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Survival & Community Resources

Resources for those struggling with poverty, homelessness, disability, healthcare access, and navigating social services. Whether you need immediate aid or long-term strategies, start here.

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Mutual Aid Networks

Connect with networks that support each other directly.

Link Description
r/MutualAid Active subreddit for requesting mutual aid, asking questions, and finding community support.
Mutual Aid 101 Toolkit (PDF) Essential reading. A step-by-step guide on how to build a mutual aid network in your own neighborhood.
Mutual Aid Group Resources Open-source library of templates, guides, and tools for running a mutual aid group (via Mutual Aid NYC).
Steal This Wiki - Survive A comprehensive collection of survival resources, direct action guides, and DIY living strategies.

Poverty & Homelessness

Government & Non-Profit Assistance

Link Description
FindHelp.org Search by zip code for local food pantries, housing assistance, and financial help. Highly recommended starting point.
211.org Call 2-1-1 or visit the site for 24/7 confidential help with housing, food, and crisis support.
Lifeline Program Federal program providing discounted or free phone and internet service for low-income households.
SafeLink Wireless Free smartphone and service for those on SNAP/Medicaid.
LIHEAP Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Help with heating and cooling bills.
Gov Home Repair Programs Directory of federal assistance programs for home repairs and modifications (USA).
ABLE Today Tax-advantaged savings accounts for people with disabilities that allow you to save money *without* losing government benefits (like SSI/Medicaid).
Compudopt Provides free computers, internet connectivity, and technology education to under-resourced youth and communities.
Nolo: Renters' Rights Comprehensive legal encyclopedia covering lease laws, privacy, evictions, and repairs for all 50 states.

Food & Scavenging

FoodFinder Map of food pantries nationwide.
Feeding America Find your local food bank and holiday food boxes.
211 Food Finder United Way's essential resource for finding local food assistance.
Plentiful A free app to find food pantries and reserve times to avoid waiting in lines.
Falling Fruit A massive collaborative map of urban foraging locations. Find free fruit, nuts, and edible plants in your city.
r/DumpsterDiving Community advice, safety tips, and first-hand accounts of finding food and goods in the trash.
Wild Fermentation Guide to preserving food without refrigeration. Learn to make sauerkraut, pickles, and sourdough.
Safe Food Temp Chart Official USDA guide on safe internal temperatures for cooking meat and food handling. Essential for safety.
Eating Acorns Guide Guide on processing acorns (leaching tannins) to make them edible flour. A vital wild food skill.
Guerrilla Gardening Intro to planting food and pollinators in neglected public spaces.

DIY Living & Hygiene

Knowledge for maintaining health, hygiene, and food security with limited resources.

Laundry "Spa Day" Guide A detailed breakdown of how to deep-clean clothes (stripping) to make them feel new again. Useful if you lack regular machine access or buy second-hand.
Primitive Toothcare (Zine) A DIY guide to maintaining oral hygiene without modern dentistry. "Uncivilized" methods for tough situations.
Black Hair Care Tips Guide on textures, products, and protective styles. Written for foster parents, but good for anyone learning to care for Black hair.
Open Printer An open-source thermal printer project.
Ponoko Free Laser Cut Files Downloadable templates, designs, and patterns for laser cutting.
The Big Book of Everything A system for organizing your vital documents and information (financial, legal, medical) in case of emergencies.

Radical Survival

Disclaimer: The following resources cover legally gray or illegal activities like squatting and shoplifting. They are provided for educational purposes only. Kolvas does not encourage nor condone squatting or stealing!

Link Description
It's Vacant, Take It! Essential guide on finding empty buildings, securing a squat, and dealing with property owners.
Squatters' Handbook Practical tips on the legalities of squatting, turning on utilities, and fighting evictions.
Beyond Squat or Rot Explores anarchist approaches to housing, focusing on cooperatives and collective living.
Shoplifting: The Art and the Science (PDF) Educational/Informational PDF. "This book is intended to raise consciousness of what shoplifting entails and what issues are linked to it."
Cloak & Dagger (PDF) Zine covering dumpster diving and other survival tactics.

Disability Resources

Resources for navigating the system as a disabled or neurodivergent person, plus DIY mobility solutions.

Link Description
How to Get On The ultimate self-advocacy guide for anyone homebound or bedbound in the US trying to get disability benefits.
Medicaid Eligibility Check your eligibility for Medicaid or CHIP by state.
Open Source Wheelchairs Free designs and resources for building your own accessible mobility devices.
Notes on Managing ADHD Practical strategies for managing life with ADHD without letting it conquer you.
Goons with Spoons A wiki of cooking resources and recipes designed for "spoonies" (people with limited energy/chronic illness).
AAC Image Library Augmentative and Alternative Communication resources for those who need non-verbal communication tools.
Can I Play That? Video game accessibility reviews for deaf, blind, and disabled gamers.
Autism’s Confusing Cousins Article by Awais Aftab exploring the blurry lines between autism, personality disorders, and trauma.
ASAN Resource Library Autistic Self Advocacy Network. Resources written by autistic people, for autistic people.
Autistic Guide to Voting (PDF) Accessible guide to navigating the voting process, registration, and rights for autistic people.
What to Expect at the Doctor and in the Hospital (PDF) Tips and advice (life hacks!) for autistic trans people about finding and going to doctors.

Healthcare & First Aid

Free & Low-Cost Access

Link Description
GoodRx Compare pharmacy prices and get free coupons to lower prescription costs significantly.
ScriptCycle Another option for prescription discounts.
Zenni Optical Affordable glasses online. Can be used to order eyewear without verifying a doctor's prescription (you can input your own numbers if you know them).
OpenAPS The Open Artificial Pancreas System project. An open source effort to make safe and effective basic Artificial Pancreas System technology widely available to reduce the burden of Type 1 diabetes.

First Aid Guides

Link Description
Treating Stab Wounds Critical guide on how to treat a stab wound in an emergency.
Adult CPR Step-by-step guide to performing adult CPR.
Child & Infant CPR Specific CPR techniques for children and infants.
Pet CPR How to perform CPR on cats and dogs.
Heimlich Maneuver Instructions for adults, children, and infants.

Sexual Health & Prevention

Link Description
Sterilization-Friendly Gynos A crowdsourced list of gynecologists willing to perform tubal sterilizations without gatekeeping.
Opill The first FDA-approved over-the-counter birth control pill. No prescription needed.
Free the Pill Directory of where to get birth control pills online, including low-cost options.
HIV.gov Locator Find testing sites, housing assistance, and health centers near you.
State PrEP Assistance Programs List of state-funded programs that help cover the cost of PrEP.
HeyMistr Free online PrEP and STI testing. Prescribed online and delivered to your door. Very LGBTQ+ friendly.
Freddie Online PrEP access. Get prescribed and delivered.
Gilead Advancing Access Manufacturer assistance program for covering the cost of Truvada/Descovy (PrEP).
How to Get Free Condoms GoodRx guide on locating free condoms in your area.

Misc

Link Description
VitaminDWiki Comprehensive, science-based information on Vitamin D supplementation (for those who don't get enough sun/outdoors time).
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory A searchable database of doctors and providers in the USA who have verified they are queer-safe and competent.
Healthcare Bill of Rights A wallet-sized PDF you can print that lists your legal rights as a queer patient. Good to carry with you.
Kids Help Phone (Canada) 24/7 mental health support for youth. Excellent self-guided resources for anxiety, depression, and crisis.

Education & Employment

Link Description
Honest Jobs Employment marketplace specifically for people with a criminal record.
freeCodeCamp Learn to code for free and earn certifications. A solid path to remote work.
Open Learn Free courses on a huge variety of topics, many with certificates of completion.
Atomic Hands STEM education resources in ASL (American Sign Language).
Be There Certificate Free, self-paced course on how to recognize when someone is struggling with their mental health and how to support them.

Immigration

Safety Note: If you are undocumented, be careful sharing personal details online. Use a VPN and Tor Browser when researching legal options.

Noticia de Seguridad: Si usted no tiene documentos o papeles, que tenga cuidado cuando este compartiendo detalles personales en linea. Use un VPN y/o el browser TOR para investigar opciones legales.

Site Description
ICE List "The ICE List Wiki is a public, verifiable record of immigration enforcement activity in the United States."
Immigration Equality The leading LGBTQ immigrant rights organization. Provides direct free legal representation to asylum seekers.
Know Your Rights with ICE Crucial guides on what to do if ICE comes to your home, work, or stops you on the street. Available in multiple languages.
National Immigrant Justice Center Provides legal services specifically for LGBTQ+ immigrants, including those in detention centers.
LGBT Asylum Project San Francisco-based group helping LGBTQ+ immigrants seeking asylum in the US. Great for high-risk cases.

Disclaimer & Legal Notice

Educational Purpose Only: Kolvas (including "We," "Us," "Our Website," and "The Website") provides this information solely for educational, informational, and harm reduction purposes. We do not endorse, encourage, or support any illegal activities. Users assume full responsibility for their actions and use this information entirely at their own risk. Kolvas cannot be held liable for any direct or indirect consequences arising from the use of the information provided here.

Copyright & DMCA Compliance: We do not host copyrighted or illegal materials on our servers. All content on this website is protected under our constitutional right to free speech and self-expression. We respect intellectual property rights and will comply with valid DMCA takedown requests. If you believe your copyrighted material has been posted without authorization, please contact us at k0lvas@proton.me for removal.

Non-Affiliation: Kolvas is a grassroots community resource. We are not associated with, funded by, or affiliated with any terrorist organization, hate group, or violent extremist entity. We firmly condemn all acts of terrorism, violence, and bigotry, whether domestic or international.

Acceptance of Terms: By accessing and using this website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these terms.