I still have to sign the contracts, get my marching orders and the usual stuff you do when you get a new job, but I’ve just become a hired blogger. It looks like I’ll be writing once or twice a week for Change.org’s website on homelessness. I’m joining a great staff, most of whom, I noticed - are from the west coast and upper east coast. There’s one other writer from Northern Virginia (Arlington), but I didn’t see any writers who hail from the south. Whew! All the more topics to choose from!

Being homeless in a rural area is a lot more difficult in many ways than being homeless in a large city. There are fewer resources, fewer cops - but of the police there are - they quickly come to know you’re homeless and are more likely to harass you. Small towns may have one or no shelter system in place. There are fewer resources and more dangers as gangs typically control mid-sized towns like Danville, VA. For those who are comfortable being in the woods, it’s fairly easy to disappear into the vast, forested lands where only hunters trod. Hunting cabins and trailers, sheds and other rough shelters often double as housing for the rural homeless. It’s a rough life - sparse or no public transportation, no shower access.

People in a small town are less likely to be sympathetic to addicts unless they are potential religious converts. Yet they’re more tolerant of the mentally ill. It’s almost impossible to be homeless and go unnoticed, as small town residents notice everything. Since I’ll be on the road soon, I’m looking forward to covering the challenges, news and reality of being homeless in the south. I’ll be posting my stories at Change.org. So please check it out from time to time. I’ll also be writing about van and car dwelling and a range of topics unique to the south. It ought to be fun and interesting.