It’s difficult, or expensive, to find water access while living on the streets in Florida.
By Mary Stewart
It was 115 degrees outside. I felt like I was going to pass out. I desperately needed a glass of cold water, so I went to a nearby convenience store. I heard that they had a water fountain, but I didn’t know where it was. I asked a clerk, only to be informed that they didn’t give out free water, I had to purchase bottled water instead.
I responded by saying something that was admittedly rude and left the store in tears. Later, I found out where the water fountain actually was, but decided that I no longer wanted to do business at that store. Anyways, the place across the street gave out cups of water for 50 cents each.
Homeless people in Florida are especially prone to dehydration in the summer due to being outdoors most of the time and constantly exposed to high heat and the humidity — we certainly don’t always have spare change to buy a glass of ice water, and we definitely can’t afford bottled water.
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been dripping sweat and feeling like I was about to collapse from the heat. I’ve never gone to the emergency room over this, though. I learned from experience that cold water and a few moments in the air conditioner makes me feel better, but sometimes that’s easier said than done.
I started toting around an empty water bottle or old Gatorade bottle to fill up at water fountains whenever I came across them. However, it’s been harder to find water fountains since the pandemic, and most restaurants have started charging for a cup of water or offering to sell me bottled water as an alternative.
Fortunately, many good Samaritans have given me bottles of water instead of money when I’ve been panhandling. I’ve regularly walked off the corner with more bottles of water than I was able to tote. But, panhandling is illegal in most jurisdictions in Florida.
In desperate situations, I’ve looked for water spigots and hoses behind businesses at the risk of being chased off or “no trespassed.” Therefore, I usually only used spigots as a water source after the businesses were closed unless I was really thirsty and had no other options.
Outdoor water spigots also provide homeless people with a way to wash up when we can’t get to an outreach ministry. I’ve always filled up gallon jugs of water and bathed elsewhere, but I have known other homeless people to actually shower behind businesses.
As a result, many places have started disconnecting their outside spigots. In a way, I can’t really blame them, especially if some people are leaving a mess behind the store, but this leaves us with even fewer sources of water, subject to dehydration or even heatstroke.
While anyone can become dehydrated due to not consuming enough fluids or working all day in the hot sun, homeless Floridians are especially prone to becoming dehydrated by not having our own water spigots to turn to, struggling financially to afford water at all.
True, some of us do have income through Social Security benefits, day labor, or odd jobs, and we still panhandle when it comes down to it. But we’re struggling to make it, and many of us don’t see much sense in spending our little bit of money on bottles of water.
I’ve found some restaurants here and there who are more than happy to give me a free water cup and let me sit in the air conditioning for a little while if they aren’t busy. I started to eat at those restaurants on a regular basis as I knew that I was welcome there and that they’d help me with water and cool air when needed.
Also, some libraries still have functioning water fountains. I often spent time at the public library reading books and going online to get out of the heat. I’d also always try to remember to fill my water bottle while I was there. But some county libraries, such as one in Sarasota, are unwelcoming towards homeless people — particularly if they’re toting large bags.
One affordable water source that most homeless people overlook is the refillable Glacier machines that are at Publix and other supermarkets. I used to fill up entire gallons of water at those machines for 50 cents each. True, the water wasn’t cold, but it was cheap.
Soup kitchens and churches are also good about giving out bottles of water to homeless people. Boca Helping Hands puts bottled water in every lunch bag. But one bottle isn’t enough to survive the entire day outdoors in the Florida heat.
As far as other beverages, alcohol should be avoided or limited in the summer. If you do drink beer, you need to also make sure to drink plenty of water. Sports drinks are also good because they’re flavored and replace electrolytes, but they’re also expensive.
Many people take something as simple as water for granted but when you’re overheated and dying of thirst, a cold glass of water tastes better than anything else in the world. One friend of mine once told me that he didn’t realize until he was homeless that the biggest blessing someone could give him is cold water.
If you’re homeless in the Sunshine State, make sure to drink plenty of fluids, especially water, over the summer months even if you have to scrape up some change to pay for it. For those who aren’t homeless, please be kind enough to help us out with a cup of water. You may even save a life.
