If Thirsty, Where/How Does A Homeless Person Get Water To Drink?

[Me.]

We know the obvious problems for the homeless...but, the little things...

While in the grocery store, I was approached by a youngish woman carrying a tall bottle of water who asked me if I would pay for it. She said she didn't know where else to get a drink. And she's right. THere are no common water fountains that I know of and how healthy would drinking from one of them be? I later thought about Trader Joe's..where there are often women in the bathroom cleaning up and there is a fountain right outside. But that's the only place I could think of where a homeless person, or anyone who doesn't have the price of of a bottle water, can get a drink of water.

[brer cat]

1. Good question, Me.

I can't recall the last time I saw a public drinking fountain.

[hlthe2b]

2. Bathroom sinks, I'd imagine. With COVID few public fountains were left on.

Garden hoses, perhaps, and as you describe asking for someone to buy bottled water for them or going to shelters, food pantries, or so-called "soup kitchens."

It is intensely difficult. One can only imagine what the real death rates are for the homeless-- in general, from COVID, and from violence.

I hope we all do what we can, even if it is not enough.

[Demsrule86]

12. Lot of business won't let folks use their bathrooms.

[MissB]

3. Portland has 50+ Benson Bubblers

Which are constantly flowing drinking fountains. They run them from 6 am to 11 pm, 365 days unless it’s going to freeze.

There is no off switch from 6 am- 11 pm. They just flow.

[Me.]

5. Wonderful

Here in NYC I can't remember when I last saw one.

[phylny]

21. We loved the free drinking fountains in Rome.

Beautiful, clear spring water all throughout the city.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

4. The public libraries in my area all have water fountains.

At least they DID a few years ago. (I haven't been inside a library since the earliest reported Covid infections.)

And those libraries were also where I'd see the most homeless people, panhandling outside.

[joshcryer]

8. Libraries are a bastion for homeless.

They really need to expand the services they provide outside of books. Liberaries on the west coast have everything from 3D printers to laptops and tablet checkout. They really are one of our most valuable places to utilize as a society.

[joshcryer]

6. Since pandemic relief most homeless people qualify...

...for food stamps. Next time, after helping, have them go to social services, all they need is an SSN, if they're not working (or have not worked in the past 90 days) they will automatically qualify.

Shh. Don't tell the right wingers.

[Me.]

7. Good Suggestions

Of course they will need subway fare.

[Demsrule86]

14. You need an address and to prove how you get by with no income.

[joshcryer]

15. Wrong.

All they need is an SSN. They will look at your work history with the SSN.

[Precipice_dweller]

34. Umm...he's right.

A phone interview is required and they demand to know how you make ends meet. You can explain that you're homeless. Or, in my case, I explained I've been surviving on credit cards while waiting for disability. But they do demand some kind of explanation.

[Sympthsical]

33. Social Services usually have a PO Box you can use

It will be at one of their offices. It's often how the homeless are able to receive mail, particularly government forms if they need them.

EBT programs will have case workers who will work with them and their situation and usually use that office location as the address on the forms.

[Hekate]

9. Public water fountains were free. All my public schools had drinking fountains for the kids.

It was and is a matter of health.

Then, something happened. Water in plastic bottles became a commodity — and if you compare the price per gallon of bottled water to that of gasoline, it is really expensive. Every so often I read yet another mention of how public schools sell water to children in bottles, from vending machines. Which begs the question: if they don’t have money are they supposed to just dehydrate?

[Me.]

13. Exactly

we're talking about a drink of wayer for God's sake

[nini]

10. I used to live in an ungated townhouse complex

The homeless came in and used the faucets in the driveways etc and filled their buckets up. I never had a problem with that at all and left them alone when they were doing it.

The HOA? oh hell fire with them.

They needed it - let them have it.

[Me.]

11. They needed it - let them have it.

[Aristus]

16. One of the many challenges in treating homeless patients.

Even if their insurance pays for their medication, a lot of homeless people don't have access to clean, safe drinking water in order to take their medications, and, you know, stay hydrated.

For homeless people who have an income either from a job (yes, a lot of homeless people have jobs) or from state benefits, they sometimes have to choose between bottled water and sugary beverages like Soda, Gatorade, etc. which are often much cheaper than water. And of course, this plays havoc with the health of patients who have diabetes, high cholesterol, etc.

As I pointed out above, a lot of homeless people are employed, and are able to hold down a job. But for the ones who don't or can't, just be aware that simply surviving on the streets is pretty much a full-time job all on its own.

[Me.]

17. "surviving on the streets is pretty much a full-time job all on its own"

[BlackSkimmer]

18. All the public buildings in my little town have water fountains.

City buildings and county buildings. Library. The parks have them too. The parks I visit even have little doggie water fountains.

This is the south. Do they not have those in the north?

[viva la]

19. Years ago some wonderful people started outfitting old panel vans with showers--

So that the homeless people could safely (individually) shower and get jugs of water. I'd love to find a charity that does that and support it.

I was just looking in my local park for a water fountain that used to be there-- shut down because of Covid. I think they could probably reopen it, because that's not an easy way to get Covid. But there really was nowhere in the park or surrounding neighborhood for people to get water.... except in the Bark Park where the dogs play. There was a big spigot there.

[Me.]

30. And Desperate People Will Use THe Dog Spigot

[milestogo]

20. It's also difficult to find public restrooms and garbage cans.

This is true for the homeless, and everyone else too.

[Me.]

31. So True

Starbucks used to let people use their rstroom but don't know if that applied to homeless people

[uncle ray]

22. restaurants will give them free water.

i've never seen one refuse. they may not allow those who appear homeless to use bathrooms or other facilities, but refusing water could put them at legal risk.

[The Blue Flower]

23. Bathrooms and fountains in grocery stores

They all have water.

[Me.]

28. If The Homeless Person Is Even Allowed In THe Store

Some look in pretty bad shape and get chased out

[intheflow]

36. They're allowed in grocery sstores.

Homeless people need access to food. As long as they're not grazing the produce section or stealing anything, they will not get chased out of a grocery store.

[quickesst]

24. Almost every service station..

.... or convenience store has an outside faucet. Lot of people don't think about them because they are usually not visible to the public. Most homeless people probably know this. I've used them many times to fill an overheated radiator, or to fill a water jug for the work crew.

[Me.]

27. There Is No Excuse For Such Depravity

[kimbutgar]

26. What a great idea to encourage people to buy a case of water and leave it in an area of homeless

People. So humane. I think I might do it myself now that you brought it up.

Thank you!

[Mosby]

29. Grocery stores have water fountains by the bathrooms.

They can also get water at any fast food restaurant, c-store or Starbucks.

[Me.]

32. Not All Grocery Stores

and I hope they know about the fast food places, though I worry that those who are in rough shape are not allowed in

[Mosby]

38. They know about the white lever or button.

And all fast food places and convenience stores have them on their equipment.

Most will provide water cups if asked, places like McDonald's will just give you a cup of ice water.

Generally though the unhomed will carry around water bottles they fill up at the fountain drink machine.

[BlackSkimmer]

37. I can't think of one that doesn't.

And as I posted before, all public buildings and parks. Of course, libraries.

[Me.]

39. Ah, But Where Are You Located?

[BlackSkimmer]

41. In a state with lots of grocery stores that have fountains and bathrooms.

Where are you?

[intheflow]

35. Public libraries always have public restrooms.

Most have public water fountains. I'm a librarians and most homeless people I've met have a plastic water bottle they carry around with them to fill up at the bathroom sink or at the water fountain.

[Me.]

40. Good To KNow

Thank you