Your Alias

If you are on the streets you need to have an alias or street name that you go by. If nobody makes one up for you then just make something up for yourself. Whatever you do don't go by your real name. Even though you don't expect to get into trouble, sometimes trouble finds you when you're homeless. Sometimes you need to just pack up and go. Maybe you've made an enemy. Maybe the cops are looking for you. The last thing you want is anyone knowing your real name.

Most of the guys I know on the streets I don't even know most of their real names. In Laguna Beach there was a guy named Big Jim. He was one of the first people I met when I became homeless. There was Hollywood, Stix, Spider, Chaz, Cowboy, Red, White Bear, Legend, and J just to name a few. Some of those names really fit the person. Spider looked liked a spider and Stix was known for carrying around his drumsticks every where he went and playing the drums on anything he could find including garbage can lids. One day Stix got into a fight with another homeless guy and actually poked the guys eyes with his drumsticks and went to jail for assault.

You don't have to come up with a colorful nickname. Really it can be anything, just don't go by your real name. While you are homeless someone will give you a nickname and it will stick. And if shit ever goes down they won't know who to look for.

If you hang out in one spot long enough the cops will know you by your alias and your real name so this only works if you can manage to stay out of trouble or don't stay in one place too long. It does you no good to have a great alias that everyone knows and when something happens the cops are looking for you anyways. It's always best to keep a low profile.