Some shelters require You to only stand in line at the shelter, some require You pay at least ten dollars a night after 7 free nights. In Oklahoma city the night shelter You stand in line at the light pole until 6p. Then sign up, and they let you in to get a bed at 8p. Once you go through that process, you automatically go in at 6p, as long you reserved your bed in the morning.
I think you have to ask the people that are working at type of shelter you are at and I think answer all your questions and some places will easer than others to get help
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