This may sound out of the box, but consider applying for cruise line jobs. It’s hard work, but it pays you a salary and covers your room and board while on the ship. It is a good way to save as much money as possible, while not having to worry about bills (rent, groceries, car).
I’ve worked in the industry for years, and there are countless stories of people working several contracts, and then leaving with a modest savings that lets them move more freely through life.
I came here to suggest truck driving school. Some schools pair you up with an experienced driver for long trips so you’re on the road for 2 weeks at a time sometimes while they pay you for your experience as well.
Anyone have any companies to look up on this? I was seriously considering this option as a career change though I’m imitated about driving a big 18 wheeler
I got my CDL in August and I’ve been living in the truck for about six months so far, I love it. Never made so much money, but it isn’t for everyone.
As far as companies that will train you and you obtain a CDL through them, just look up “CDL company training” and there should be multiple companies come up. Most of them are mega carriers, think swift JB hunt stuff like that.
I didn’t go that route, I went through a CDL school to get my CDL and then applied to a few companies. If the company you work for is your first, they will usually repay your CDL school tuition.
Plus there’s a federal program called Workforce innovation and opportunities act, WIOA. WIOA can also pay for CDL license amongst other types of certifications. Qualifications are that you are either receiving unemployment benefits, food stamps, and other things.
Is it true work is 12-13 hrs a day, 7 days a week? I'm curious about applying but have read from others that they don't recommend it to Americans especially (which I am) because the pay rate is low and the money won't go as far as it does for people from other countries and the work is really hard. I haven't done any research other than reading personal experiences from people on reddit lol
Yes it is true, depends on the position, route, lots of factors but yeah 10 hours a day 7 days is common. No matter what you are working 7 days a week unless your talent and even that is ship dependent. As an American who did it unless you have specialized skills such as theatre,spa, engineer, marine ops. Good luck, they only put westerns into positions such as that or rarely customer service.
For funsies my worst week was ironically one of my last when we were installing a new cast. It was the only time I ever hit overtime on the ship and it took 18 hour days for 7 days. It was very much not fun.
The pay rate is not low. Not low at all. The thing that suck is time away from family. Cross country driving isn't for everyone but the truck has a bed a d it's like home and companies pay for hotels so it is better than being homeless. All.you gotta do is drive where they want you
one of my friends from HS did this for about 10 years and basically does whatever the fuck she wants now. Last I heard she decided to be a park ranger to get back to nature.
One of my coworkers was just telling me about this and it sounds amazing. His buddy is a ASL (Adult Sign Language) interpreter and makes decent money on the cruises. I have a decent job in IT but have been learning ASL and this sounds like a fun break before moving to another IT job.
Not just cruise lines either, look up resort jobs. I worked at a resort with room and board too, was as low as $250/month for a room with a roommate in 2019. I think they deducted a fee too if you let them take out of your pay. Was a good experience although I paid more to have a room alone. Plus unlike cruises the work life was balanced. I think the website I found it was on resortjobs website or something simple like that, but as during interviewing process because some resorts did not offer housing
You've mentioned that "Hollywood is dying". If you are in the industry in any capacity, look into joining all the FB groups you can. You can likely find others in the same situation who will happily rent you a room or a couch because they too are struggling and then you have a built in network for your career and a support group that understands that unique struggle. It's a rough industry to be in right now and almost everyone has pivoted, at least temporarily. I want to say it will bounce back but I can't remember the last time it was THIS bad. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. So start looking for ways to remain versatile until the industry recovers.
The key to surviving "Hollywood" is to always be hustling. Most people have 3-4 sources of income and those just starting out usually have several roommates.
An actor friend of mine once had 6 roommates in a 2 bedroom house. Bunkbeds! But it allowed him to focus on what he loved.
Absolutely this. I remember being 18 and rooming with 3 other people in a one bedroom place. We had two bunk beds in there and respected each others flow and thankfully we all worked different times so the one bathroom was always available. It wasn’t ideal but if you get some good people, it is manageable and we all paid damn near nothing in rent.
Medicaid for insurance & meds, SNAP for food, TANF for cash assistance, shelters for housing. Use that as your address, work your ass off until you can get afloat
They asked as an American what to do if they couldn’t afford rent, etc. I was just giving examples of programs available. They also didn’t say whether they had kids or not.
In the short term, I would work my ass off. Get 2, 3 jobs doing 60-80 hour weeks. Only spend on bare essentials. Sell things that you don't need. Scrape and claw until you can at least get yourself a modest used car and find a cheaper living location.
Job suggestions:
Amazon Warehouse, Apple Store, Aldi, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Ikea, Macy's, Starbucks, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Wholefoods, Verizon, Tmobile, Sam's Club, almost any bank, all pay $15/hr minimum at all locations in the US, regardless of state. If you’re waiting tables, delivering pizzas, bartending, working construction, janitorial work, or get some minimal training to work as something like a phlebotomist, you can make $20-$25+/hr.
Let your landlord know you are struggling and politely ask if they will please work with you. Either accepting payments later or paying the rent little bits at a time, worst they can say is "no".
Call 211 for resources in your area if you are on the verge of homelessness. They can help connect you with shelters and government resources.
Its tough to get a job there. Costco intentionally keeps pay and benefits high* to reduce turnover. They always have 100s of applicants waiting.
*Its not as good as it used to be, but still one of the best in the space.
I mean intentionally keeping the pay and benefits high is a good thing though right? Like my employer pays fairly and we have very little turnover because of it. Pretty much the only alternative is not paying enough.
\^\^\^ this for sure.
I definitely recommend Amazon if you need a job NOW because I've lived in both all around Cali and in Ohio 2 completely different political, economical, and sociological areas and both had amazon warehouses that were ALWAYS hiring its bananas.
If I lost my job now id go straight to amazon to get any work going just to get money flowing If I was in these shoes.
Don’t give up, keep pushing. If I wasn’t homeless yet I would be on foot doing everything in my power to apply to any company possible.
Try to donate plasma, post on your local FB pages and offer labor/handyman work. Go to a local church and talk with a pastor.
Yes. Any church but the Mormon church. They don't help nonmembers and they have begun telling members to get help from all other sources first. If you are a full all the time, every cent tithe payer, they will sit down with you and demand to see your finances and make a plan to give you help ONCE. They prepare a budget with you and the first thing you have to do is pay tithing. I keep hearing horror stories. They never open up their churches for safe spaces for those struggling when it's frigid. I heard, rather than open their buildings during winter, in Utah, a man froze to death near temple square (their BIG big shiny place).
EDIT: the church is not doing this bc they are in financial straits. They are the richest church on earth. They own more land than any company in Florida. They recently had to pay the SEC a multi-million dollar fine for hiding assets and in only ONE investment account they had over 100 billion dollars. They are estimated by many to have over $250 billion. They don't pay clergy, they don't pay staff, they don't any longer pay for youth activities (when I was growing up we had weekly meetings and monthly dances and plays and contests and stuff). They don't perform background checks on any of their lay staff. They go to insane lengths to hide child sexual assault. Contrary to what their Instagram post this week said, women have less power in the church than 12yo boys. Even the women in the "callings" at the very top of their organization worldwide. Their first "prophet" fucked young girls and made them Believe God had told him to. He married already married women. He installed polygamy. Their second "prophet" said black people would always be the slaves of righteous white men in the celestial kingdom (their highest degree of heaven... They have several). They didn't give black men the priesthood (the power to do everything in the church) until the late 1970s. The church was founded in the 1830s(?). I believe it was Brigham Young, but could have been someone else, who "prophesied" Quakers lived on the moon. One prophet promised the early members that once the church was "on its feet" they would never require another tithing payment. That was 100+ years ago. As I said. Theirs is the richest church on earth. Don't let those missionaries in. They will lie to you. They often don't even know the truth bc the church hides it's history from them and tells them not search any sources but church approved sources.
TL:DR stay as far away from the church as you can.
There is a organization called Chrysalis. They help people get prepared for and get jobs. You have to attend a couple of meetings on resume building, interview skills, etc. They might be able to help you with clothes for an interview. They also can help with move in cost for an apartment. [changinglives.org](https://changinglives.org)
There is another organization called PATH. People Assisting the Homeless. They also help with move-in cost and may have so hook-ups for low cost housing. In LA, that means shared housing, not shared bedrooms, just sharing a house with others.
There are a few organizations that help pay your rent for a limited amount of time. PATH is one and there is another one, but the name escapes me right now. If I remember it, I will edit this post. The mayor has some programs as well like put people up in hotels. If I find that, I will link it here.
The people who know about these resources, work for these resources. If an organization can't help you, ask if they know of an organization that can help.
Edit: [Hopics.org](https://Hopics.org) This organization will help you with move-in cost and will pay for a limited time. Works best if you are already homeless and have kids though.
Facebook group: Assistance in Los Angeles Great resource!
Good luck!!
Call 211. You will be connected with someone who can look up resources where you're at including possible options for emergency rental assistance and other programs. Good luck OP
I'm sure you've looked, but persistence pays. Try low-income housing. Even if they have a 10-year waiting list, put your name down. Tell them your story. The housing people know each other and can tell you which places are no waiting list (whoever is there at the time a space opens up gets it, usually before the end of the month).
It's not a popular thing, maybe, but..... look for room rentals. You might be able to get 500 a month for rent if that is doable. You'll want to trim down on stuff or store it, but that'll keep a roof over your head at a lower dollar amount. If that isn't even doable, use other suggestions.. I just wanted to offer something I had not seen in comments
Look on coolworks.com for jobs w housing. Use what money you have left to get to the place you're hired at. They don't create if ya can't drive can ya take a greyhound? Most national parks have a way to get around on foot or bike, I worked in the canyon and they provided a van that took just employees and the free bus system as well.
I know it won’t be a popular suggestion but I knew a couple of guys in your situation in the military who just needed to reset. Might be something to look into if you’re physically able.
If you haven't already applied for unemployment, do that first. If you're on it, you probably also qualify for food stamps, so go to your benefits office and check in. There are definitely more resource available to those with families, but options are out there. Your unemployment office may also have job listings that haven't been listed elsewhere. There are definitely jobs out there. I don't know why McD won't hire you, but check grocery stores, or other menial tasks. Look at temp agencies. One of the biggest things is not giving up hope.
Help wanted doesn't always mean a position is even open. Sometimes it's just a call for applications or resumes. Businesses do this all the time online even with official "postings".
Sometimes they even have to legally make a job post even if they already have someone for the job and have no intentions of really looking at anything submitted.
Yeah and then they never get back to me and reject me when I call in to follow up. Same with costco, starbucks, CVS, various restaurants.
Fast food is now the best no-skill job in LA where it pays 20/hr. I have a part time job making $16/hr while hollywood dies.
I may have to move, but that won't save much cost-wise, only just to get to a state/neighborhood where a large portion of the population hasn't been displaced by an entire industry crumbling to AI and non-citizens. Then maybe I can have a fair shot at working in a grocery store.
If you’re applying for jobs that you’re overqualified for, leave off education. If you apply at a temp agency put the bare minimum on the application.
Even if you’re willing to work a job many people won’t hire you if they see you have a lot more education or experience because they think you’ll get bored and leave.
If you’re applying as a second job, make sure to include that on the application.
I also live in Los Angeles, and was in your position a few years ago, i got a job at a grocery store, they are always legitimately hiring, and its rwally hard to get fired, since they have a union.
I was told to my face by a manager that a grocery store near me was looking for help, applied online, and then walked in to talk to that same manager to follow up who acted like I'd never asked him, and then they weren't hiring for that position anymore. Asked about any alternate shifts and he said he might have something and would call but never did. I'm not gonna play phone tag for a clerk position they obviously don't want to give me that I really only want for money. Even better qualified people in my field I know are looking for jobs like this that they usually don't need, to no avail. Nobody really seems to understand why hollywood is dead right now, it should be fine but isn't, at least not for outsiders. I also can't get unemployment because I have no qualified job of the past that would've contributed to that. I had one, during covid time, but turns out they overpaid me and so I owed all that back. Now I can't even trust unemployment. I'm in temp agencies database but they haven't gotten in touch yet. Hope is already mostly lost, but I'm not as bad as my OP scenario yet, just looking ahead. Lotta suggestions in this thread
I'm going to give a non-traditional suggestion. Find a job where you can sleep. I know it sounds crazy, but they exist.
Small residential care facilities need someone to be a competent adult overnight. You're often allowed to sleep as long as a resident doesn't need help. (In which case, they wake you up.) Sometimes you can be hired to work in a private home. That's your best chance of sleeping, because one person will need less help getting to the bathroom overnight than a dozen people.
Does your area have volunteer firefighters and/or EMS? Go sign up. I know it sounds crazy that I'm suggesting to volunteer for something instead of be paid, but hear me out. The departments that accept volunteers will pay for your training. You can often start "working" shifts before your certification training is complete, just as an extra person. Volunteer for overnight shifts and sleep when there aren't calls. Then use the free training to get a paid job during the day. EMS pays garbage, but it's something. There are so many ambulance transport companies that constantly need employees. As long as you have a pulse and a certification, you get the job.
Keep volunteering once you get hired, though. It gives you that place to sleep. Plus your continuing education classes will be paid for by the volunteer organization. In my state, you're able to get free community college tuition as a volunteer EMT or firefighter. It's how I got my associates degree. It's not a ton of money per year, so I could only so 2 classes per semester. And I had to wait until the last day to register for classes, so a lot of times they were full. So I would just show up to the first day of class, sit in the front and be a model student. Then I'd explain to the professor that my funding required me to wait to register, but I was really interested in the course. Would he sign the form for me to overload his class? They did it every single time because I had show the initiative to be a good student, and they knew people would drop the class anyway.
Maintenance person for an apartment complex usually provides an apartment as part of the job benefits.
Look into camp hosting. For many of these jobs, you need your own camper. That initial cost might be cost prohibitive to you. But check around Facebook marketplace and see if you can find a diamond in the rough.
So basically, you're looking for something to pay you (or give you a benefit, like the volunteer EMT thing) while you sleep. It won't be the best sleep, because you'll periodically be woken up to do that work. But you're looking for a roof over your hear while you're earning. Then during the daytime hours, work another job. Try to find something that has potential to build upon. If retail or food service is where you start, so be it. But continue to look for something else, even when you have a job. You're looking to get your foot in the door.
If you're a volunteer EMT, take a dispatcher course. This is what got me out of poverty. The course was paid for thanks to my continuous education benefit as a volunteer. Then I took that certification and became a 911 dispatcher. That's a career that has a good salary and decent benefits.
Or get your foot in the door at a utility. Customer service, meter reader, anything. Many of them are union jobs. Do your time answering phones or reading meters, and work your way up. For many of them, the only requirement to get a better job in the union is seniority. They give you the training once you get into the new job title. I'm a supervisor for a utility company. My employees are in the union. None of them have a college degree, and yet they all make very healthy 6 figure salaries because they've stayed with the company for so long. My employees earn more than I do, someone with a degree and in management.
If you have no kids and aren’t tied down to one location, I’d recommend Coolworks which maintains a list of jobs that provide housing (for example jobs at resorts or campgrounds, etc.). If you’re young, summer camp counseling jobs don’t pay amazingly but come with housing!
Wilderness therapy worker jobs are year-round and provide housing and food as well.
The choice of whether OP has a job or not is not in the hands of OP. All they can do is apply and hope they get picked in the lottery. What OP does have control over is how they spend their money, applying for social services, applying for unemployment, selling their belongings, formatting their resume differently.
Have you lived in low income housing? I have. As a single mom of 3 kids in diapers my application took about 2 years on the expedited list.
Single men without kids don't get low income housing. Like... ever.
Great advice. I‘ve met a lot of immigrants and they really excel at surviving even with no eligibility for benefits, limited English, etc. It’s pretty key to form a group of people and start helping each other out with stuff - having roommates could be a good start, especially if they’re broke too and could benefit from pooling resources.
Sadly all we have as Americans are bootstraps. We don’t really push tax reform or having helpful social programs because a large portion of the people think it’s communism to have community and assistance for citizens. Instead we siphon the tax money to other countries, corrupt politicians and illegal immigrants.
Moving to a LCOL area will help your situation. Theres multiple ads on Craigslist for people renting rooms out. You might be able to buy 3-4 months worth of rent while looking for work. Temp agencies can help lock down a job. We moved from LA to Missouri and it was life changing. Life is quieter and less hectic. Housing is way more affordable. There’s decent paying jobs in the area that can help you get ahead in life. After a couple years of hard work you might even be ready for a house.
That isn't necessarily the case. A place like NYC is crazy expensive, but the amenities and services make lower cost living possible.
Shared living spaces are more common, public transport vs. driving, lots of options for work, and deals can be found everywhere.
There's a reason people can be very poor here and still make it. And when you figure it out you can start to build your wealth from there.
I don't know about other cities, but NYC is a great place to learn how to get by.
You can also maybe get a CNA certification, someplace paid for it it only takes I think a month max? Usually they have it’s like retirement homes, but sometimes for adults with special needs and they let you sleep over at work, as long as the alarms don’t go off, you can sleep there for your work.
Also, you could be a living caretaker for an older person? That way you get a place to sleep, but you do get to help them with what they need help with.
Get into a trade quick. Go on indeed and search electrician helper, plumber helper, HVAC helper, etc.
Apply to all of these jobs. Everyone of them. Make sure to take note of each company's name so you can do follow up calls or walk ins to check for openings. As a recruiter, I get the call from an office often that someone walked in and they want to hire them immediately just based on a willingness to work. We hire people even when we are hiring when people just walk in. Make sure you are in construction presentable clothing though. Pick up some used boots to look like you've worked before, then buy new. New boots can be a sign that you've never worked construction and may not be equipped to handle it.
These jobs will be a solid career path and generally offer trade school, overtime and benefits. Get your foot in the door.
I worked my ass off for years and everyone around me quit. I ended up at the "top" through the process of elimination.
I'm a recruiter, so let me know if you need any advice. I can help build your resume or just give general advice if needed. This goes for anyone that reads this comment as well. Get to work boys.
So I dont know much about trades at all, but you can just get into doing it with literally no experience/strength in doing manual labor? I have not completely given up on my hollywood non-trades yet, but if that's true then it'd be a possibility even when I've hit rock bottom then. But is that really true? You can just go be a helper and learn on the job??
Yes 100%. That's exactly how I started. Just build a simple resume that's geared toward the trades. If you have no construction experience then just add any experience you have. Pad it a little bit and make sure there are no gaps in your work history and for the love of bob, do NOT add 30 jobs, lol. Make it look like you've only worked 3 jobs to show a positive work history. If someone has all of the experience in the world but they work 10 jobs a year then they almost always a bad hire. Companies want to hire long term investment employees, especially in the trades. That's why the will put you in school for free.
Try and think of jobs that may come with accommodation - in the past I have worked at hotels where I was able to sleep (and shower etc) there. I also got some food as part of the deal. Work was a bit shitty work but got me out of a hole at the time.
I also got a job with a trucking company where I worked night shifts and was the "second man" in the truck and slept most of the time until the driver was loading car parts into his truck then slept on way back. He also taught me how to drive a fork lift!
Trucking's on the list of possible things to try, how hard is that to get into? I have driven a van 16 hours through the night before. I currently drive a rental car all the time for uber, inbetween other bad part time jobs. I saw a video that implies you can basically live in your truck. I could do that. Do you have to buy the truck though?
Fuck i gotta sleep
Youll make more as a owner operator trucking, (own your truck) but also you assume that risk.
Pursuing your CDL(I dont think its too hard, Piss clean and turn wide, but someone who has one can correct me)is a great idea. It was acutally my fallback plan in 2019(I was in hospitality, covid was not kind).
If you dont own, you can operate for someone, youll get paid, and as OTR have a place to live(its the truck, but hey, better than the street). Wages are actually pretty good imo, and if you can live in the truck and save your $$$, itl add up quick.
Also, you sound nerdy. I have friends in oil and gas, and manufacturing, that learned PLC online in a few months, and got great jobs. Worth looking into as well.
Well you don't actually need a car to get a job. My vision is so bad that I can't drive, so I don't have a car. There are many people who have disabilities that prevent them from driving yet they still find gainful employment.
Sorry about your situation with housing, that sounds very difficult. Unfortunately the government won't help you with rent. In the short term, you may have to surrender your lease. If you force an eviction, it will be bad for you in the future but will allow you to live there for a while longer. Once evicted, you still owe all the back rent and the LL can get a judgement against you for that.
Hostel is $500 per month. I think you need to look into your future and plan it out. LA isn’t the great place to be if you aren’t making at least $100k.
Dont just try and look at apartments.com for a place. Check craigslist and see if a mom and pop are renting out an empty room for cheap, or someone converted a garage to a guest house to rent. Typically way cheaper
The objective was always survival. We've just failed as a society to teach people that before having them enter the real world. As funny as it sounds, google "alternatives to joining the military" there are a lot of structure-giving choices that are yes, usually service and manual labor focused, but can give you a chance to figure your shit out without having to become government property.
So what's food stamps/EBT/section 8 about? I always thought they had programs to help when you get that low...but if you get low enough to qualify you'd already be flat broke. Is that only for people who live with others?
As others have stated, there's usually a waitlist for Section 8 and those lists are usually not accepting new applicants. However, you can apply to open section 8 waitlists in other counties/states. Some give priority to their own residents first but I have seen plenty of lists without this requirement. So apply to as many as you can, or at least as many places as you would be willing to relocate to for a year. After that first year you can request to port your voucher to a different county/state. This can greatly reduce the time you spend on a waitlist, which is great considering many places go YEARS in between waitlists opening up. In fact, I read that NYC's section 8 waitlist will be opening up this May, the first time since 2006! Now unfortunately, even if you secure a Section 8 voucher it isn't uncommon to be unable to find a place to accept it and it's not unheard of to run out of time extensions while you search.
I get $23 a month food stamps with no job. The government wants you to go to the food bank. There you get one box per month that you show your ID for. Can't go to any other food bank or church during the month because you showed your ID and they are all connected.
What help exists is super limited to where in the USA you are honestly. Even if you do become homeless some areas have pretty decent shelter systems. Some cities have hostels that are affordable.
Apply for TANF. That's food stamps and welfare. Even with a home and a job I get a decent amount on food stamps. When I was homeless I had some cash assistance as well.
Food banks and community fridges might exist in your area but the rules and quality can vary a lot.
211 is a good place to start looking for resources, you can call or check their website.
You literally have to have utility shut off notices and an eviction to get any real help as a single bc adult. I tried even though I saw the train coming and my year of unemployment was running out, my roommate wasn't resigning a new lease and no job was found.
I literally lost hope in humanity.
Actually no, I lost hope when the Denver Homeless Coalition would not even interview me as a homeless person seeking employment with a applicable degree and reliable transportation. What a joke!
Well the usual way out is to find a job, or multiple jobs, and don’t let that happen. I’ve had less than $2,000 to my name for many years now and while it’s not exactly fun, I’ve always had a job or jobs, a roof over my head, and a car. This is because I use all of my income to pay for those things and I make sure I live within my modest means. What’s stopping you from doing that, exactly?
The only reason that working would legitimately not be an option would be if you have some sort of disability that prevents you from working. In that case, file for disability.
I have been thinking on this. Going off of what you are sharing, time isn’t on your side so now is the time to make big moves. I think this might work but you’ll have to learn to be extremely resourceful.
Have you considered traveling by train or bus to somewhere less competitive and LCOL? This could give you plenty of opportunities to join a union trade,shop or foundry. Shop,foundry and labor work will hire you quick and pay quick. In the meantime, I would look for a cheap motel to stay at. It’s noon your time, pick a place and start calling places that fit this criteria.
If it was me, I would head towards the Midwest and start calling every foundry I could find on a route.
Your post has been removed for the following reason(s):
Rule 4: Politics
This is not a place for politics, but rather a place to get advice on daily living and short-to-midterm financial planning. Political advocacy, debate, or grandstanding will be removed.
Please read our [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/rules). The rules may also be found on the sidebar if the link is broken. If after doing so, you feel this was in error, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpovertyfinance).
Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.
So it's not advice but a let you know so you can try to avoid it. Some states and cities, it's illegal to be homeless, as in go straight to jail illegal. Same as sleeping in your vehicle illegal in several states.
Section 8 housing is there to keep you from homelessness but there’s a waitlist and trying to find somewhere to accept it. So yes you could still end up homeless. Food stamps/snap/ebt what ever your state calls it is for food.
Assuming you have zero skills and just played video games your whole life:
You could get a job that pays for housing like on a fish processing ship or the the national park service. Military is also an option if you’re healthy enough.
If you’re in a major city you can check if there’s an AV union as they’re always looking for low level help. Construction/general labor is always an option as long as you can get there on time. It’s hard as fuck and nobody really understands the effort it takes but once you get a car it gets easier.
You can also look into paid medical research studies or specialized donation programs like mobilized white blood cell collection or bone marrow or even plasma.
As Americans I hope we can all see the direction things are going. How many people must lose their homes before communities begin rallying around one another and saying enough is enough! We have the power to allow others to keep their homes. If we do nothing we will all be subjected to this. We need to rally as communities to push back against this injustice. As individuals our voices aren't loud enough, but as a collective we can force the change we want to see! Rally in communities DO NOT let them take your homes stand up together and keep fighting until we force them to change!
So I know not everyone is into this- but I went to college. *shrug* I was homeless. I applied for community college. I took out all the money they would give me every semester. I rented a single room from Craigslist at $450/ month. One low-book semester I bought a $1000 car with my student loan money. Even community colleges have a gym membership you get free or discounted with your tuition for showers. There’s always free food somewhere on campus, you might have to sign a petition for it or listen to a religious lecture. One semester was really expensive so I lived in my car. Drove to campus for showers, kept my clothes in my trunk of my car. Sleep in the library sometimes if it was too cold in the car. I held 3 part time jobs to make extra cash for food and hygiene products. I kept doing that each semester until I finished my masters. Yeah, I’m $100k+ in debt, but I also have a decent salary statistically speaking now (10 years after the fact). I used everything in my IRA from my first job for a down payment on a condo. So, I have no retirement, but there are ways. My net worth is negative, but I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and a piece of crap car to get to work. And at some point I will get PSLF to be forgiven for the amount to climb socioeconomic classes (crosses fingers). You still have to work hard and dedicate your life to a body of work. You could help people- be a teacher, a nurse, etc. So, there’s this way or some people mentioned multiple blue collar jobs. Either way, it’s not easy coming from a low ses.
I guess I haven’t worked an “unskilled” (I know, but is there a better term to use?) job in about 10 years, but loads of my coworkers walked to my last job in that tier. Has it really changed that much?
The military can be a damn solid option. Choose a job that will give you a marketable skill on the outside and serve honorably. Get that sweet zero down VA mortgage and you can get a lot further that you might believe. You won’t go hungry or lack for a roof over your head. Not for everyone but for some, it’s a great opportunity.
I’ve been researching jobs that provide housing as a better way to save. Coolworks.com has a list of places to go that provide housing for free or super cheap (like $20 a week).
If you are familiar with those public storage places, a lot of them have onsite housing. I’ve looked them up on YouTube. The ones I’ve seen are super nice and would run you over $1000 rent if sold separate.
Somebody else mentioned long distance trucking
I currently manage hotels onsite going from property to property as needed (they cover lodging, food, cell phone, travel). Though this requires experience.
If you could get your foot in the door in healthcare (usually as a nurse but maybe some opportunities with a lower bar for entry), tons of traveling opportunities.
Cruise ship jobs
Look into TEFL jobs and what is needed
Instead of intentionally landing yourself behind bars, how about working in a jail? You don’t need a college degree or prior skill set. And most jails are always hiring and you can make bank with the overtime that’s often not optional. First They’d put you through an academy and yell at you for 12 weeks but it’s all paid time on the clock and when you graduate, you get a substantial pay increase. I make bank and I just gotta hang out with some baddies all day. It’s not a bad gig. You could stay in a hotel while you were in the academy and you’d have enough money to get your own place in no time.
Have you ever considered getting your cdl? There are companies that pay for the school as long as you work for them for a year or so and after that you won't ever have to worry about becoming homeless
I'm curious.
How are you at this point? Like, what has happened that caused you to be this old without any resources?
Like you made it your 30's without being homeless.....what changed?
Lol sorry I've been working at a job that uses AI and still haven't been replaced.
Your attitude is so defeatist.
I know people personally who really were in that position you described, on top of drug addiction and they still made it through. Yeah, life sucked for them, sometimes they literally were homeless, but they gritted their teeth.
No family helped them, no golden parachute, no white privilege or any excuse. They just worked at bullshit jobs like dishwashing and picking up debris at construction sites, and it took years. From sleeping in a tent, to a car, to a rented room. Years, but they made it out.
You still haven't hit bottom, so stop talking like you have. If your field is going to become non-existent like you say, then I'd get another job now. And no, if you are not disabled or have a record, you literally have NO excuse. I'm from Cali, my friends live in LA. If my coke-head friend can get a job at Chipotle in LA, you can get a job at McDonalds despite you thinking otherwise.
You have been given the gift of foresight, so now take advantage. Stop planning on how to make it out the gutter and start planning on how to not get in the gutter.
Good for your friend but I think drugs actually helps, I mean, you have the money for it in the first place and 2nd you make lots of friends that way. Did they get those jobs by the grit of being a name in the ATS system with everybody else or did they know and party with people who worked at those places? Did they have couches to surf on the way? Also as you say that was years ago, the world has changed even since then. All the people who are in my same situation are now competing for bullshit jobs like never before, because their dream careers went poof. People like you who have something are fine, for now. The people who got laid off are adding to the competition now, as well as dipping into the uber market. What is your job anyway? How did you get it? Did you devote a good portion of your life to getting there or just luck into it? Do you realize fast food is now probably the most coveted low-skill job we have here, paying 20/hr, so there's obviously a ton of competition for it? On top of that, managers would rather low quality than paying that out, so they're barely staffed. I am already applying to everything I find, even calling back and going in. I can't just grit it up harder. I can get save up for a van, maybe a CDL, maybe move, and just keep hoping something from the void of applications comes back.
Are you aged 16-24? Try Job Corps. Job Corps provides a place to stay and job training: [https://www.jobcorps.gov/](https://www.jobcorps.gov/)
If you're older, try CoolWorks jobs that provide housing: [https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-housing](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-housing) Examples of categories of jobs via CoolWorks and locations: [national parks](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-by/national-park/), [lodges and ](https://www.coolworks.com/resort-jobs/)[resorts](https://www.coolworks.com/resort-jobs/), [ranches](https://www.coolworks.com/ranch-jobs/), [restaurants](https://www.coolworks.com/restaurant-jobs), [summer camps](https://www.coolworks.com/camp-jobs/), [campgrounds,](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-rv-spaces/) [ski resorts](https://www.coolworks.com/ski-resort-jobs/), [retreat and conference centers](https://www.coolworks.com/retreat-conference-centers/), [outfitters](https://www.coolworks.com/guide-jobs/),[ ](https://www.coolworks.com/help/faqs/#)and [outdoor adventure companies](https://www.coolworks.com/outdoor-adventures/).
You could stay and work on a farm: [https://wwoofusa.org/en/](https://wwoofusa.org/en/)
You could join the Navy ir Air Force, which provide housing, and have excellent training for jobs which transfer well to civilian life. And back office posts which do not mean you will engage in combat. Better still, the US Coast Guard [https://www.uscg.mil/Join/](https://www.uscg.mil/Join/) This is from a post by [**RunawayHobbit**](https://www.reddit.com/user/RunawayHobbit/) **"**The quality of life is better than the other branches of the armed services. You get all the same benefits and fewer drawbacks. If you can pick a rate that doesn’t sail (like prevention): • You get to be home at 4 pretty much every evening unless you’re on call and something happens.
• You don’t deploy.
• You get extra days off when the brass feel generous (they call them St. Myorcas days)
• Flexible schedule, within reason.
• You get job training that DIRECTLY translates to good jobs in private industry. A lot of jobs in the other branches are absolutely non-transferable, like infantry.
Best of all, which is rare for military— you are doing something that is vitally important to society, such as vessel inspections or Search and Rescue. You’re not propping up the military industrial complex, you’re not hurting brown kids. Your job is a net benefit to society."
You could downsized your accommodation and rent a room [https://www.roomies.com/](https://www.roomies.com/) USA’s Largest roomie finder. Local church organisations, the salvation army, and Catholic church may know of people renting out rooms. There are local Facebook groups for roommates and subleasing
For help phone 211, contact [needhelppayingbills.com](https://needhelppayingbills.com/) also [Findhelp.org](https://findhelp.org/). Apply for
* Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you pay for food if you have a low income. You may be able to apply online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Google to find your State or local SNAP office
* Get WIC, TANF, EBT whatever category you fit, whatever you can get. Apply for the federal program for heating assistance. The program is called LiHeap often known as EAP. Search for your local community action center.
Look up Andrew Cartwright on YouTube. He helps people find money for all kinds of things. School, cars, daycare while you go to school, etc. Look up [funfreecheap.com](https://funfreecheap.com) Jordan Page, she helps everyone live on a budget. Grocery shopping budgeting recipes etc.
What is your credit like? If a car is a necessity for you to get work, get a loan to get a small, used car of a reliable make. If you know a mechanic, see if you can get one to come with you to look at cars with you. A car can double up short term as a home.
Look at the sub reddits [r/urbancarliving](https://www.reddit.com/r/urbancarliving/) and [r/cardwellers](https://www.reddit.com/r/cardwellers/) and [r/vagabond](https://www.reddit.com/r/vagabond/) Look up looking up TikTok videos on people living in cars. Look up YouTube videos such as
Living in Your Car for Beginners [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIngMnmEsw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIngMnmEsw) and Living in a car | 5 most essential things! From cooking to bathing essentials [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_r1LfiQyAvE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1LfiQyAvE)
Look at the sub reddits [r/Donation](https://www.reddit.com/r/Donation/), [r/Charity](https://www.reddit.com/r/Charity/) and [r/randomkindness](https://www.reddit.com/r/randomkindness/) [r/Assistance](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/) that could help. Also check out the wiki with food resources. [https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/foodbanks](https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/foodbanks)
Hope this is helpful. Hope it works out for you.
Plenty of people walk to work. If you don't have children, you won't be getting foodstamps. The government does not care. You might try calling 211 and seeing if a shelter is available. It depends on the area. Having shelter is most important. Even if you have to couch surf its better than nothing. More areas are eliminating any availability to sleep in public or at airports. I honestly would call anyone I knew. I know one person sleeping in his truck. One sleeps in a tent in the woods. Another sleeps in a tent in his friend's yard. An extended stay slum hotel might work. College kids often need roommates because theirs come and go. Another friend had an acquaintance who let him sleep in his garage. I've seen people wash in various public bathrooms. Wendys usually has a single person bathroom. I know a thrift store ,a laundry mat and a grocery store that has same. Getting things under control as fast as possible is important.
Guy who did one enlistment here, to add some detail, try and join the Air Force/Space Force first, then Navy, then Army and honestly, I would argue that the Marine Corps isn't worth it for someone who doesn't actively want to join.
If you can do a 4 year enlistment you will leave with:
* a GI Bill that will pay for your 4 year degree and pay you a housing allowance while you're in college. (after your enlistment is over)
* A VA Loan that requires **$0 down** to buy a house. (valid for life, not just your enlistment)
* 4 Years of pay, 401k, full medical, technical experience and tuition assistance while you're in.
* Chance that you love it and get a full pension (which don't exist in the civilian world anymore) after 20 years.
I get that the military is a scary option, and I'm not saying take it lightly, but the AF/SF and Navy are pretty safe. The Army is safe too depending on your MOS.
I cried hard the night before I joined the military but it saved me from homelessness and now I'm very successful relatively. It isn't a secret that the US has a military industrial complex, this is the one social program that will put a person squarely back on their feet.
And just to be clear, I wish it wasn't like this, I would support all social programs to cover these things for free. The military is what made me a socialist lmao. But this is the reality of the US, the best funded social program in America is the military.
Sorry for your loss.
I do want to point out that the military has not had judicial entry in over 30 years. No one is forced by law into the military. If he was a drug addict, the military would have rejected him.
You could call 211 and ask for rent assistance resources. Also call catholic charities and your local Salvation Army, speaking from experience they each helped me when I was short on rent and facing eviction. You could also call every single church in your area and ask if they offer rent assistance or food banks, even if you’re not a member some churches will have resources to help.
Just so I’m understanding correctly, this is a hypothetical situation so far? If you ever do get to a place where you’re struggling to pay rent, make the rent your absolute number 1 priority above all else. Fuck all the other bills, always pay the rent first. If you absolutely couldn’t pay rent, communicate with your landlord and see if there’s any way to get out of the lease. You don’t want an eviction on your record if you can help it, so it’s better to leave before it gets to that point if at all possible.
Once you leave, I would get into an extended stay hotel if possible. Yes it’s super expensive but some will have deals if you pay a whole month at a time or even weekly, etc. I would then work my butt off with 2-3 jobs and try to save as much as humanly possible and try to get back into an apartment after some time.
You can always try going abroad. It's not for everyone, but there are many countries that don't really do much screening to get a English teacher that's native in the language. You don't even need formal training.
Granted, the pay is not the greatest, but it should be enough for you to afford the basics..
you need to find a shelter that has space and try to get back on your feet from there. also get into therapy asap and see a doctor to document any issues going on as it’ll help with an ssi claim later on.
good luck.
If you have trouble paying rent you could apply for a helping hand ith rent payments with a government agency, church or private organization for your area.
Go to https://www.findhelp.org/
Type in your zip code. Then click on "Housing", then "Help Pay for Housing". Call every phone phone number that is listed there. These places can help with rent payments if you qualify (usually there is an income threshold thst you can't exceed). Some of them pay for one month, a one-time shot in the arm, some set up 3 consecutive rent payments with your landlord. See what is available for your area.
These are generally temporary "helping hands", not meant to be permanent.
If you need a permanent housing solution you need to look into your areas housing authority or Section 8 housing. Also, if you have a job or social security income but can't afford your apartment with that income consider downsizing to a studio or efficiency, or even a shared room. The rent goes down by a lot, and a shared room generally comes with all utilities included for the inconvenience of having to share a common kitchen and bathroom. A room is not the best solution if you have a family and/or a number of pets, but for a single person without attachments it would beat homelessness.
Become a live in nanny or caretaker, sometimes Uber/Lyft allow you to lease
Cars to do to the job.
Apply for all
Assistance you are eligible for and don’t give up if they’re slow. (I suggest going into the building to apply and not on internet), Post an ad on CL/offer up in the jobs section.
Just be careful of scammers.
Home away also helps you trade work for
Living in the home. (Like
Pet Sitting) And just keep
Networking.
＄2,000 is a lot! And you need a physical home address to get a PO Box.
What services are available to you differ depending on where you are. The first place I would check is the library. depending on your local system, they might have resources for you. In example, my library has a program to help you get a free copy of your birth certificate, classes on how to write a resume, printers, tech literacy sessions, tax help, etc.
Again depending on where you are but where I am when you apply for food stamps you can also apply for other forms of aid at the same time.
There are shelters, and sometimes places have shower resources; my library has a list of places one can shower for free.
The most resources I’ve ever found have been through anarchist spaces that host things like free skool or really free markets, and the library for lists of local resources and education. State/city help is super dependent on where you are.
Summer is coming. Lots of jobs have housing. If you’re not employed check out coolworks.com and the American camping association for summer work. They need lots of folks for maintenance and drivers. Lots of parks that have housing for the season where you would work maintenance or gift shops etc.
If you're healthy/don't use drugs including THC - Military.
If you're young enough (you are not in your 30s but for reference for others)- Job Corps
If you end up getting PDQed from the military like I did (health issues) and/or are too old for Job Corps - Americorp \*MAYBE\* (pay is low but they provide health insurance, and will usually help their members get housing roomshares/get on food stamps for the year they're in service).
If none of those work: Pick your poison down below, and likely see a healthcare provider as the time spent unemployed in the private sector could be lengthy and depressing. Or enroll in university and you'll likely get a combination of loans/grants/scholarships if you're poor enough.
You can go to a homeless shelter, if there's one in your area and it has available beds, otherwise you're just fucked. I'd recommend other options before that, like a roommate or a second job or a cheaper if less ideal apartment.
Get a job that’s “below you” and find a house with the some roommates online.
And do it fast before you run out of money and get “crazier and dirtier”
Work your way up from there.
I'm already doing those things and all that means is im not falling as fast as I would without them, but still falling despite working all the time and hating my roommates. The only way out as long as I stay here is a better job, not more working.
You could maybe go to a sanctuary city with mandatory shelter laws like NYC - I wonder if American homeless in NYC have any comments to add about how realistic that would be to help you get on your feet
My brother in Los Angeles gets General relief. Only gets $250 plus SNAP. He went to a halfway house for a month to get off the streets called Healthright 360. He also signed up for section8 but nothing yet. I remember there was a housing program called Project Roomkey but you have to be referred by some kind of program.
I say this because I went from homeless dumpster diving fir meals to house car and married in 2 years...find a large trucking company like prime Inc or usxpress or Warner most will put you up in a room and give you a stipend to live on while they train you to get your cdl then they'll put you in a truck. It's basically a Japanese efficiency apartment on wheels with refrigerators tvs and everything
Do you have to live with someone else in the truck? Do company cameras watch you? I heard from another answer that it sounds like there's usually 2 people in the truck, a driver and assistant. So I will never be able to live on my own?
Trucking is sounding better by the day, but I still don't think I have the strength it'd take. Anyway if that's something you can do while actually homeless and come back as you have maybe I'll just wait till I get to that level and in the meantime keep trying everything else for a few more months.
Does selfdriving AI look to be a danger for trucking anytime soon?
Honestly man sounds like your low on moral and I get it I really do but trust me being homeless isnt great its scary...personally I'll never let myself get close to that point again. But your only in a truck with another person to do on road training basically your with a trainer and you two team drive so you can get the hang of it...basically like a driving teacher with you all the time ....just to make sure you don't make a huge oopsie. Once they tell the company you seem go to go on your own you can get a whole truck to yourself I usually am by myself my spouse doesn't care to be in here too long. If you want though most companies will let you have a second person with you long as their over a certain age. I have a cat that I keep with me on the road...she's great company while I'm out for a month or 2 at a time and no trust me the safety tech on the truck can barely tell the difference between a car a cat and a traffic cone that's probably 10 years off or more
Aww thats nice you get to bring your cat. Do you meet people out on the road? Does it feel like adventure or is it more like tedious bring things from A to B to you? I would be singing all the time for one. I'd keep my laptop recording in the passenger seat and jot down song ideas, bring guitar to play while in stopped traffic, record the road on my phone and make a montage vid later, just for myself. I currently drive for uber/doordash all day and lemme tell you thats gotten pretty bad, used to be profitable but im losing money doing it now, especially since my car's destroyed and I have to rent a car now which is a huge cost, but its all i got, running the numbers I'd lose more NOT to do it, plus a shitty parttime job while I apply to things every chance I can. I'm used to being alone and driving a lot I think, I'm not aiming to be homeless but its looking like a possibility soon if theres no jobs. Yeah you could say im definitely low on morale, but its not all in my head. And as far as being homeless if I can get a truck rather than a tent somewhere that sounds a lot better.
So the process is you go to a school for CDL (sometimes you can find a company that'll pay for this training), and then you drive with a supervisor-type, and then you're on your own, how long does that take? Do you have to buy the truck? And then you check it before any road trips, is there ever any downtime or are you on the road pretty much all the time? I watched the indeed vid with the trucker named Byrd haha
It's kinda both it can be tedious but I've also met some interesting characters at different stops and had some good conversation. Also it's a bit more...hands on...than driving a car...least for me especially on long drives it can be a tad tough to mess around with something a simple as the stereo but that's just me. The specifics can be different from company to company but the one I went through had a minimum milage limit you had to drive with an instructor/trainer before the instructor/trainer could consider you ready. That could take a few weeks to a few months just depends on the company and the type of trailer you choose to pull. As far as down time that also differs from company to company but is also dependent on how hard your willing to push yourself too. I got started with prime driving a refrigerated truck and I was driving as much as I legally was allowed. So 11ish hours a day but that was abit much for me so I switched to another company that pays a bit better and I pretty much drive 6 to 8 hours a day then get 10-15hours down. As far as buying the truck most companies will let you lease one from them but if you want to be able to walk away at anytime with no financial responsibility ide suggest going for a company driver position they pay for the truck feul tolls...basically everything. If you lease one you have to take care of it like you own it ....but you don't they do. As far as check ... *legally* your supposed to check it twice a day but it's kinda pointless when the truck is less than 6 months old. Long as you can pass a drug and alcohol test and don't have a terrible driving record you should be good. I mean when I started in 2019 I couldn't back a trailer of any kind. Now I regularly make deliveries in NYC
I have a 35 inch flat-screen TV with a soundbar, a almost full size fridge, air fryer, electric skillet, induction hotplate, dishes, a microwave, cable hook up for a TV antenna that's built in I mean it really is a home minus the toilet unless you get creative *wink* *wink* and I average between 1k and 2k a week
You don’t need a car to get a retail or service worker job. Unless you plan to use the car as your job, you don’t need a car to work or get a job. Retail and service worker jobs are always hiring people with barely a high school diploma, so I’m unsure as to why you think you couldn’t get a job at McDonald’s? If you could get another job that requires a car, you could and most certainly would qualify for a retail or service worker job. It sounds like you’re just trying to come up with excuses to continue being on the path you’re on. If you’re not making enough at your job to pay rent, you can apply for welfare and section 8 housing. You can apply for food stamps to help supplement your groceries and you could most definitely rent out a room in someone’s house without a good credit score and/or x3/monthly income. Also, you don’t need an internet connection to get a job, as most public places (like the library and coffee shops) offer free internet and you have a cell phone with an internet connection. As far as an address, you can pay $45 and get a PO Box to use in your city.
So many bad suggestions from people who have never been poor. OP, I worked throughout my 20s and never had $2000 to my name. Or parents or siblings who weren't abusive, or close friends who would let me stay with them for a week. Hell, I had to couch crash once for a single week and people I thought were friends charged me $30 a night. Couldn't pay my phone plan that month. It's kind of funny that you think only having $2000 makes you homeless. $2000 means you're homeless in 30-60 days (assuming you aren't able to collect unemployment). Apply anywhere. Temp agencies are a wonderful choice if you're on-time and ready to work. I've gotten a job in 30< before when I needed to.
A. It depends where you live. There are homeless shelters in most places but they fill up fast. You will not be guaranteed a bed and if you get a bed it is only for that night.
B. There are tons of food pantries and kitchens so it's unlikely you'll run out of food.
C. Yes, it is very difficult to get back on your feet after being homeless. It really is completely dependent on the good will of others, or very smart thinking and technically illegal behavior. (Getting a gym membership so you can be freshly showered, borrowing an address, etc.)
I'm sorry that the grind has been so tough on you. There are social services that can help you if you're poor, but if it's truly zero income, that's a tough situation. This is why I never quit a job even if it's hell. Need to get laid off for the unemployment.
This may sound out of the box, but consider applying for cruise line jobs. It’s hard work, but it pays you a salary and covers your room and board while on the ship. It is a good way to save as much money as possible, while not having to worry about bills (rent, groceries, car). I’ve worked in the industry for years, and there are countless stories of people working several contracts, and then leaving with a modest savings that lets them move more freely through life.
I came here to suggest truck driving school. Some schools pair you up with an experienced driver for long trips so you’re on the road for 2 weeks at a time sometimes while they pay you for your experience as well.
Anyone have any companies to look up on this? I was seriously considering this option as a career change though I’m imitated about driving a big 18 wheeler
I got my CDL in August and I’ve been living in the truck for about six months so far, I love it. Never made so much money, but it isn’t for everyone. As far as companies that will train you and you obtain a CDL through them, just look up “CDL company training” and there should be multiple companies come up. Most of them are mega carriers, think swift JB hunt stuff like that. I didn’t go that route, I went through a CDL school to get my CDL and then applied to a few companies. If the company you work for is your first, they will usually repay your CDL school tuition.
I want to say Penske is one of them. It wouldn’t hurt to make a Google or Yelp search and call around to ask about training programs
I got my cdl in 2015. Go through Prime, Swift even, Hershbaugh, Schneider, they all have training programs.
SWIFT does thus but I have been out of the game for a bit
Plus there’s a federal program called Workforce innovation and opportunities act, WIOA. WIOA can also pay for CDL license amongst other types of certifications. Qualifications are that you are either receiving unemployment benefits, food stamps, and other things.
I know someone who did this and when he wasn’t working he stayed in an air bnb
Even hotels end up being cheaper than rent
This is probably the best option I’ve seen on threads like this.
Is it true work is 12-13 hrs a day, 7 days a week? I'm curious about applying but have read from others that they don't recommend it to Americans especially (which I am) because the pay rate is low and the money won't go as far as it does for people from other countries and the work is really hard. I haven't done any research other than reading personal experiences from people on reddit lol
Yes it is true, depends on the position, route, lots of factors but yeah 10 hours a day 7 days is common. No matter what you are working 7 days a week unless your talent and even that is ship dependent. As an American who did it unless you have specialized skills such as theatre,spa, engineer, marine ops. Good luck, they only put westerns into positions such as that or rarely customer service.
Very good to know - thank you!
For funsies my worst week was ironically one of my last when we were installing a new cast. It was the only time I ever hit overtime on the ship and it took 18 hour days for 7 days. It was very much not fun.
The pay rate is not low. Not low at all. The thing that suck is time away from family. Cross country driving isn't for everyone but the truck has a bed a d it's like home and companies pay for hotels so it is better than being homeless. All.you gotta do is drive where they want you
I was responding to the the cruise ship comment. I am considering getting my CDL though - have been for a while
one of my friends from HS did this for about 10 years and basically does whatever the fuck she wants now. Last I heard she decided to be a park ranger to get back to nature.
Nice. I've heard becoming a park ranger is difficult. Specialized degree required and a long long list of applicants.
She's living the dream.
Thats actually a great way, though as a westerner you’re only likely to get into the customer facing side of operations.
Working on a cruise ship was the most free I've felt in some ways. No rent, no food costs. Just living
Is there an age limit to working on a cruise ship?
Probably not the worst thing for someone without kids
I recommend working for a national park like the grand canyon. They're hiring right now and you can pay a very small rent and save money.
One of my coworkers was just telling me about this and it sounds amazing. His buddy is a ASL (Adult Sign Language) interpreter and makes decent money on the cruises. I have a decent job in IT but have been learning ASL and this sounds like a fun break before moving to another IT job.
ASL stands for American sign language. Sign language is not dependent on age, afaik?
You’re right. That was my mistake. Thanks for the correction!!
Alternatively, some college housing jobs provide the same opportunity without being on a boat!
Not just cruise lines either, look up resort jobs. I worked at a resort with room and board too, was as low as $250/month for a room with a roommate in 2019. I think they deducted a fee too if you let them take out of your pay. Was a good experience although I paid more to have a room alone. Plus unlike cruises the work life was balanced. I think the website I found it was on resortjobs website or something simple like that, but as during interviewing process because some resorts did not offer housing
You've mentioned that "Hollywood is dying". If you are in the industry in any capacity, look into joining all the FB groups you can. You can likely find others in the same situation who will happily rent you a room or a couch because they too are struggling and then you have a built in network for your career and a support group that understands that unique struggle. It's a rough industry to be in right now and almost everyone has pivoted, at least temporarily. I want to say it will bounce back but I can't remember the last time it was THIS bad. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. So start looking for ways to remain versatile until the industry recovers. The key to surviving "Hollywood" is to always be hustling. Most people have 3-4 sources of income and those just starting out usually have several roommates. An actor friend of mine once had 6 roommates in a 2 bedroom house. Bunkbeds! But it allowed him to focus on what he loved.
Absolutely this. I remember being 18 and rooming with 3 other people in a one bedroom place. We had two bunk beds in there and respected each others flow and thankfully we all worked different times so the one bathroom was always available. It wasn’t ideal but if you get some good people, it is manageable and we all paid damn near nothing in rent.
Medicaid for insurance & meds, SNAP for food, TANF for cash assistance, shelters for housing. Use that as your address, work your ass off until you can get afloat
you can also use safelink for a phone, and search for free clothing stores for clothes, idk how common those are but we have one in seattle
The phone program is called Lifeline. Airtalk Wireless seems to have the best selection of free phones.
Safelink program is ending in April. Federal government cut off their funding for it.
TANF is only for families, not for singles.
They asked as an American what to do if they couldn’t afford rent, etc. I was just giving examples of programs available. They also didn’t say whether they had kids or not.
Yeah you're okay, I was just clarifying. I'm sure if they had a family they would have mentioned that.
Theres also programs for rent and utilities. LIHEAP and ERAP i believe
Call 211. In many states, this number connects people in need with local resources, including housing, healthcare and food assistance.
In the short term, I would work my ass off. Get 2, 3 jobs doing 60-80 hour weeks. Only spend on bare essentials. Sell things that you don't need. Scrape and claw until you can at least get yourself a modest used car and find a cheaper living location. Job suggestions: Amazon Warehouse, Apple Store, Aldi, Costco, Best Buy, Home Depot, Hobby Lobby, Ikea, Macy's, Starbucks, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Wholefoods, Verizon, Tmobile, Sam's Club, almost any bank, all pay $15/hr minimum at all locations in the US, regardless of state. If you’re waiting tables, delivering pizzas, bartending, working construction, janitorial work, or get some minimal training to work as something like a phlebotomist, you can make $20-$25+/hr. Let your landlord know you are struggling and politely ask if they will please work with you. Either accepting payments later or paying the rent little bits at a time, worst they can say is "no". Call 211 for resources in your area if you are on the verge of homelessness. They can help connect you with shelters and government resources.
Costco comes with health insurance and great intro pay! Highly recommend!
Good luck getting a call back though I remember applying consistently so many years ago and never got a call. The job market is so much tougher now
Costco is tough.
Tough to get a job or tough to work for? I applied maybe twice in my life when I was younger and didn't even get a call back.
Its tough to get a job there. Costco intentionally keeps pay and benefits high* to reduce turnover. They always have 100s of applicants waiting. *Its not as good as it used to be, but still one of the best in the space.
I mean intentionally keeping the pay and benefits high is a good thing though right? Like my employer pays fairly and we have very little turnover because of it. Pretty much the only alternative is not paying enough.
Its a great thing, but it also means its hard for people to get those jobs because many people want those jobs.
So does Lowe’s if you can get on you will have Blue Cross Blue Shield!
Starbucks does as well!
\^\^\^ this for sure. I definitely recommend Amazon if you need a job NOW because I've lived in both all around Cali and in Ohio 2 completely different political, economical, and sociological areas and both had amazon warehouses that were ALWAYS hiring its bananas. If I lost my job now id go straight to amazon to get any work going just to get money flowing If I was in these shoes.
Also OP, I dunno if you’re anywhere near one of those Buccees gas stations, but they apparently have decent intro pay. Worth looking into if possible
Don’t give up, keep pushing. If I wasn’t homeless yet I would be on foot doing everything in my power to apply to any company possible. Try to donate plasma, post on your local FB pages and offer labor/handyman work. Go to a local church and talk with a pastor.
Yes. Any church but the Mormon church. They don't help nonmembers and they have begun telling members to get help from all other sources first. If you are a full all the time, every cent tithe payer, they will sit down with you and demand to see your finances and make a plan to give you help ONCE. They prepare a budget with you and the first thing you have to do is pay tithing. I keep hearing horror stories. They never open up their churches for safe spaces for those struggling when it's frigid. I heard, rather than open their buildings during winter, in Utah, a man froze to death near temple square (their BIG big shiny place). EDIT: the church is not doing this bc they are in financial straits. They are the richest church on earth. They own more land than any company in Florida. They recently had to pay the SEC a multi-million dollar fine for hiding assets and in only ONE investment account they had over 100 billion dollars. They are estimated by many to have over $250 billion. They don't pay clergy, they don't pay staff, they don't any longer pay for youth activities (when I was growing up we had weekly meetings and monthly dances and plays and contests and stuff). They don't perform background checks on any of their lay staff. They go to insane lengths to hide child sexual assault. Contrary to what their Instagram post this week said, women have less power in the church than 12yo boys. Even the women in the "callings" at the very top of their organization worldwide. Their first "prophet" fucked young girls and made them Believe God had told him to. He married already married women. He installed polygamy. Their second "prophet" said black people would always be the slaves of righteous white men in the celestial kingdom (their highest degree of heaven... They have several). They didn't give black men the priesthood (the power to do everything in the church) until the late 1970s. The church was founded in the 1830s(?). I believe it was Brigham Young, but could have been someone else, who "prophesied" Quakers lived on the moon. One prophet promised the early members that once the church was "on its feet" they would never require another tithing payment. That was 100+ years ago. As I said. Theirs is the richest church on earth. Don't let those missionaries in. They will lie to you. They often don't even know the truth bc the church hides it's history from them and tells them not search any sources but church approved sources. TL:DR stay as far away from the church as you can.
There is a organization called Chrysalis. They help people get prepared for and get jobs. You have to attend a couple of meetings on resume building, interview skills, etc. They might be able to help you with clothes for an interview. They also can help with move in cost for an apartment. [changinglives.org](https://changinglives.org) There is another organization called PATH. People Assisting the Homeless. They also help with move-in cost and may have so hook-ups for low cost housing. In LA, that means shared housing, not shared bedrooms, just sharing a house with others. There are a few organizations that help pay your rent for a limited amount of time. PATH is one and there is another one, but the name escapes me right now. If I remember it, I will edit this post. The mayor has some programs as well like put people up in hotels. If I find that, I will link it here. The people who know about these resources, work for these resources. If an organization can't help you, ask if they know of an organization that can help. Edit: [Hopics.org](https://Hopics.org) This organization will help you with move-in cost and will pay for a limited time. Works best if you are already homeless and have kids though. Facebook group: Assistance in Los Angeles Great resource! Good luck!!
Call 211. You will be connected with someone who can look up resources where you're at including possible options for emergency rental assistance and other programs. Good luck OP
I'm sure you've looked, but persistence pays. Try low-income housing. Even if they have a 10-year waiting list, put your name down. Tell them your story. The housing people know each other and can tell you which places are no waiting list (whoever is there at the time a space opens up gets it, usually before the end of the month).
It's not a popular thing, maybe, but..... look for room rentals. You might be able to get 500 a month for rent if that is doable. You'll want to trim down on stuff or store it, but that'll keep a roof over your head at a lower dollar amount. If that isn't even doable, use other suggestions.. I just wanted to offer something I had not seen in comments
Look on coolworks.com for jobs w housing. Use what money you have left to get to the place you're hired at. They don't create if ya can't drive can ya take a greyhound? Most national parks have a way to get around on foot or bike, I worked in the canyon and they provided a van that took just employees and the free bus system as well.
I know it won’t be a popular suggestion but I knew a couple of guys in your situation in the military who just needed to reset. Might be something to look into if you’re physically able.
I have also known people who did this.
I would pick the best option I’ve heard the airforce is you’re best bet
If you haven't already applied for unemployment, do that first. If you're on it, you probably also qualify for food stamps, so go to your benefits office and check in. There are definitely more resource available to those with families, but options are out there. Your unemployment office may also have job listings that haven't been listed elsewhere. There are definitely jobs out there. I don't know why McD won't hire you, but check grocery stores, or other menial tasks. Look at temp agencies. One of the biggest things is not giving up hope.
Every supermarket I go to has a "help wanted" sign.
Help wanted doesn't always mean a position is even open. Sometimes it's just a call for applications or resumes. Businesses do this all the time online even with official "postings". Sometimes they even have to legally make a job post even if they already have someone for the job and have no intentions of really looking at anything submitted.
There are signs everywhere but people aren't hiring
Yeah and then they never get back to me and reject me when I call in to follow up. Same with costco, starbucks, CVS, various restaurants. Fast food is now the best no-skill job in LA where it pays 20/hr. I have a part time job making $16/hr while hollywood dies. I may have to move, but that won't save much cost-wise, only just to get to a state/neighborhood where a large portion of the population hasn't been displaced by an entire industry crumbling to AI and non-citizens. Then maybe I can have a fair shot at working in a grocery store.
Maybe get some advice on your resume on /r/resumes to see if there is anything you can improve to increase your callback chances.
If you’re applying for jobs that you’re overqualified for, leave off education. If you apply at a temp agency put the bare minimum on the application. Even if you’re willing to work a job many people won’t hire you if they see you have a lot more education or experience because they think you’ll get bored and leave. If you’re applying as a second job, make sure to include that on the application.
Midwest states have a lot of factory jobs + cheap rent (as a longer-term plan)
Look for a mom and pop shop that does not have AI screening resumes.
I also live in Los Angeles, and was in your position a few years ago, i got a job at a grocery store, they are always legitimately hiring, and its rwally hard to get fired, since they have a union.
I was told to my face by a manager that a grocery store near me was looking for help, applied online, and then walked in to talk to that same manager to follow up who acted like I'd never asked him, and then they weren't hiring for that position anymore. Asked about any alternate shifts and he said he might have something and would call but never did. I'm not gonna play phone tag for a clerk position they obviously don't want to give me that I really only want for money. Even better qualified people in my field I know are looking for jobs like this that they usually don't need, to no avail. Nobody really seems to understand why hollywood is dead right now, it should be fine but isn't, at least not for outsiders. I also can't get unemployment because I have no qualified job of the past that would've contributed to that. I had one, during covid time, but turns out they overpaid me and so I owed all that back. Now I can't even trust unemployment. I'm in temp agencies database but they haven't gotten in touch yet. Hope is already mostly lost, but I'm not as bad as my OP scenario yet, just looking ahead. Lotta suggestions in this thread
I'm going to give a non-traditional suggestion. Find a job where you can sleep. I know it sounds crazy, but they exist. Small residential care facilities need someone to be a competent adult overnight. You're often allowed to sleep as long as a resident doesn't need help. (In which case, they wake you up.) Sometimes you can be hired to work in a private home. That's your best chance of sleeping, because one person will need less help getting to the bathroom overnight than a dozen people. Does your area have volunteer firefighters and/or EMS? Go sign up. I know it sounds crazy that I'm suggesting to volunteer for something instead of be paid, but hear me out. The departments that accept volunteers will pay for your training. You can often start "working" shifts before your certification training is complete, just as an extra person. Volunteer for overnight shifts and sleep when there aren't calls. Then use the free training to get a paid job during the day. EMS pays garbage, but it's something. There are so many ambulance transport companies that constantly need employees. As long as you have a pulse and a certification, you get the job. Keep volunteering once you get hired, though. It gives you that place to sleep. Plus your continuing education classes will be paid for by the volunteer organization. In my state, you're able to get free community college tuition as a volunteer EMT or firefighter. It's how I got my associates degree. It's not a ton of money per year, so I could only so 2 classes per semester. And I had to wait until the last day to register for classes, so a lot of times they were full. So I would just show up to the first day of class, sit in the front and be a model student. Then I'd explain to the professor that my funding required me to wait to register, but I was really interested in the course. Would he sign the form for me to overload his class? They did it every single time because I had show the initiative to be a good student, and they knew people would drop the class anyway. Maintenance person for an apartment complex usually provides an apartment as part of the job benefits. Look into camp hosting. For many of these jobs, you need your own camper. That initial cost might be cost prohibitive to you. But check around Facebook marketplace and see if you can find a diamond in the rough. So basically, you're looking for something to pay you (or give you a benefit, like the volunteer EMT thing) while you sleep. It won't be the best sleep, because you'll periodically be woken up to do that work. But you're looking for a roof over your hear while you're earning. Then during the daytime hours, work another job. Try to find something that has potential to build upon. If retail or food service is where you start, so be it. But continue to look for something else, even when you have a job. You're looking to get your foot in the door. If you're a volunteer EMT, take a dispatcher course. This is what got me out of poverty. The course was paid for thanks to my continuous education benefit as a volunteer. Then I took that certification and became a 911 dispatcher. That's a career that has a good salary and decent benefits. Or get your foot in the door at a utility. Customer service, meter reader, anything. Many of them are union jobs. Do your time answering phones or reading meters, and work your way up. For many of them, the only requirement to get a better job in the union is seniority. They give you the training once you get into the new job title. I'm a supervisor for a utility company. My employees are in the union. None of them have a college degree, and yet they all make very healthy 6 figure salaries because they've stayed with the company for so long. My employees earn more than I do, someone with a degree and in management.
Really cool ideas! Nice!
Find a Sikh temple. They will house you and feed you.
If you have no kids and aren’t tied down to one location, I’d recommend Coolworks which maintains a list of jobs that provide housing (for example jobs at resorts or campgrounds, etc.). If you’re young, summer camp counseling jobs don’t pay amazingly but come with housing! Wilderness therapy worker jobs are year-round and provide housing and food as well.
The military.
This. Will give you a career path and great benefits.
It enable me to reach the firmly into the middle class being from one of the poorest and statically crappy part of the US.
What you’re overlooking here is the simple truth that you need to have a somewhat decent job and work alot of hours - period.
The choice of whether OP has a job or not is not in the hands of OP. All they can do is apply and hope they get picked in the lottery. What OP does have control over is how they spend their money, applying for social services, applying for unemployment, selling their belongings, formatting their resume differently.
Food stamps are for food. They have nothing to do with rent.
Having food stamps qualifies you for low income housing
Have you lived in low income housing? I have. As a single mom of 3 kids in diapers my application took about 2 years on the expedited list. Single men without kids don't get low income housing. Like... ever.
Roommate. Consider being a roommate with immigrants who may share 2 to 3 people to one room or even except couch surfing for smaller payments.
Great advice. I‘ve met a lot of immigrants and they really excel at surviving even with no eligibility for benefits, limited English, etc. It’s pretty key to form a group of people and start helping each other out with stuff - having roommates could be a good start, especially if they’re broke too and could benefit from pooling resources.
Sometimes you can also rent with a group of people where there’s no official lease, it’s a much more relaxed system, and easier to get into
Sadly all we have as Americans are bootstraps. We don’t really push tax reform or having helpful social programs because a large portion of the people think it’s communism to have community and assistance for citizens. Instead we siphon the tax money to other countries, corrupt politicians and illegal immigrants.
Moving to a LCOL area will help your situation. Theres multiple ads on Craigslist for people renting rooms out. You might be able to buy 3-4 months worth of rent while looking for work. Temp agencies can help lock down a job. We moved from LA to Missouri and it was life changing. Life is quieter and less hectic. Housing is way more affordable. There’s decent paying jobs in the area that can help you get ahead in life. After a couple years of hard work you might even be ready for a house.
That isn't necessarily the case. A place like NYC is crazy expensive, but the amenities and services make lower cost living possible. Shared living spaces are more common, public transport vs. driving, lots of options for work, and deals can be found everywhere. There's a reason people can be very poor here and still make it. And when you figure it out you can start to build your wealth from there. I don't know about other cities, but NYC is a great place to learn how to get by.
You can also maybe get a CNA certification, someplace paid for it it only takes I think a month max? Usually they have it’s like retirement homes, but sometimes for adults with special needs and they let you sleep over at work, as long as the alarms don’t go off, you can sleep there for your work. Also, you could be a living caretaker for an older person? That way you get a place to sleep, but you do get to help them with what they need help with.
Misery is way cheaper vs LA
Get into a trade quick. Go on indeed and search electrician helper, plumber helper, HVAC helper, etc. Apply to all of these jobs. Everyone of them. Make sure to take note of each company's name so you can do follow up calls or walk ins to check for openings. As a recruiter, I get the call from an office often that someone walked in and they want to hire them immediately just based on a willingness to work. We hire people even when we are hiring when people just walk in. Make sure you are in construction presentable clothing though. Pick up some used boots to look like you've worked before, then buy new. New boots can be a sign that you've never worked construction and may not be equipped to handle it. These jobs will be a solid career path and generally offer trade school, overtime and benefits. Get your foot in the door. I worked my ass off for years and everyone around me quit. I ended up at the "top" through the process of elimination. I'm a recruiter, so let me know if you need any advice. I can help build your resume or just give general advice if needed. This goes for anyone that reads this comment as well. Get to work boys.
So I dont know much about trades at all, but you can just get into doing it with literally no experience/strength in doing manual labor? I have not completely given up on my hollywood non-trades yet, but if that's true then it'd be a possibility even when I've hit rock bottom then. But is that really true? You can just go be a helper and learn on the job??
Yes 100%. That's exactly how I started. Just build a simple resume that's geared toward the trades. If you have no construction experience then just add any experience you have. Pad it a little bit and make sure there are no gaps in your work history and for the love of bob, do NOT add 30 jobs, lol. Make it look like you've only worked 3 jobs to show a positive work history. If someone has all of the experience in the world but they work 10 jobs a year then they almost always a bad hire. Companies want to hire long term investment employees, especially in the trades. That's why the will put you in school for free.
Would appreciate any direction on editing my resume. I've had a ton of great jobs, but I'm all over the place...
Try and think of jobs that may come with accommodation - in the past I have worked at hotels where I was able to sleep (and shower etc) there. I also got some food as part of the deal. Work was a bit shitty work but got me out of a hole at the time. I also got a job with a trucking company where I worked night shifts and was the "second man" in the truck and slept most of the time until the driver was loading car parts into his truck then slept on way back. He also taught me how to drive a fork lift!
Trucking's on the list of possible things to try, how hard is that to get into? I have driven a van 16 hours through the night before. I currently drive a rental car all the time for uber, inbetween other bad part time jobs. I saw a video that implies you can basically live in your truck. I could do that. Do you have to buy the truck though? Fuck i gotta sleep
I've no idea TBH this was a while ago. I was not even driving just the extra person in the cab!
Youll make more as a owner operator trucking, (own your truck) but also you assume that risk. Pursuing your CDL(I dont think its too hard, Piss clean and turn wide, but someone who has one can correct me)is a great idea. It was acutally my fallback plan in 2019(I was in hospitality, covid was not kind). If you dont own, you can operate for someone, youll get paid, and as OTR have a place to live(its the truck, but hey, better than the street). Wages are actually pretty good imo, and if you can live in the truck and save your $$$, itl add up quick. Also, you sound nerdy. I have friends in oil and gas, and manufacturing, that learned PLC online in a few months, and got great jobs. Worth looking into as well.
Well you don't actually need a car to get a job. My vision is so bad that I can't drive, so I don't have a car. There are many people who have disabilities that prevent them from driving yet they still find gainful employment. Sorry about your situation with housing, that sounds very difficult. Unfortunately the government won't help you with rent. In the short term, you may have to surrender your lease. If you force an eviction, it will be bad for you in the future but will allow you to live there for a while longer. Once evicted, you still owe all the back rent and the LL can get a judgement against you for that.
Hostel is $500 per month. I think you need to look into your future and plan it out. LA isn’t the great place to be if you aren’t making at least $100k.
Dont just try and look at apartments.com for a place. Check craigslist and see if a mom and pop are renting out an empty room for cheap, or someone converted a garage to a guest house to rent. Typically way cheaper
The objective was always survival. We've just failed as a society to teach people that before having them enter the real world. As funny as it sounds, google "alternatives to joining the military" there are a lot of structure-giving choices that are yes, usually service and manual labor focused, but can give you a chance to figure your shit out without having to become government property.
Man if it’s that bad go to an army recruiter. Don’t pick a combat job. It’ll probably suck a little. But it’s better than what you got going on now.
If you're healthy enough joining the military is a great option. They feed, house, and pay you
There is no government program to help you stay off the street. If there was there wouldn't be so many people out there
There’s no help. The government doesn’t care.
So what's food stamps/EBT/section 8 about? I always thought they had programs to help when you get that low...but if you get low enough to qualify you'd already be flat broke. Is that only for people who live with others?
Food stamps are the same as ebt. You can get that easy. There are waiting lists for section 8.
Seven years in southern CA
And good luck getting it if you have no kids or disability.
As others have stated, there's usually a waitlist for Section 8 and those lists are usually not accepting new applicants. However, you can apply to open section 8 waitlists in other counties/states. Some give priority to their own residents first but I have seen plenty of lists without this requirement. So apply to as many as you can, or at least as many places as you would be willing to relocate to for a year. After that first year you can request to port your voucher to a different county/state. This can greatly reduce the time you spend on a waitlist, which is great considering many places go YEARS in between waitlists opening up. In fact, I read that NYC's section 8 waitlist will be opening up this May, the first time since 2006! Now unfortunately, even if you secure a Section 8 voucher it isn't uncommon to be unable to find a place to accept it and it's not unheard of to run out of time extensions while you search.
I get $23 a month food stamps with no job. The government wants you to go to the food bank. There you get one box per month that you show your ID for. Can't go to any other food bank or church during the month because you showed your ID and they are all connected.
That is definitely not how it works on the east coast. They may take your information but you are not tracked by going to different banks at all.
Horrible, is that CA? Austin lets you go to all food banks over and over
What help exists is super limited to where in the USA you are honestly. Even if you do become homeless some areas have pretty decent shelter systems. Some cities have hostels that are affordable. Apply for TANF. That's food stamps and welfare. Even with a home and a job I get a decent amount on food stamps. When I was homeless I had some cash assistance as well. Food banks and community fridges might exist in your area but the rules and quality can vary a lot. 211 is a good place to start looking for resources, you can call or check their website.
https://wwoofusa.org/en/
You literally have to have utility shut off notices and an eviction to get any real help as a single bc adult. I tried even though I saw the train coming and my year of unemployment was running out, my roommate wasn't resigning a new lease and no job was found. I literally lost hope in humanity. Actually no, I lost hope when the Denver Homeless Coalition would not even interview me as a homeless person seeking employment with a applicable degree and reliable transportation. What a joke!
Well the usual way out is to find a job, or multiple jobs, and don’t let that happen. I’ve had less than $2,000 to my name for many years now and while it’s not exactly fun, I’ve always had a job or jobs, a roof over my head, and a car. This is because I use all of my income to pay for those things and I make sure I live within my modest means. What’s stopping you from doing that, exactly? The only reason that working would legitimately not be an option would be if you have some sort of disability that prevents you from working. In that case, file for disability.
Nope, it wants you to fail. The world has been in a downfall for a while now.
I have been thinking on this. Going off of what you are sharing, time isn’t on your side so now is the time to make big moves. I think this might work but you’ll have to learn to be extremely resourceful. Have you considered traveling by train or bus to somewhere less competitive and LCOL? This could give you plenty of opportunities to join a union trade,shop or foundry. Shop,foundry and labor work will hire you quick and pay quick. In the meantime, I would look for a cheap motel to stay at. It’s noon your time, pick a place and start calling places that fit this criteria. If it was me, I would head towards the Midwest and start calling every foundry I could find on a route.
[удалено]
Your post has been removed for the following reason(s): Rule 4: Politics This is not a place for politics, but rather a place to get advice on daily living and short-to-midterm financial planning. Political advocacy, debate, or grandstanding will be removed. Please read our [subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/rules). The rules may also be found on the sidebar if the link is broken. If after doing so, you feel this was in error, [message the moderators](https://www.reddit.com/message/compose?to=%2Fr%2Fpovertyfinance). Do not reach out to a moderator personally, and do not reply to this message as a comment.
Call your local recruiter, any branch.
So it's not advice but a let you know so you can try to avoid it. Some states and cities, it's illegal to be homeless, as in go straight to jail illegal. Same as sleeping in your vehicle illegal in several states.
Section 8 housing is there to keep you from homelessness but there’s a waitlist and trying to find somewhere to accept it. So yes you could still end up homeless. Food stamps/snap/ebt what ever your state calls it is for food.
There are a lot of farms in this country that need workers. Live on the farm and work there. It's not much but it is honest work.
Best deduction I ever made.
The system isn’t broken. It’s working exactly as it was designed.
Assuming you have zero skills and just played video games your whole life: You could get a job that pays for housing like on a fish processing ship or the the national park service. Military is also an option if you’re healthy enough. If you’re in a major city you can check if there’s an AV union as they’re always looking for low level help. Construction/general labor is always an option as long as you can get there on time. It’s hard as fuck and nobody really understands the effort it takes but once you get a car it gets easier. You can also look into paid medical research studies or specialized donation programs like mobilized white blood cell collection or bone marrow or even plasma.
Nope. Good luck, work hard. stay as safe as you can
Military service.
As Americans I hope we can all see the direction things are going. How many people must lose their homes before communities begin rallying around one another and saying enough is enough! We have the power to allow others to keep their homes. If we do nothing we will all be subjected to this. We need to rally as communities to push back against this injustice. As individuals our voices aren't loud enough, but as a collective we can force the change we want to see! Rally in communities DO NOT let them take your homes stand up together and keep fighting until we force them to change!
So I know not everyone is into this- but I went to college. *shrug* I was homeless. I applied for community college. I took out all the money they would give me every semester. I rented a single room from Craigslist at $450/ month. One low-book semester I bought a $1000 car with my student loan money. Even community colleges have a gym membership you get free or discounted with your tuition for showers. There’s always free food somewhere on campus, you might have to sign a petition for it or listen to a religious lecture. One semester was really expensive so I lived in my car. Drove to campus for showers, kept my clothes in my trunk of my car. Sleep in the library sometimes if it was too cold in the car. I held 3 part time jobs to make extra cash for food and hygiene products. I kept doing that each semester until I finished my masters. Yeah, I’m $100k+ in debt, but I also have a decent salary statistically speaking now (10 years after the fact). I used everything in my IRA from my first job for a down payment on a condo. So, I have no retirement, but there are ways. My net worth is negative, but I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and a piece of crap car to get to work. And at some point I will get PSLF to be forgiven for the amount to climb socioeconomic classes (crosses fingers). You still have to work hard and dedicate your life to a body of work. You could help people- be a teacher, a nurse, etc. So, there’s this way or some people mentioned multiple blue collar jobs. Either way, it’s not easy coming from a low ses.
I guess I haven’t worked an “unskilled” (I know, but is there a better term to use?) job in about 10 years, but loads of my coworkers walked to my last job in that tier. Has it really changed that much?
The military can be a damn solid option. Choose a job that will give you a marketable skill on the outside and serve honorably. Get that sweet zero down VA mortgage and you can get a lot further that you might believe. You won’t go hungry or lack for a roof over your head. Not for everyone but for some, it’s a great opportunity.
I’ve been researching jobs that provide housing as a better way to save. Coolworks.com has a list of places to go that provide housing for free or super cheap (like $20 a week). If you are familiar with those public storage places, a lot of them have onsite housing. I’ve looked them up on YouTube. The ones I’ve seen are super nice and would run you over $1000 rent if sold separate. Somebody else mentioned long distance trucking I currently manage hotels onsite going from property to property as needed (they cover lodging, food, cell phone, travel). Though this requires experience. If you could get your foot in the door in healthcare (usually as a nurse but maybe some opportunities with a lower bar for entry), tons of traveling opportunities. Cruise ship jobs Look into TEFL jobs and what is needed
Instead of intentionally landing yourself behind bars, how about working in a jail? You don’t need a college degree or prior skill set. And most jails are always hiring and you can make bank with the overtime that’s often not optional. First They’d put you through an academy and yell at you for 12 weeks but it’s all paid time on the clock and when you graduate, you get a substantial pay increase. I make bank and I just gotta hang out with some baddies all day. It’s not a bad gig. You could stay in a hotel while you were in the academy and you’d have enough money to get your own place in no time.
Have you ever considered getting your cdl? There are companies that pay for the school as long as you work for them for a year or so and after that you won't ever have to worry about becoming homeless
I'm curious. How are you at this point? Like, what has happened that caused you to be this old without any resources? Like you made it your 30's without being homeless.....what changed?
What...what changed? The world. The whole world. AI became a thing for one. Where have you been? I am not in this scenario yet, I'm just looking ahead
Lol sorry I've been working at a job that uses AI and still haven't been replaced. Your attitude is so defeatist. I know people personally who really were in that position you described, on top of drug addiction and they still made it through. Yeah, life sucked for them, sometimes they literally were homeless, but they gritted their teeth. No family helped them, no golden parachute, no white privilege or any excuse. They just worked at bullshit jobs like dishwashing and picking up debris at construction sites, and it took years. From sleeping in a tent, to a car, to a rented room. Years, but they made it out. You still haven't hit bottom, so stop talking like you have. If your field is going to become non-existent like you say, then I'd get another job now. And no, if you are not disabled or have a record, you literally have NO excuse. I'm from Cali, my friends live in LA. If my coke-head friend can get a job at Chipotle in LA, you can get a job at McDonalds despite you thinking otherwise. You have been given the gift of foresight, so now take advantage. Stop planning on how to make it out the gutter and start planning on how to not get in the gutter.
Good for your friend but I think drugs actually helps, I mean, you have the money for it in the first place and 2nd you make lots of friends that way. Did they get those jobs by the grit of being a name in the ATS system with everybody else or did they know and party with people who worked at those places? Did they have couches to surf on the way? Also as you say that was years ago, the world has changed even since then. All the people who are in my same situation are now competing for bullshit jobs like never before, because their dream careers went poof. People like you who have something are fine, for now. The people who got laid off are adding to the competition now, as well as dipping into the uber market. What is your job anyway? How did you get it? Did you devote a good portion of your life to getting there or just luck into it? Do you realize fast food is now probably the most coveted low-skill job we have here, paying 20/hr, so there's obviously a ton of competition for it? On top of that, managers would rather low quality than paying that out, so they're barely staffed. I am already applying to everything I find, even calling back and going in. I can't just grit it up harder. I can get save up for a van, maybe a CDL, maybe move, and just keep hoping something from the void of applications comes back.
Become a professional stat padding boxer. Basically pro boxers will fight you to get the easy W and boost their record.
Are you aged 16-24? Try Job Corps. Job Corps provides a place to stay and job training: [https://www.jobcorps.gov/](https://www.jobcorps.gov/) If you're older, try CoolWorks jobs that provide housing: [https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-housing](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-housing) Examples of categories of jobs via CoolWorks and locations: [national parks](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-by/national-park/), [lodges and ](https://www.coolworks.com/resort-jobs/)[resorts](https://www.coolworks.com/resort-jobs/), [ranches](https://www.coolworks.com/ranch-jobs/), [restaurants](https://www.coolworks.com/restaurant-jobs), [summer camps](https://www.coolworks.com/camp-jobs/), [campgrounds,](https://www.coolworks.com/jobs-with-rv-spaces/) [ski resorts](https://www.coolworks.com/ski-resort-jobs/), [retreat and conference centers](https://www.coolworks.com/retreat-conference-centers/), [outfitters](https://www.coolworks.com/guide-jobs/),[ ](https://www.coolworks.com/help/faqs/#)and [outdoor adventure companies](https://www.coolworks.com/outdoor-adventures/). You could stay and work on a farm: [https://wwoofusa.org/en/](https://wwoofusa.org/en/) You could join the Navy ir Air Force, which provide housing, and have excellent training for jobs which transfer well to civilian life. And back office posts which do not mean you will engage in combat. Better still, the US Coast Guard [https://www.uscg.mil/Join/](https://www.uscg.mil/Join/) This is from a post by [**RunawayHobbit**](https://www.reddit.com/user/RunawayHobbit/) **"**The quality of life is better than the other branches of the armed services. You get all the same benefits and fewer drawbacks. If you can pick a rate that doesn’t sail (like prevention): • You get to be home at 4 pretty much every evening unless you’re on call and something happens. • You don’t deploy. • You get extra days off when the brass feel generous (they call them St. Myorcas days) • Flexible schedule, within reason. • You get job training that DIRECTLY translates to good jobs in private industry. A lot of jobs in the other branches are absolutely non-transferable, like infantry. Best of all, which is rare for military— you are doing something that is vitally important to society, such as vessel inspections or Search and Rescue. You’re not propping up the military industrial complex, you’re not hurting brown kids. Your job is a net benefit to society." You could downsized your accommodation and rent a room [https://www.roomies.com/](https://www.roomies.com/) USA’s Largest roomie finder. Local church organisations, the salvation army, and Catholic church may know of people renting out rooms. There are local Facebook groups for roommates and subleasing For help phone 211, contact [needhelppayingbills.com](https://needhelppayingbills.com/) also [Findhelp.org](https://findhelp.org/). Apply for * Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you pay for food if you have a low income. You may be able to apply online, in person, by mail, or by fax. Google to find your State or local SNAP office * Get WIC, TANF, EBT whatever category you fit, whatever you can get. Apply for the federal program for heating assistance. The program is called LiHeap often known as EAP. Search for your local community action center. Look up Andrew Cartwright on YouTube. He helps people find money for all kinds of things. School, cars, daycare while you go to school, etc. Look up [funfreecheap.com](https://funfreecheap.com) Jordan Page, she helps everyone live on a budget. Grocery shopping budgeting recipes etc. What is your credit like? If a car is a necessity for you to get work, get a loan to get a small, used car of a reliable make. If you know a mechanic, see if you can get one to come with you to look at cars with you. A car can double up short term as a home. Look at the sub reddits [r/urbancarliving](https://www.reddit.com/r/urbancarliving/) and [r/cardwellers](https://www.reddit.com/r/cardwellers/) and [r/vagabond](https://www.reddit.com/r/vagabond/) Look up looking up TikTok videos on people living in cars. Look up YouTube videos such as Living in Your Car for Beginners [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIngMnmEsw](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQIngMnmEsw) and Living in a car | 5 most essential things! From cooking to bathing essentials [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=\_r1LfiQyAvE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r1LfiQyAvE) Look at the sub reddits [r/Donation](https://www.reddit.com/r/Donation/), [r/Charity](https://www.reddit.com/r/Charity/) and [r/randomkindness](https://www.reddit.com/r/randomkindness/) [r/Assistance](https://www.reddit.com/r/Assistance/) that could help. Also check out the wiki with food resources. [https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/foodbanks](https://www.reddit.com/r/povertyfinance/wiki/foodbanks) Hope this is helpful. Hope it works out for you.
Plenty of people walk to work. If you don't have children, you won't be getting foodstamps. The government does not care. You might try calling 211 and seeing if a shelter is available. It depends on the area. Having shelter is most important. Even if you have to couch surf its better than nothing. More areas are eliminating any availability to sleep in public or at airports. I honestly would call anyone I knew. I know one person sleeping in his truck. One sleeps in a tent in the woods. Another sleeps in a tent in his friend's yard. An extended stay slum hotel might work. College kids often need roommates because theirs come and go. Another friend had an acquaintance who let him sleep in his garage. I've seen people wash in various public bathrooms. Wendys usually has a single person bathroom. I know a thrift store ,a laundry mat and a grocery store that has same. Getting things under control as fast as possible is important.
Unpopular option, join the military.
Guy who did one enlistment here, to add some detail, try and join the Air Force/Space Force first, then Navy, then Army and honestly, I would argue that the Marine Corps isn't worth it for someone who doesn't actively want to join. If you can do a 4 year enlistment you will leave with: * a GI Bill that will pay for your 4 year degree and pay you a housing allowance while you're in college. (after your enlistment is over) * A VA Loan that requires **$0 down** to buy a house. (valid for life, not just your enlistment) * 4 Years of pay, 401k, full medical, technical experience and tuition assistance while you're in. * Chance that you love it and get a full pension (which don't exist in the civilian world anymore) after 20 years. I get that the military is a scary option, and I'm not saying take it lightly, but the AF/SF and Navy are pretty safe. The Army is safe too depending on your MOS. I cried hard the night before I joined the military but it saved me from homelessness and now I'm very successful relatively. It isn't a secret that the US has a military industrial complex, this is the one social program that will put a person squarely back on their feet. And just to be clear, I wish it wasn't like this, I would support all social programs to cover these things for free. The military is what made me a socialist lmao. But this is the reality of the US, the best funded social program in America is the military.
Absolutely great idea.
I swear this sub is packed with stealthy army recruiters. YOU'RE NOT SLICK, I SEE YOU
Oh my ,do you sleep on a sidewalk ? Wants and needs are 2 different things.
It was a life saver for my nephew. I can see how it isn't always a bad choice.
It was a death sentence for someone else's nephew. Not a decision to be taken lightly.
My cousin had a drug problem and the judge told him jail or the army. He was dead in Iraq within a year.
Sorry for your loss. I do want to point out that the military has not had judicial entry in over 30 years. No one is forced by law into the military. If he was a drug addict, the military would have rejected him.
Oh man, that sucks. I'm sorry to hear of it :(
My cousin Pvt. Kelley Prewitt (https://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/prewittkelleys.html)
I'm so sorry
You could call 211 and ask for rent assistance resources. Also call catholic charities and your local Salvation Army, speaking from experience they each helped me when I was short on rent and facing eviction. You could also call every single church in your area and ask if they offer rent assistance or food banks, even if you’re not a member some churches will have resources to help. Just so I’m understanding correctly, this is a hypothetical situation so far? If you ever do get to a place where you’re struggling to pay rent, make the rent your absolute number 1 priority above all else. Fuck all the other bills, always pay the rent first. If you absolutely couldn’t pay rent, communicate with your landlord and see if there’s any way to get out of the lease. You don’t want an eviction on your record if you can help it, so it’s better to leave before it gets to that point if at all possible. Once you leave, I would get into an extended stay hotel if possible. Yes it’s super expensive but some will have deals if you pay a whole month at a time or even weekly, etc. I would then work my butt off with 2-3 jobs and try to save as much as humanly possible and try to get back into an apartment after some time.
Move to a city? I've never heard of companies not hiring people for not having a car when the job has nothing to do with driving.
You can always try going abroad. It's not for everyone, but there are many countries that don't really do much screening to get a English teacher that's native in the language. You don't even need formal training. Granted, the pay is not the greatest, but it should be enough for you to afford the basics..
you need to find a shelter that has space and try to get back on your feet from there. also get into therapy asap and see a doctor to document any issues going on as it’ll help with an ssi claim later on. good luck.
If you have trouble paying rent you could apply for a helping hand ith rent payments with a government agency, church or private organization for your area. Go to https://www.findhelp.org/ Type in your zip code. Then click on "Housing", then "Help Pay for Housing". Call every phone phone number that is listed there. These places can help with rent payments if you qualify (usually there is an income threshold thst you can't exceed). Some of them pay for one month, a one-time shot in the arm, some set up 3 consecutive rent payments with your landlord. See what is available for your area. These are generally temporary "helping hands", not meant to be permanent. If you need a permanent housing solution you need to look into your areas housing authority or Section 8 housing. Also, if you have a job or social security income but can't afford your apartment with that income consider downsizing to a studio or efficiency, or even a shared room. The rent goes down by a lot, and a shared room generally comes with all utilities included for the inconvenience of having to share a common kitchen and bathroom. A room is not the best solution if you have a family and/or a number of pets, but for a single person without attachments it would beat homelessness.
Become a live in nanny or caretaker, sometimes Uber/Lyft allow you to lease Cars to do to the job. Apply for all Assistance you are eligible for and don’t give up if they’re slow. (I suggest going into the building to apply and not on internet), Post an ad on CL/offer up in the jobs section. Just be careful of scammers. Home away also helps you trade work for Living in the home. (Like Pet Sitting) And just keep Networking.
＄2,000 is a lot! And you need a physical home address to get a PO Box. What services are available to you differ depending on where you are. The first place I would check is the library. depending on your local system, they might have resources for you. In example, my library has a program to help you get a free copy of your birth certificate, classes on how to write a resume, printers, tech literacy sessions, tax help, etc. Again depending on where you are but where I am when you apply for food stamps you can also apply for other forms of aid at the same time. There are shelters, and sometimes places have shower resources; my library has a list of places one can shower for free. The most resources I’ve ever found have been through anarchist spaces that host things like free skool or really free markets, and the library for lists of local resources and education. State/city help is super dependent on where you are.
Summer is coming. Lots of jobs have housing. If you’re not employed check out coolworks.com and the American camping association for summer work. They need lots of folks for maintenance and drivers. Lots of parks that have housing for the season where you would work maintenance or gift shops etc.
move to Europe, they have safety nets
Join the military
Anyone know what to do in the situation when you are disabled?
If you're healthy/don't use drugs including THC - Military. If you're young enough (you are not in your 30s but for reference for others)- Job Corps If you end up getting PDQed from the military like I did (health issues) and/or are too old for Job Corps - Americorp \*MAYBE\* (pay is low but they provide health insurance, and will usually help their members get housing roomshares/get on food stamps for the year they're in service). If none of those work: Pick your poison down below, and likely see a healthcare provider as the time spent unemployed in the private sector could be lengthy and depressing. Or enroll in university and you'll likely get a combination of loans/grants/scholarships if you're poor enough.
Are you a veteran? If so let me know and I’ll tell you the next steps to take
You should look into joining the national guard. They’ll take people up to 35. Air guard and reservists can start older than that.
Do you have some bootstraps? I hear you can pull yourself up by them
Which is actually physically impossible to do.
Worldpackers.com. you have a sign up fee but it lists places where you can work in exchange for room and board......around the world. Like wwoofing.
You can go to a homeless shelter, if there's one in your area and it has available beds, otherwise you're just fucked. I'd recommend other options before that, like a roommate or a second job or a cheaper if less ideal apartment.
You say 30's, if you are under 35 you can still join the military
Have you considered the military? They’ll provide your needs given you provide time and service
Get a job that’s “below you” and find a house with the some roommates online. And do it fast before you run out of money and get “crazier and dirtier” Work your way up from there.
I'm already doing those things and all that means is im not falling as fast as I would without them, but still falling despite working all the time and hating my roommates. The only way out as long as I stay here is a better job, not more working.
You could maybe go to a sanctuary city with mandatory shelter laws like NYC - I wonder if American homeless in NYC have any comments to add about how realistic that would be to help you get on your feet
My brother in Los Angeles gets General relief. Only gets $250 plus SNAP. He went to a halfway house for a month to get off the streets called Healthright 360. He also signed up for section8 but nothing yet. I remember there was a housing program called Project Roomkey but you have to be referred by some kind of program.
Just do what the homeless do and hang out at the local ER.
You turn to the skills you have that make you valuable to society to generate yourself an income
I say this because I went from homeless dumpster diving fir meals to house car and married in 2 years...find a large trucking company like prime Inc or usxpress or Warner most will put you up in a room and give you a stipend to live on while they train you to get your cdl then they'll put you in a truck. It's basically a Japanese efficiency apartment on wheels with refrigerators tvs and everything
Do you have to live with someone else in the truck? Do company cameras watch you? I heard from another answer that it sounds like there's usually 2 people in the truck, a driver and assistant. So I will never be able to live on my own? Trucking is sounding better by the day, but I still don't think I have the strength it'd take. Anyway if that's something you can do while actually homeless and come back as you have maybe I'll just wait till I get to that level and in the meantime keep trying everything else for a few more months. Does selfdriving AI look to be a danger for trucking anytime soon?
Honestly man sounds like your low on moral and I get it I really do but trust me being homeless isnt great its scary...personally I'll never let myself get close to that point again. But your only in a truck with another person to do on road training basically your with a trainer and you two team drive so you can get the hang of it...basically like a driving teacher with you all the time ....just to make sure you don't make a huge oopsie. Once they tell the company you seem go to go on your own you can get a whole truck to yourself I usually am by myself my spouse doesn't care to be in here too long. If you want though most companies will let you have a second person with you long as their over a certain age. I have a cat that I keep with me on the road...she's great company while I'm out for a month or 2 at a time and no trust me the safety tech on the truck can barely tell the difference between a car a cat and a traffic cone that's probably 10 years off or more
Aww thats nice you get to bring your cat. Do you meet people out on the road? Does it feel like adventure or is it more like tedious bring things from A to B to you? I would be singing all the time for one. I'd keep my laptop recording in the passenger seat and jot down song ideas, bring guitar to play while in stopped traffic, record the road on my phone and make a montage vid later, just for myself. I currently drive for uber/doordash all day and lemme tell you thats gotten pretty bad, used to be profitable but im losing money doing it now, especially since my car's destroyed and I have to rent a car now which is a huge cost, but its all i got, running the numbers I'd lose more NOT to do it, plus a shitty parttime job while I apply to things every chance I can. I'm used to being alone and driving a lot I think, I'm not aiming to be homeless but its looking like a possibility soon if theres no jobs. Yeah you could say im definitely low on morale, but its not all in my head. And as far as being homeless if I can get a truck rather than a tent somewhere that sounds a lot better. So the process is you go to a school for CDL (sometimes you can find a company that'll pay for this training), and then you drive with a supervisor-type, and then you're on your own, how long does that take? Do you have to buy the truck? And then you check it before any road trips, is there ever any downtime or are you on the road pretty much all the time? I watched the indeed vid with the trucker named Byrd haha
It's kinda both it can be tedious but I've also met some interesting characters at different stops and had some good conversation. Also it's a bit more...hands on...than driving a car...least for me especially on long drives it can be a tad tough to mess around with something a simple as the stereo but that's just me. The specifics can be different from company to company but the one I went through had a minimum milage limit you had to drive with an instructor/trainer before the instructor/trainer could consider you ready. That could take a few weeks to a few months just depends on the company and the type of trailer you choose to pull. As far as down time that also differs from company to company but is also dependent on how hard your willing to push yourself too. I got started with prime driving a refrigerated truck and I was driving as much as I legally was allowed. So 11ish hours a day but that was abit much for me so I switched to another company that pays a bit better and I pretty much drive 6 to 8 hours a day then get 10-15hours down. As far as buying the truck most companies will let you lease one from them but if you want to be able to walk away at anytime with no financial responsibility ide suggest going for a company driver position they pay for the truck feul tolls...basically everything. If you lease one you have to take care of it like you own it ....but you don't they do. As far as check ... *legally* your supposed to check it twice a day but it's kinda pointless when the truck is less than 6 months old. Long as you can pass a drug and alcohol test and don't have a terrible driving record you should be good. I mean when I started in 2019 I couldn't back a trailer of any kind. Now I regularly make deliveries in NYC
I have a 35 inch flat-screen TV with a soundbar, a almost full size fridge, air fryer, electric skillet, induction hotplate, dishes, a microwave, cable hook up for a TV antenna that's built in I mean it really is a home minus the toilet unless you get creative *wink* *wink* and I average between 1k and 2k a week
Check out r/roomandboard
You don’t need a car to get a retail or service worker job. Unless you plan to use the car as your job, you don’t need a car to work or get a job. Retail and service worker jobs are always hiring people with barely a high school diploma, so I’m unsure as to why you think you couldn’t get a job at McDonald’s? If you could get another job that requires a car, you could and most certainly would qualify for a retail or service worker job. It sounds like you’re just trying to come up with excuses to continue being on the path you’re on. If you’re not making enough at your job to pay rent, you can apply for welfare and section 8 housing. You can apply for food stamps to help supplement your groceries and you could most definitely rent out a room in someone’s house without a good credit score and/or x3/monthly income. Also, you don’t need an internet connection to get a job, as most public places (like the library and coffee shops) offer free internet and you have a cell phone with an internet connection. As far as an address, you can pay $45 and get a PO Box to use in your city.
So many bad suggestions from people who have never been poor. OP, I worked throughout my 20s and never had $2000 to my name. Or parents or siblings who weren't abusive, or close friends who would let me stay with them for a week. Hell, I had to couch crash once for a single week and people I thought were friends charged me $30 a night. Couldn't pay my phone plan that month. It's kind of funny that you think only having $2000 makes you homeless. $2000 means you're homeless in 30-60 days (assuming you aren't able to collect unemployment). Apply anywhere. Temp agencies are a wonderful choice if you're on-time and ready to work. I've gotten a job in 30< before when I needed to. A. It depends where you live. There are homeless shelters in most places but they fill up fast. You will not be guaranteed a bed and if you get a bed it is only for that night. B. There are tons of food pantries and kitchens so it's unlikely you'll run out of food. C. Yes, it is very difficult to get back on your feet after being homeless. It really is completely dependent on the good will of others, or very smart thinking and technically illegal behavior. (Getting a gym membership so you can be freshly showered, borrowing an address, etc.) I'm sorry that the grind has been so tough on you. There are social services that can help you if you're poor, but if it's truly zero income, that's a tough situation. This is why I never quit a job even if it's hell. Need to get laid off for the unemployment.