National Transcient Network

National Transcient Network (NTN)

The NTN is presently an information pipeline for those travelling outside accepted society. Doesn't matter if we travel by cars that we own, or in those owned by others who are willing to share a ride (hitchhiking), riding the bus or just walking down the road from place to place. Some of us are looking for a place to call home. Some of us (the military veterans) are just exploring this land we earned the right to call home (friends will recognize the term "houseless" vs. "homeless" as a strong issue in my philosophy). So, call us Homeless,houseless, tramps, transcients. Whatever labels you apply we will accept.We are not stuck in the 9 to 5, 3-car garage rut. We have a need to travel; to stay in missions from time-to-time; eat at soup kitchens, etc.

Eventually, I will get a searchable database set up. Right now you just have to skroll through all the entries. Listed here you will find information about services available in various cities across the US. As we are able to talk to travellors-on-the-road and collect data, it will be posted for those who need to use it. Sorry, if you are looking for 4-star hotels and restaurants you have come to the wrong place. Just looking for a hot meal and shower, and maybe a night in a bed that ain't under-the-stars, WELCOME.

Currently, the vast majority of services are provide by CHRISTIAN CHURCH AFFILIATED PROGRAMS. No non-christian religions are sponsoring shelters, and there are very few non-religion-based operations as yet. Be grateful for what is available. If you aren't of the Christian faith, at least be respectful and thankful that they ARE there. And, it's okay to sing a song or two. My personal interpretation of scripture says 'feed-em first, then preach to those willing to listen', but I don't write the rulebook for today's missions.

Keep coming back for plans on a different shelter&meal plan that I have in the works Solar Kampgrounds and Liberty Villages.

The record will start with Springfield, Missouri, since that is where I started this journey on July 1st, 2007.

• Shelter for men -
  VICTORY SQUARE
  Btwn Division and Commercial on Broadway
  Check-in 4:30, Chapel at 5, Dinner at 6
  Several programs, if desired, 30-day stay, or $8/night for a 4-man room
  Wake-up 6am, breakfast served
  HARBOR HOUSE
  400 Block of Boonville, just north of downtown
  Salvation Army In-patient programming, only
  
• Shelter for women and children, very limited family -
  MISSOURI HOTEL
  About 600 E Commercial (btwn Jefferson and Washington)
  Rooms and In-house dining room - not sure of details
• Day Center -
  BILL'S PLACE
  600 E Commercial - next to Missouri Hotel
  Showers, Laundry, Phone, Clothing, Coffee at 10 am, opens at 9
  Burrell mental health counselors if needed
  THE KITCHEN
  Sharing an alley with Bill's and Missouri hotel, they have a food pantry and medical clinic (open to all). Sometimes will provide funds for ID and such.
• Soup Kitchen -
  HARBOR HOUSE (Saly)
  12-1, seven days a week, good grub and seconds
• Veteran Services -
  The Myrl Billings Memorial Veterans Center
  911 N Boonville
  Coffee, sometimes clothing and emergency funds for bus passes and gas
  Homeless vets can get help obtaining DD-214s, VA medical care, and applying for benefits including service-connected disability and Non-Service-Connected-Pension
  DAV has shuttle service to VA clinics and hospitals
• Buses -
  Springfield has a pretty good bus system
  Runs 6am to 1035pm - seven days a week (tho nights and sundays are limited)
  Cost is $.75 one-way and $1.50 for an allday unlimited-trip pass
  If you have a Medicare care or VA-Disability Award Letter, busfare is one-half
• Libraries -
  Very good library system. Get a letter from mission or send yourself a piece of mail and you will be able to get a limited card (3 book limit, internet-access)
  Closest to shelters is Midtown-Carnegie Branch at jefferson and central. It on the route between Bill's Place and Harbor House

Our next stop is Pueblo, Colorado.

• Shelter for men and women -
  WAYSIDE CROSS RESCUE MISSION
  738 W 4th St
  north of the river;across from Midtown Center. Numbered streets run east-west. I-25 runs north-south. Closest crossstreet is WEST.
  check-in 4pm (m-sat, 330 on sun)
  trade ID for towel, take shower 4-6, chapel 6-630, dinner (pretty good chow)
  lights out in dorm at 830 but TV room open till 1030 with rented movies by staff
  no food/drink in dorm, turn in cigarettes and cellphones before going to bed
  wake-up at 6am, breakfast till 7, off property btwn 8am-330pm
  sunday is a little different. 330 checkin, chapel at 430, dinner, THEN SHOWERS
• Free City maps -
  Chamber of Commerce, 4th and Santa Fe (head east from mission).
• Soup Kitchen -
  PUEBLO SOUP KITCHEN
  422 W 7th (Intersection of 7th and Greenwood (Greenwood is 2 blks from mission))
  1130-1230 Mon-Sat
  SALVATION ARMY -
  520 W 13th - 4pm for supper, only if not staying at mission
• Day Centers -
  POSADA
  1008 N Grand (Grand is 4 blocks east of the mission)
  opens at 8am, get a letter from the mission before you go cause you got to talk to a caseworker before getting any services (run by the county)
  laundry, haircuts, toiletries, phone, mail, clinic (if NOT A VETERAN!! - there is an outpatient clinic in town but must get cleared by Debbie Fowler, 1-800-378-3883, VA homeless counselor in Colorado Springs. Or can Ride DAV van (LaVonne garrison, 295-7263, to VAMC Denver))
  Next door can get clothes and food (pantry)
  FRIENDLY HARBOR DAY CENTER
  724 W 12th (two blks north of Posada)
  9am-4pm
  Established as a waystation for those suffering a mental illness. Friendly folks, air conditioning,free phone,coffee and soda at 25 cents each. Lots of 12-step meetings available.
• Buses -
  Terminal on 2nd btwn Grand & Court.
  Nothing to brag about. 6am-630, six days a week. No buses to Pueblo West. $1 per trip.

Gathering data from other travelers about places I am not planning to visit such as Colorado Springs and Denver. Been there, done that 20 years ago and have no desire to return. Information will be a bit limited till someone fills in the blanks for me.

• Colorado Springs -
  500,000 people and only one shelter
  NEW HOPE (run by Salvation Army)
  120 beds. Most transcients sleep along Fountain Creek when weather permits.
• Denver -
  Mega-millions, mutiple shelters
  FOR VETERANS - Good Samaritan House, stay up to 6 months

I will be going to Grand Junction, Colorado next so I will be filling in much more detail

• 200,000 including Fluta
• Shelters for men
  GRAND JUNCTION RESCUE MISSION (downtown)
  NORTHSIDE SHELTER
  Lots of folks camping out around the colorado river. Lots of work -growing.