GleanThe first 72 hours after losing your housing
Do these in order. What runs out soonest comes first, and each step makes the next one easier. Tick them off as you go; this browser remembers.
Nothing here depends on where you live, and none of it promises you will qualify for anything. The places near you come from the live directory.
1Tonight
Everything else is easier after one safe night.
What to ask. Call before you walk. Ask: do you have a bed tonight, what time do doors open, and what should I bring.
What it opens up. Rest, and a place to start from tomorrow.
Find shelter near youYou cannot make good decisions hungry.
What to ask. Ask whether you need ID or an address to be served — many places need neither.
What it opens up. Energy for two days of phone calls and walking.
Find food or shelter near youYour phone is the lifeline for every step on this list.
What to ask. Drop-in centres, libraries and shelters usually let you charge. Ask at the door.
What it opens up. Glean works without signal — open Lifeline from Settings if your data runs out.
Find day drop-in, community or shelter near you
2Today
Drop-in staff do this every day. They know which doors open for which problems.
What to ask. Tell them you lost your housing this week and ask what they would do first.
What it opens up. A person who can help with the rest of this list.
Find day drop-in, community or crisis near youNearly every form of help asks for ID, and it is the first thing to go missing.
What to ask. Drop-ins and community resource centres help people replace ID. Ask which documents they can help with and whether a fee can be waived.
What it opens up. Benefits, a bank account, housing applications.
Find day drop-in or community near youID and benefit applications need somewhere to send the result.
What to ask. Many shelters and drop-ins hold mail for people. Ask if you can use their address.
What it opens up. Finishing the ID step, and everything after it.
Find shelter, day drop-in or community near you
3This week
Applications take time to process. Starting now means money arrives sooner.
What to ask. Ask a drop-in or resource centre to help you apply — they know the forms and what to bring.
What it opens up. Rent, transit, a phone plan.
Find community or day drop-in near youRunning out of medication turns a hard week into a dangerous one.
What to ask. Free clinics can often renew prescriptions. If things feel heavy, the crisis lines are one tap away below.
What it opens up. Staying well enough to do the rest.
Find health or crisis near youFeeling clean changes how every conversation goes — at a counter, an interview, a clinic.
What to ask. Community centres, clothing banks and many shelters offer showers and laundry. Ask which days.
What it opens up. Walking into the next appointment with your head up.
Find community, day drop-in or shelter near you
If things feel heavy at any point, call or text 988, any time.