Dirty Kids Couchsurfing Coalition was started from a group on facebook for traveling folks of all kinds. The main person who helped pull it together is Madre (Rebecca Powell). She's a friend and has a big heart for people; doing her best to keep travelers warm and safe out of the elements and out of risk when and however possible.
There are all kinds of traveling people involved, but 'dirty kids' was coined from the travelers who showed up at rainbow family gatherings early and who were the ones doing most of the dirty work like digging trench latrines, building bridges, cutting trails, running PVC and setting up kitchens. At gatherings, everyone is considered "kids" or free spirits... so I just want to note that being called a 'dirty kid' is a compliment... as apposed to a bliss ninny... but that's another story.
Among the dirty kids, traveling (family ~ as we'd call anyone with a belly button or without one... ) ... traveling fam can be train hoppers, bus crew, riders, hitchhikers, or any manner of walking or riding, or both, but it's our nomads. Most are pretty self-sufficient, but as you are aware sometimes a little help can save a life, or reunite loved ones, etc. The website didn't really get off the ground for the coalition, but for a few thousand still in facebook groups in that network, some are likely here too. Some dirty kids hate the hippies, I hear of all kinds of separation among different travelers... oogles for example... not all dirty kids are on the 'rainbow trail'...
We call the drunks, shwilly and the assholes crusty... props to travelers, nomads, hobos and dirty kids. I'm a housey with gypsy feet. I try to stay landed but every so often (fairly often), I'm ramblin too... hopefully most of the time in my own car or RV... which is not with me now.... but I'm pretty keen on finding a bus to convert. Doing some work in the meantime will help me make that happen. As for the couchsurfing coalition, there's a lot of couches offered too, I've housed up plenty of travelers in the past through the network, but I don't currently have a permy place, so well... that's it! Later.