I was homeless in Florida for 3 years. Even there sometimes the puddles froze in the very early mornings, like 4AM.
I begged in the streets, dodging the cops (begging is illegal in most places). I did end up in jail for one night for it, because I was given a ticket for $82 by a rookie sheriff. However, many of the cops would just tell me to move on, after looking at my ID and finding out that I was not wanted anywhere by the police.
I would get up at 4AM, go to the corners of two highways, one was up above and the other went under its overpass. One was route US 19 and the other was a local highway, route 60 (which was called Gulf to Bay). I stood at the traffic light by the underpass, where cars came off the highway. I did not wear sunglassed, but I did wear a hat, a white one. I would look at each driver as I carried a sign that said Homeless + Disabled. The + I would draw as a cross, the cross of Jesus. This was part of my way of surviving. The other thing I did was to say "God bless you." to everyone who gave me anything, even a penny, as some spring breakers did one time. I said it because I meant it!
People would stop and pray with me. They would bring me food. They gave me other things too. When I got enough money for a cheap motel room, I would end off for the day and go pay for one. I made sure to have the money in by check-out time, usually before.
I stayed on the shady side of the street, using the overpass to shade me from the hot Florida sun.
Restaurants, if you are nice about it, will give you a water to go. I also made sure I was clean and to the best of my ability didn't smell bad. I would take a shower and wash my cloths in the sink of the motel room I stayed in. I did not always go to the same motel. Sometimes it was necessary to change, like when the motel owner realized I was a beggar. One of them said I was bad for business. So I made it my business not to stay out and about at the motel.
I had a boyfriend who stayed with me. He claimed to pay off the police to leave me alone. I am not sure about this, because he also claimed to have paid off his contact in the police Dept to get rid of that ticket I got, but it didn't really happen. I had a bench warrant on me so that is how I was taken in by a very kind old sheriff's deputy who apologized for having to take me in. I would not recommend paying off anyone in the police Dpt. You could end up ion prison for bribery if you pay the wrong one. I never paid any police off icer off. I just spoke to them kindly and respectfully. Usually they let me go, as sending me to jail would give me a m"home" for the night anyway. And they really did not want to do that, it defeated their purposes, which were to get me off the streets.
I also treated the Judge with the utmost of respect when I had to go before him, saying "Yes your honor," and "no your honor.". I said "Thank you, your honor," when he gave me time served.
So I did spend one night in jail, but the judge did say that I should find a new way of life, which I did eventually do.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask! (Please tag me or quote me if you do so, though).
