In my town, most of the agencies that provide for homeless people are concentrated in the downtown area so that one can get from one to the other on foot, if one can walk okay.

In my town, there was a policy that no female would ever be left on the street at night. Our main homeless shelter would send a vehicle to retrieve any female who is without shelter at night. (Not all women want to be retrieved.) The shelter was an okay place to sleep, I found out, when I was in a domestic situation that caused me to go to the shelter to get away from being taunted at home. I felt very safe there. In the past year, though, I have heard that there may soon be not enough beds for even females. It may become - first come, first served - as it is for the guys.

I have been extremely worried about how to meet my needs while waiting for SSDI, even if it looks like I will be approved. My law firm, however, has told me that I can probably get SSI, while waiting, based on "dire need" status. I am really glad I did get a lawyer. The staff at the firm knows about stuff I never heard of.