New to this

If I don't get an opening into income based housing by may I'm going to have no where to go. I have a job but I cannot afford how expensive rent and utilities have become. Heck I know several people making more money than that are living in their relatives basements or spare rooms. It's jusy gotten ridiculous. I live in a small town and a rural county there's no services for homeless people here. I grew up very very poor. I know I cab get by roughing it in a tent until an apartment opens up. I just don't even know where to start. Like how do you find a place to hide with your tent? My town is so strict about things like that I couldn't even set up in someone's back yard without then getting in trouble. Idk how anyone can be homeless in a rural area like this without getting harassed or picked up by police. Any tips for being homeless in a small town?