It might worthwhile to make your own portable shower rather than relying on a Loves/YMCA or gym membership Example: https://youtu.be/XEnlZeRu3x0 Fancier builds are possible depending on what one has to work with. Example: https://youtu.be/MoiBSK5G_K4 At that point, it becomes only a matter of finding a source of water and a private spot to use it.
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Public parks with water fountains are rad for freely filling up large jugs at odd hours. Many supermarkets have water vending machines that are relatively cheap if other clean water sources are hard to find. Generally, it is a good practice to map out areas that have been helpful for survival (e.g.: pin these locations on Google Maps for future reference).
Since it is a bummer to wear dirty clothes after showering, similar considerations can be applied to laundry. Some use little handcranked or pedal-powered washing machines, or make one out of two industrial buckets and a sink plunger. To be honest, I find a lot of that impractical. A small washboard and a large bowl for holding wash water is good if you can manage it. Where to ring out and hang?
Availability of showers and laundromats is variable for me. I rely heavily on disinfectant wipes to keep fresh, shampooing and brushing whenever I can refill my water bottle. I also regularly spray down my clothes with antibacterial laundry spray and let them air out. If I have enough water while out in the desert, I will sometimes wash things by hand or in a small zipper bag too.
I have never had to take care of a pet out in the wild/on the streets, but that adds other factors to it. The portable shower might help to keep Ella clean too. I did hear about one guy using his food money to regularly buy things that both he and his dog could eat rather than buying separate food for them both. These little ideas sometimes go a long way in helping one to save money over time.
...Anyhoo, you are probably already familiar with all of this. If it is not helpful, let me know and I will shut up. A lot of the worry and stress that I had when homelessness was suddenly thrust upon me would have been lessened if someone had shown me how to find reliable ways of meeting our basic needs. I always try to do the same. Take care.
LLT - definitely appreciate the thought, consideration, and share. Right now, it's mostly a financial obstacle to getting a lot of that sort of thing in place. I'm managing alright, for the time being. Not saying it's not a struggle, but I've got other things to prioritize. Also, I don't wanna settle into homeless life too much, a little discomfort is good motivator!