PIKE COUNTY, Mo. — Following is the third article on homelessness by Codi A. Hobson Sr. of Pike County. The Missouri Point In Time count of the homeless is Jan. 25.

Shortly after my first article had published, I met a man while going about my daily routine and he was buying items that I recognized immediately.

He had gloves, a hat and a heavy blanket. I struck conversation with him, pretending not to have the faintest idea of his circumstance. And he told me in blunt short order his situation. For me, it was nearly like looking in a mirror.

This man was not necessarily unprepared, but he wasn’t ready, either. He did not have a proper bedroll for the weather. I do believe that it got down in the 20s or teens. This forced me to relive my own experience and I gave him some advice as we talked. He had a plan in mind, but welcomed my advice. He had heard some of it and planned to implement it himself. He, however, had not heard other pieces. So, I want to share them with you.

First, my experience was vehicle-camping like this man. You need to dress warm to sleep warm. I had thermal undergarments and wool socks. You may not be the most comfortable, but it is better than hypothermia. Heavy covers and/or a winter-rated sleeping bag is also a huge aid. Only on the coldest nights did I actually sleep in my sleeping bag. Mostly, I used it as a pad and layer between me and the seat cushions. This also helped with insulation. Second, you need to insulate your vehicle. If you have one of those silver solar shades, those work both ways. Keeping heat in and out. Cardboard boxes work well too. Lay your clothes for the next day under your sleeping bag as this will warm them up. It may not sound like a big deal, but it may help improve your morale when you wake up and I promise you that some days those subtle morale boosters will make all the world of difference.

You’ll also need to think about logistics. How will you go to the bathroom? How will you shower or do laundry or dishes? How will you warm up if the engine fails? Can you cook food? Are you in danger of being fined or towed or even arrested?

Remember that you will need to keep hydrated. I bought large bottles of water. Gallons at a time. It is cheaper than buying packs of smaller bottles. Additionally, it cuts out a lot of the trash accumulation. Another added benefit is that it helps keep track of your fluid intake. With keeping hydrated, I also took a multivitamin and an immunity booster supplement. When your mood declines into a depression it has been shown in recent studies to directly affect your body physically and also your body’s immune system.

According to WebMD: “Depression can affect the immune system, making it harder for your body to fight infection. Some vaccinations, such as the shingles vaccine, may even be less effective in older adults with depression. Depression has also been linked to heart disease and increased risk for substance abuse.”

And when you are already in a bind, you don’t want to add illness to your list of woes.

If you are homeless, embrace your circumstances and learn from them. For when you do in fact prevail, you will be much stronger for it.