Hopefully, none of us ever encounter the grim reality of being homeless.

A survival situation, though, can pose many of the same challenges and we can learn from the lessons of the homeless to make it through easier.

If You Fight, You Get Hurt

Anyone who has ever studied martial arts will tell you that it isn’t about fighting or even self defense. Martial arts teaches you not to fight.

The best way to win a fight is to not get into one in the first place.

This is something that homeless people have learned well. They know that engaging or responding to hostility isn’t going to help them achieve their goal (and the goal is survival). This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ever fight. If someone is attacking you, fight until you can flee.

Blend In

You know how we are always being criticized for not noticing homeless people, and how they are called things like America’s “invisible population”? Part of the reason for this is because homeless people don’t want to be noticed.

When you are noticed, you could become a target for predators like thieves. When you are noticed, you might be kicked out of your location. When you are noticed, hostile people might come at you…

Keep this in mind when you are fleeing in a survival situation. For example: The grid goes out. You have a generator and turn it on. Now your home is the only one on the block with lights glowing out of the window.

Guess where all the scared masses will come running to?

You’d be better leaving the lights out rather than drawing attention to yourself!

Staying Clean

In survival situations, cleanliness can quickly go out the window. But cleanliness is important for survival!

• What if you get a cut on your dirty leg? It will get infected and then you’ve got a serious problem.

• What if you get a rash or blisters from all that dirt rubbing on you? Good luck walking far!
• What if you get sick from eating with dirty hands? There goes your chances of survival!!!

We notice the dirty, downtrodden homeless people but most are actually quite clean looking. This is because they use all sorts of tricks. Yes, they really have mastered the art of taking a shower with a water bottle.

One cool hygiene trick used by homeless people is wet wipes. Just rub yourself down with a wet wipe and you are as good as new! The ones with lotion on them will take off dirt really well.

You Need a Companion

You ever wonder why so many homeless people have dogs and will even buy dog food for the animals, even though they can barely feed themselves? It is because you need a companion to survive. If you don’t have a trusted human companion, then a canine one will do the trick.

Stay Where You Know

Why don’t some homeless people ever venture into subway tunnels, whereas other homeless people stay solely in the tunnels? It is because of the advice stay where you know. If you don’t know what is lurking somewhere, avoid it! It is much safer to stick to familiar terrain.

Never Take Your Pack Off

Your survival pack is your life. Sleep with it strapped to you so no one can steal it. Or, use it as a pillow but keep your arms hooked around it. Not only will this help prevent theft, but it goes along with the next survival trick. Not sure what to pack?

Always Be Ready to Leave

You never know what to expect in survival situations. You have to be ready to flee at a moment’s notice. So, even if you’ve found the best bug out location and set up camp, don’t get too attached. Your disaster plan should always include a contingency in case you’ve got to go.

Being homeless is possibly the ultimate test in our ability to survive.

Because of that, many of the lessons an experienced homeless person possesses have practical application to the rest of us as we prepare for a disaster situation.

To learn more tips the homeless know that you may not, please visit Primal Survival.