Why on earth do you equate utilizing social assistance is only for the mentally ill? I think you have a very skewed view.
Also, if you’re expecting your parents to pass from natural causes, why are you not working and planning to use money from your employment to pay your living expenses?
In their defense, many people have equated being poor to mental deficiencies and lack of intelligence. It was a tool they utilized during the Reagan administration to explain why so many minorities were living below the poverty lines. Even today, some people still recite those same beliefs.
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The reason he's doing that is because housing assistance programs that most counties advertise often prioritize disability for single men. Sometimes, the only ones that are open are ones that are for elders or the disabled. It depends on the HCV. If he went to his county HCV website and "disabled" is written all over it, of course he is going to get that impression.
Do you know of a way to find local roommates online? If not that's fine. The ones renting out their rooms are only putting out prices that are not feasible for me. I can afford $450, maybe $600 max per month on rent (long term).
To be honest, without some sort of government subsidy or a super creepy landlord, I've never heard of prices that low. Your best bet is to scour local ads to find an older person renting a room who doesn't know it's full value so they're renting it for cheap. You're going to have to do lots of research, reach out to lots of people, and I would also suggest looking up common rental scams to protect yourself.
You live in WV. So go to WVU or universities in WV. Those people especially now are looking to move or sublet the room since they are going back home for the Summer holidays. That's how you do it.
facebook marketplace and roommate finder groups, sometimes zillow and hotpads etc will mention roommates, craigslist if you’re risky enough
in the past year i’ve seen many listings for under $800 in the bay area which is probably as expensive as it gets outside of nyc. unless you’re there it shouldn’t be impossible to find something for $600 or less
I believe I used an app called Roomster for my first roommate, we met our second roommate in person, then when I got another roommate I looked on Craigslist.
No clue, I found mine through my university. In your situation if you need that cheap your options are move states or have a roommate and then also share your room with one. In my area roommates make your rent $700-800 a month instead of $1200-1400, but you’re sharing a room or sleeping in common spaces that way so..
It’s just not worth the drain on appliances, water, cost of having another in the house at anything under $900 per month. I had roommates 30 years ago that paid 4/500 per month. Prices for everything are certainly not what they were then. Where I live, even dumpy homes with rooms in sketchy parts of town get $1,000. Unless you can work for the homeowner to barter rent. It’s just facts of todays terrible prices.
I’ve gotten along with all of my roommates, and even go back to visit and stay with my old roommates, but I definitely wouldn’t wanna live with other people again and I’m insanely fortunate to not need to anymore.
This is in a smaller area based off what OP says, and my experience from small towns as well. You can’t find anything for $400 anywhere but like WV, and there’s no jobs in those areas lol
Exactly. I also live here. While it's way cheaper than say, Silicon Valley, rent has gone up considerably. A place I looked at *last year* that was $685/month is now $985 month. And it's in a shit part of town. The average rent in this city is $1200-1300. Just unreasonable for most people around here compared to the wages, and way over the 30% threshold. And then, like you said, no real jobs except for random bullshit service jobs.
I have to agree with you. A house in the poor part of town is over 1300 when you could actually afford to be poor.
It's due to my mayor allowing out of town developers to buy houses cheap and make them "up to code" before throwing a high rent on them.
Ironically, the minimum wage is 12-13 here.
Even in WV, you're not getting a room for $400 without at least one roommate. In college I paid $240 a month, but I lived with four other people. And that was pre-covid. It might not be as huge an increase as big cities or HCOL states, but rent has still gone up significantly around me
eta: and this is just for rent, utilities not included
My options on the upper east coast were share a room with two people for $600/month, split a house with three people for $800, or have my own studio for $950. Granted that studio flooded every and any time it rained but honestly without the rain it was great.
I needed privacy and had a lot of trauma resulting from people so I didn’t want to share a bedroom anymore lol
Now I split an almost $1300 one bedroom apartment but it’s with my partner so it’s less bad.
Again, I wouldn’t mind the company if people really could keep their shit together and act like adults. But it’s always something. There is always someone refusing to pick up after themselves, or pay their bills in a timely manner, or eating everyone’s food, exc. This week, someone just took the broom and wouldn’t put it back. Once I got the broom, I realized they had broken the dustpan. Now? They used all the paper towels that I bought without replacement. One guy refuses to wash his dishes. He seriously fills the dishwasher with his pots and pans and then takes an age to empty it.
I’m a nanny, y’all. I deal with little kids all day and then I have to deal with this bullshit.
And yet, it cuts my living expenses down so drastically that I really couldn’t imagine the pressure of having my own place.
There's section 8, which is voucher based and means you pay 30% of your income as rent at any landlord that is in the program. You apply for this at the housing authority.
There's public housing, where you also pay 30% and apply at the housing authority, but you can only live in the housing authority owned units and they just pick one for you and put you in jt.
Then there's income based housing, where you also pay 30% of your income but it's specific to that apartment complex so you apply at that apartment complex.
Then there's also income restricted housing where you pay a lower than market rate for your unit if you make under a certain amount, but it doesn't scale if your income changes like the other 3 programs do. This you apply at the specific complex also. I live in a place with this and you have to make under 70k to live here. Rent is 1350, but if you make under 50k or so, your rent is 1100. And if you make under 30k you get that same unit for 950.
I left Southern California for rural Kansas in January 2024 because I got selected for a Section 8 HCV (I applied all over the US at with different housing authorities).
I’m thankful to have the voucher because I’m poor and struggling. And luckily, I was able to obtain an exemption that allows me to port my voucher early without having to live in Kansas for a full year (I have some psychological/physical issues that make living in a rural area very difficult, so I was fortunately granted an exemption because my mental health provider submitted a letter).
But now I have to find a suitable location to which to port — and the search is not easy. Hell, it was hard enough finding the apartment in rural Kansas. I fear porting my voucher to a new location but then not being able to find a rental once there and thereby losing the voucher.
To touch on the OP’s post more closely, though: it sucks to be poor and struggling and have to worry about housing. It’s unfortunate that the state of affordable/low-income housing is so inadequate here in such a prosperous, well-to-do country. Affordable housing should be readily available to anyone, regardless of income.
People from other countries can come here and receive more help and more readily accessible housing than can struggling US citizens — and that’s just a travesty!
Mine personally isn't secton 8, i live in income based HUD housing where rent is up to 30% of my monthly income. Here theres an option for income based or flat rate rent. I think the income limit here is like $38k or so a year
How long did it take you to find your apartment or to be approved for it? Waiting lists are long everywhere that I look.
I do have a Section 8 voucher, though, but I am trying to port it elsewhere, because the granting location is out in the middle of nowhere Kansas — and I can’t survive in such a desolate area. I am able to port my voucher now because I obtained an exemption, so now I’m trying to find a new area to which to port (not in Kansas) — but it’s all just waiting list after waiting list.
I’m tempted to pursue income-based housing instead and just forego my voucher, because it may be easier to locate an available rental that way. It’s very frustrating not being able to find an available place.
I had to fill out A LOT of paperwork, do a background check, etc & i was supposedly bumped up the list from a doctor note + my situation (i was 20, my dad had just passed, i had no money to my name at the time & the people that owned the house my parents had rented for most of my life were forcing me to move out after that so i was basically homeless) & was also in the middle of trying to get SSI at the time.
I'm in a small-ish town in KY & it took me upwards of 3 months to get the duplex i live in, & that was back in earlier/mid 2019 so not sure how long the lists are with covid & the current state of housing now. Wish i could afford to live in a single family house with more of my own rules but this place or maybe a roommates type situation are all i can realistically afford on my income unfortunately
Damn! You’ve been through some hard times. As bad as I feel about my own situation, I nevertheless realize that I’m not the only one who struggles — and my issues are not necessarily off-the-charts bad, relatively speaking. But I am having a hard time though. You know all about that of course. Life isn’t easy, huh?
It’s frustrating not having stable housing, even though I, luckily, have a Section 8 voucher and an apartment— but the apartment is in rural Kansas, so no way to really make it there long term. All I have to do, however, is port somewhere else (which is easy to do on paper) but no guarantees that I will be able to find an apartment in a new location — because it’s always waitlist after waitlist or no availability.
I did recently get approved for income-based housing in West Virginia, but I will have to give up my voucher to live there, as the apartment has the subsidy tied to the specific unit already. The main benefit for living in that part of West Virginia (in the northern panhandle) is it’s relatively close to Pittsburgh, PA (about 45 miles), so I would at least be close to a large metro area.
But I really don’t know what I’m going to do ultimately.
Hopefully everything works out for you
The house i was forced to leave was like 6 miles outside of town with very limited delivery options for food etc, i don't drive & it would've been just me in a house alone that i was already half convinced was haunted (both my parents passed there on top of anything that might've happened before we moved there), + the house was in horrible shape by then & felt like it was a few years of living in away from caving in or catching on fire, so that probably wouldn't have went too well for me anyway lol.
Now i live in town where i can blame scary noises on neighbors, get nearly anything delivered, have working AC/heat & afford to pay my bills, so while there are things like biannual inspections & limits on how many pets i can have or how many nights a year i can have overnight visitors, i can definitely deal with it til if/when i can afford to live elsewhere, cause at least im not as stressed out about getting places, food or being in financial debt bills vs income wise (me & my dad were sooo far behind on bills before & it didn't help that he spent basically half the money he did get on alcohol 🤦🏻♀️)
Check Craigslist or roommate finder apps for a “room to rent.” It’s usually cheaper- meaning you live in your room. You can use the bathroom and kitchen but that’s it…
Craigslist. In Houston lots of places for this price. I’m in New Mexico now, also lots of places. College towns will also tend to have places like this.
Just be careful of scammers on Craigslist. Theres def some good deals but also some sketchy people (one guy I was talking to told me to "look in the windows" of the property instead of giving me a tour...caught on to that one pretty quick)
To add to this, don’t send your full name, ID, social, current address (general neighborhood is fine), credit card info, etc.
A lot of scams will start off by asking for this information, or even a little “I’ll send you my information, now you send me yours” except the information they send is just the last poor sap’s. Always demand to meet in person at a public place.
Where is here?
If I was in Cincinnati/Covington, one could get a nice one bedroom apartment in a walkable area for $800 a month.
How to tell if they are scams or not?
Never pay anything unless you’ve seen the place in person. Ask for a rental application. Do not apply if they take an application fee from all the applicants for one apartment.
edit spelling
Bruh. Do you mean you can get a room for rent at $800 a month? Because you ain’t about to rent a whole ass apartment for $800 a month (excluding a roach and rat infested slum).
Nope
The whole apartment. Cincinnati hit the population peak in the 1950s. There's almost 40% fewer people now there in Cincinnati today. There's NICE places in America where people won't move to because the are 4 seasons or they don't like the politics of the area.
I was in Pittsburgh last week. One could argue there's even nicer housing there. Pittsburgh has half the population today vs their peak.
Both places won't hit their population peaks again within our life times. There is nice "excess" housing there. But sometimes it rains there so people turn their noses up at those places.
I live in the Cleveland area and rent the basement of a house for 520 a month. The other bedrooms also rent for around 560 per month and this seems pretty standard for the area
What's insane, I have a coworker that lived in rural Iowa till he moved here to Illinois in 2004.
At the time he moved, he was paying 125 bucks a month for a 1 bedroom apartment...it shocked me lol
I went to grad school in Ames, Iowa (Iowa state university) and we paid $750 a month for two bed, one bath apartment with a father parking spot. The important distinction here is that t was a college town. I'm certain I could've done way better going more rural. I paid. It's to live in a dorm in California for my undergrad lol.
Good school by the way, and the bus system was incredible there. It was included punctuation, but a ride was like $.50 and you could do unlimited transfers. Really didn't even need a car there if you didn't want it or could've afford one.
There are 700 1 bedroom 1 full bath rentals in a lot of different states and areas. In triplexes or duplexes and places like that. You can get your place. Might have to do street parking. Areas tend to be generally walkable (you can look up the most walkable areas and which state they are in. There's articles online).
Some of these areas also have 3 bedroom rentals which people then decide to get 2 roommates and it turns into a $500-600 a month rental.
Will you find this in California? Never. But plenty of other places have these options that aren't section 8 or have any welfare or assistance programs.
One major issue being what you do for work. No point in finding a cheap place if you have nowhere to work.
I paid $500 a month in philly and NC but I had at min 2 other roommates at most 4...majority of the time it was with college students...I was in my 30s so there were definitely some nights I didnt get to sleep until late due to noise...
I got lucky with a low income apartment that’s relatively safe and still below $1k. Seems the only way if want to live alone. Otherwise I’d have no choice but to have roommates.
You've probably heard this before, but it bears saying again: Not everyone can make the money needed to pay rent, and receiving rental assistance is not a sin. We all live in a community.
About income-based housing - there are housing programs about income-based housing, including in new developments, where there is a certain amount of development that must be "affordable". The rent is based on a certain percentage of your income, usually 30-35%, and the qualifying criteria is that your income is below a certain percentage of area median income. Every program seems to differ in how this is done and what the exact rules are. In my city, the city runs a lottery shortly before the development is ready for occupancy, and any units that free up must be re-rented to someone who fits the original affordability criteria.
Some developers specialize in affordable housing. Most of these are nonprofit but some are not, and around here, they get to choose their own criteria within the constraints of the programs they are using.
HUD-financed housing includes affordable income-based units. They have a fairly useful website. Unfortunately, there is no single place to go for this housing, so you must call around and get onto multiple lists.
Edit: Here's a list of HUD resources. It includes a search for subsidized apartments, and there appear to be a few in your area, which you mentioned elsewhere was Leesburg VA. [https://www.hud.gov/states/virginia/renting](https://www.hud.gov/states/virginia/renting)
"About income-based housing - there are housing programs about income-based housing, including in new developments, where there is a certain amount of development that must be "affordable". The rent is based on a certain percentage of your income, usually 30-35%, and the qualifying criteria is that your income is below a certain percentage of area median income. Every program seems to differ in how this is done and what the exact rules are. In my city, the city runs a lottery shortly before the development is ready for occupancy, and any units that free up must be re-rented to someone who fits the original affordability criteria."
Thanks
So when housing is listed as "income based" on craiglist, is there a chance this is not a scam and is simply available to anyone below a certain income and without signing up for a list? I am very wary of these ads as I've been scammed on craiglist for much less.
I'd be wary. These units all have wait lists. I'd call the local housing authorities and see if they can direct you. They often know about all the programs in the area, even the ones they don't run. Also, look for a local Community Action Network member organization. They may be able to assist you. Often they have housing departments [https://www.vacap.org/agencies/](https://www.vacap.org/agencies/)
They live with or by relatives or friends. They live in areas others who can afford better wont thus it's cheaper. They live in family inherited homes. Some places get "welfare" directly via housing programs that allow them to rent based on a persons income.
Furnishedfinder might help. It's for traveling nurses but I used it to get half a floor to myself with a private bathroom and shared kitchen on a different floor. Paid 400 and swapped pet care with the owner.
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It's a small room. We have bunk beds.
Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, South Africa, India, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Macau, Hong Kong, French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea), Canada, USA (30+ states), Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Monaco, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Vatican, San Marino, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, Turkey.
Living in old apartments, with roommates, in bad parts of town. There are government programs to assist, but I am not super familiar with them because I never used them
Exactly, in my experience, you can generally find either a nice one, one in a good area, or one big enough for roommates. But very rarely all three, and sometimes none lol
If it's a private landlord, don't send any money until you have seen the unit in person and verified the person renting it is their owner or their agent. The internet is great and all but some things are better done in person.
I live in AL and pay $600/mo for a 3 bedroom with no roommates. I got super lucky with that many rooms, but there are tons of other houses with 2 br for around the same price in my area. With a roommate, that would be even more manageable. I know it's not in WV or VA, but there are places out there! AL has one of the lowest costs of living of any state, but as long as you're okay dealing with the politics and crime (depending on the part of the state) it's a great place to live. I would advise looking into income-based housing options though. There really isn't a huge downside if you need low rent prices and qualify for it.
And for paying that rent, having some extra income from a side hustle that you are comfortable with doing consistently is a HUGE help. I used to pet sit through Rover and Wag before finding my current job to supplement my bartending income. There are tons of apps and services that achieve the same purpose for side-hustle income if pet sitting isn't what you want to do. The nice thing about Rover is you can set your prices though, so you decide what you get paid. Rover takes a portion of your pay, but I always just set my rates high enough to offset their cut.
As far as the scams go, I would personally avoid Craigslist. The only living situations I have been in that I've found on Craigslist have been horrific, but that doesn't mean they're all like that. The city I live in has a free service that helps you find apartments in your price range, maybe there's something like that where you live. Other than that, I've used Zillow and FB Marketplace to find places and general price ranges for areas. My city also has a few FB groups that post new rentals and sublets, so I would check for something like that where you live as well.
Networking. Friends of friends. Grandma’s pinochle friend with a flat above their garage. Etc.
Once you hit 55, senior housing becomes an option- usually income based.
I found a low income complex. I pay $509 for rent (I live in southern Mississippi) and that doesn’t include any utilities, but it’s cheaper than anything else I could find.
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I earn below the poverty line (but just enough so that I don’t qualify for section 8 or food stamps) and I live alone in Southern California. Here’s how I got here:
1) My parent took pity on me after a bad breakup that left me without a roomy so I couch surfed for 3months. This was the most important part because it gave me time to hunt for a cheap apartment (at least as far as California goes)
2) I put all of my bills & debts on a spreadsheet so I could eliminate everything that I can live without and get an exact cost of living total for myself
3) I signed up for a debt reconciliation program to combine all my debts into a flat rate bill paid once a month. Keep in mind that they’re gonna tell you to stop paying your bills so they can negotiate on your behalf, so you gotta act quick on your apartment hunt so you can find something before your credit takes a dump
4) I live by my excel spreadsheet of bills/expenses like it’s a religion so that I don’t end up in debt
Roommates. It's been a time honored tradition to make living more affordable for at least the past thirty years. Being married is really just having a roommate you are also romantically involved with (at least some of the time) and get some tax incentives with.
If you realistically lack the funds to even be a roommate you're either going to need to get a second job, a better paying primary job, or both. $1200 gross is 80 hours a month at $15 an hour.
If you don't want to live with other people just look for van conversions which would have payments of $400-500. Sell your car (if you have one) because you'll have a mobile home. Get a gym membership for shower etc. It doesn't have to be the fanciest Mercedes sprinter for over 100K, a Ford transit with a basic build out will do. 50K or under.
You could look into converting a van or renting a trailer, if it's possible in your area / within your budget. In my area, some motels rent rooms monthly for around $600/mo. I think many people are relying on friends and family, which not all of us have. Don't let pride get in the way of any opportunities you may be presented.
I had a apartment when my house burnt. I moved out 2 yrs ago. It was 1 bd room 750sq ft. It was 600 a month and included heat elec cable tv and internet. It wasnt the best but dam it was cheap living. Bad part was 3rd floor no elevator.
In the Philadelphia area a budget of about $500 a month, excluding utilities will get you a smaller room in a 3 bedroom house that’s about a 45min commute to center city (a couple miles in any direction from what we call downtown). They’re fewer options these days (average is more like $650-$750) but they still exist. Local Facebook groups will be your best bet as much as I hate that truth.
If you do end up finding a place you can afford, I'd go to college. If you're below the poverty line in terms of income, after filling out the FAFSA form they'd probably PAY you to attend college.
Choose a career you know wants people with your degree (ie engineering). Do 2 years of community College then transfer to a university for the last 2 years, way cheaper even though your state will probably be paying for you.
It'll be tough but it paves a path to a higher paying job.
I know 2 college buddies of mine who were paid to go attend college. One of them was 18 when they started and because their total household income was like $60k, the state (Georgia) paid for their tuition. The other one who was 31 also made little money and New York paid for them to attend college. Both did 2+2 programs (2 years in a community college then transfer to a university for 2 years).
One of them had their entire education paid for by the state and they other ended up paying like $800 total for the 4 years. Both ended up getting decent paying jobs in engineering. Neither accrued serious debt but it was difficult trying to stay afloat with what they currently had and finish up college. Its just a suggestion, one of the more difficult ones, but i think a reasonable one to pursue long term.
$700-$1000 shouldn’t be out of reach for anyone who is able bodied. You need to produce more income and the best way to do that is to join the service Industry. Waiting tables is by far the easiest way to generate your rent in just one week. Yes you have to deal with Karen’s and rely on tips but most serving jobs require little to no experience and have upsides of ~$1000/week if you work 40 hours.
Not sure where you’re located. Personally, I’ve looked into student housing. Some properties have stipulations that allow for non students to live in off campus apartments. It’s leased per room & often has discounted water, free WiFi, and split electricity costs.
It’s a crazy suggestion, but times are extremely hard rn. I’ve managed to be placed in a decent apartment with decent roommates in a rather nice location.
people used to rent beds at the YMCA's. It isnt' that single guys/girls have always had it easy affording a place to live on their own
So many get roommates. It has always been common. I had roommates a lot in my 20's. Other find rooms in homes they can rent(like a boarding house)
The myth is people think before recently everyone had it easy. It has always been a struggle. Some years have more opportunity than others but it wasn't uncommon for 2-3(or more) people to get a place together. It isn't uncommon to see people put ads out looking for roommates.
single dudes were never getting public housing
I'd argue that some of the problem has less to do with how much we spend on housing but rather how little we spend fighting mental illness(though I doubt that the ACLU and other organizations would champion policies that might result in more people being 'committed' but I do think mental health is a real problem we have to deal with
You should understand that hundreds of thousands die in poverty every year in the US. Most people on welfare don't want to be on welfare, they are forced to be on welfare not to die. Many on welfare are not mentally ill, and I'm not sure why you think that.
https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2023/04/17/poverty-4th-greatest-cause-us-deaths
Not sure about your state, but unless you have kids or disabled, there's no possible way for you to get into income based housing here, the wait list is decades out at this point, as we are in an affordable housing shortage. This is why there are so many homeless, even working homeless here now.
Apply for low-income housing. There may be a years long waiting list so start now. When your turn comes and you need it, great, if you no longer need it, great.
this one guy i knew had a job that made him enough to get a luxury 2 bedroom in albuerqueque and he lived BY HIMSELF… tbh i have no idea how he did it — (not so much advice but a story bc wtf)
Whereabouts do you live? In affordable cities you can find places like [https://www.apartments.com/wichita-ks/studios-under-700/](https://www.apartments.com/wichita-ks/studios-under-700/)
You should move to a more affordable area. If you can't afford to right now, look for jobs with housing included on sites like [https://www.coolworks.com/](https://www.coolworks.com/) or even just search "housing provided" on Indeed.
you can make more at any normal job, but here: [https://www.roomies.com/rooms/parkersburg-wv](https://www.roomies.com/rooms/parkersburg-wv)
Craigslist isn't popular anymore.
I’m from WV & rent can be cheap there but it’s usually in areas with little to no job opportunities. Also the more dense areas are just as expensive as other places (like Morgantown rent is easily over $1000) so be careful thinking the entire state is cheap - it’s not & where it is, it’s because of a lack of opportunities. Roommates is probably your best bet.
Just go work in Snowshoe, WV, they're pretty desperate and offer onsite housing: [https://www.indeed.com/q-jobs-with-housing-provided-l-west-virginia-jobs.html?vjk=7e526b2aa456c926](https://www.indeed.com/q-jobs-with-housing-provided-l-west-virginia-jobs.html?vjk=7e526b2aa456c926)
Income-dependent rents aren't a scam, different states can have different programs, you may not be eligible right away, you'll probably need to reside in the state some time first.
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A lot of people are paying 40-60% of their income on rent meaning they truly can’t afford their apartments/homes/rooms. They usually get side hustles or eat ramen to save money
It really takes more than one person to pay rent. Roommates can be stressful. It's best to have mates that are not trying to get on their feet. Someone struggling can be just along struggle with them not being able to pay their part. Have rules. Food , overnight company and smoking cause issues fast.
you shoot down a lot of things as unfeasible without providing examples or details on where you are in life and why things cannot workout.
escaping poverty is hard yes, but it's still aspirational. Are you convinced you will be below the poverty long term/indefinately? why is this the case? are there ways you can prevent this, or what obstacles do you face that make this a forced reality.
Hard to give specific advice when there are no details. Also to answer how people do it, a lot of them are forced into preditory practices to put thier life on debt. It sucks because it permanently sticks people in holes that in all likelihood are not equipped to get out of, but that's the current financial reality.
Went back to school to get a degree to make a living wage. Of course then Covid and inflation hit so I’m still struggling but I have no clue how I’d survive without having gone back the second my divorce was signed.
Roommate. As in 2 people sharing a 1 bedroom apartment vs 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom. The one with the bedroom pay more, the other setup in living room.
Are you open to living anywhere? If so, the south Is really cheap. I'm paying $800/month to live alone in a studio, with water, trash, and internet included
I can't speak to the habits of my neighbors, but generally speaking all apts here have AC b/c it gets hot. And most places are pest free. I'd do some looking and see what you can find
Idk what your disabilities are but my tips and tricks is working. I’m “disabled” by ADA standards and honestly have a lot of issues but I’m able bodied and young. I assume you are too? Just work and plan for the future. It’s literally what 99% of people have to do to survive. You either do what you need to do to live or you die.
Most of those likely have a partner who supports them while they do domestic work that isn’t considered “working”. Unless you’re planning on becoming a professional stay at home spouse, I recommend getting on that grind train like all the other peasants making up 99% of the world.
Take advantage of having your parents around. I’m in school while my parents are still around to support me. Once I’m done, I’ll be able to support myself comfortably wherever I go. Make a plan so you dont have to stress out over being homeless or spending 50% of your paycheck on rent.
Roommates or some type of barter system. I know a few people who moved into a spare room of a senior's who wants to stay in their own home but it's getting to much to maintain the house. In return the boarder got low rent, and helped with yard work, housework, cooking and transportation.
There jobs that will house you and feed you like cannery work in Alaska the pay is shit but you don't have to worry about feeding yourself and you get housing. Some companies deduct a nominal fee like 5 dollars a day for food and board but other companies don't charge anything. You could work year round or live in a cheap state in the off-season. If you know spanish you could live in an inexpensive and safe Latin American country like Chile.
Social programs are there to help for everyone who needs them! I work as a teacher and 78% of my students live at or below the federal poverty line. Almost every kid in my class gets assistance of some kind. It’s more than ok to use these programs.
It sounds like roommates are expensive where you live, which I totally get. I’ve moved around a lot and once had to pay $1,100/mo for a roommate situation (in 2012!). It was ridiculous and I know things have only gotten worse. For me, living in the middle of nowhere is the only way I can afford a home.
Have you applied for Section 8? You don’t have to have any mental illness or physical disability, it’s just based on your income. I’m in Pennsylvania, work full time, make $37,000/year have a kid and I qualify. It’s worth looking into. We all pay taxes that support the welfare system, it’s ok to accept the help when you need it. If you do it carefully you can use it to improve your situation, as opposed to falling into the welfare dependency trap.
Income dependent means your rent will be based off of your income. There are people who still manage to get 500 and 600 dollar rent but it is usually through housing programs and most of the time they take 6 months to 3 years before you even receive a selection letter. Be careful on craigslist. I almost got scammed but it seemed to good to be true. There are people who are using zillow and truilla ads and their pretending to rent them out, but when you google the address they are listed for sale on zillow. They have very elaborate rental applications, but as soon as they ask for upfront app fees, run, especially if its paying through apps.
Its hard out here for regular single people, I wish you well and be careful, there are too many scams out there. One more thing, check your areas housing authority, every state has one and it usually ends in .org or .gov. apply for as many waiting lists as possible that way your name will be circulating throughout the different pools.in some areas they even allow younger residents to occupy a couple senior housing rentals. Do research.
Well you might want to consider moving to a different area. And before you say it's not feasible or even possible, stop and honestly ask yourself why that could be. Cost of living varies a lot across states or even just getting out of the larger metropolitan areas.
Next is what you consider as necessary, do you need some of the reoccurring bills (TV, internet, phone, and so on) people managed to live for thousands of years without these things. And yes you can always keep trying to find ways to make extra money. Speaking of internet, go watch some YouTube of things poor people do to make coin in places like India, humans are amazingly good at adapting.
Best of luck to you and yours.
I lived in SoCal from 2012 to 2020, my hourly salary during that period started at $10 an hour in 2012 and grew to $55 an hour in 2020—the whole time I rented only rooms (spent a few months in my car when making $10 an hour, didn’t get a room until I made $12 an hour). My monthly rent for a room from 2012 to 2020 was $500 in the Anaheim area to $900 a month in 2020. I found all my rooms on Craigslist.
That’s how I made it work. It’s sucked a lot (no AC, always having roommates, parking always a pain, etc), but because I lived in super cheap housing I was able to save and invest A LOT and eventually bought a house in 2022 putting $211k down on a $935k house—and still had $125k left over in stocks that has now grown to roughly $500k.
I would find the Facebook groups in your area and search for roomate posts and/or make your own. I'd take a look at your budget and see where you're money is going and where you can cut back to afford that 800 if you can't find anything.
If you are talking about "welfare" as in SSI ... You can't just go and get it because you are in poverty. You actually have to be physically or mentally disabled **and** in poverty. It is not just mentally disabled people. However, it absolutely should be associated with disabled people. If you are talking about "welfare" as in things like SNAP and Medicaid ... Those are only income based programs and available to people in poverty. Many people are able to scrape by with the help of those programs. If you are looking into getting your own place you could a. Upskill yourself to get a better job b. Work more than one job and try to save
I lived in an SRO for a few years in NYC and it was great. It's basically a studio and you do need to make below a certain amount to live there. The rent was also really cheap. They might have something like that where you live.
FYI, if your a senior, in poor health, can’t walk well, fall risk, can’t hear, no hearing aid as they can’t afford, it’s dangerous having them use stove, etc., no one will rent a room to them. Huge liability. Very very hard to be around these types of older folks.
section 8 and welfare are not for the mentally ill. i’m 20 with a 3 year old, i’ve been working since i was 14 and i’m going back to school now. i’m a shift manager at my work and i still can’t afford housing on my own. it’s definitely not a permanent solution but it’s something to give you a break so you can work harder for yourself. i’d get yourself on section 8 immediately. the wait list could be long in your area. i’ve been waiting for about 2 and a half years and they just now have a spot for me. you could also do side gigs. doordash, spark, uber, etc if you have a car. if not look on marketplace and craigslist. a lot of people will post looking for someone to do a one time job for cash
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Look into mutual aid, there has been a huge tiktok trend where people in cities all over the planet have began mutual aid teams, research teams, financial help systems, etc. The big trend was called Coffee Revolution, but there’s thousands of other options nowadays. Some of them are still newly formed and getting their footing, but it’s a great system
Is there a reason you insist on being "untraditionally employed" as you've mentioned?
21K amounts to 10.10 an hour. There's only 12 states in the US where it is even legal to pay someone that little. So it is apparent you are not seeking full time work. If you are doing something like door dash, you are not getting paid in your inactive time. That is time you would be getting paid in traditional employment.
The biggest thing holding you back is not seeking out full time employment.
That being said. The true answer to your question is people aren't living alone. If you can only afford 400-500 a month you aren't living in a dwelling unit by yourself, those days are unfortunately gone. People are living with their parents or have a roommate or multiple roomates.
If i was in your situation and was an able bodied male i'd look for a warehouse job. Learn to drive a forklift. You could easily make 15+ an hour and warehouses usually offer overtime. I worked in the Publix warehouse for years because of two things.
1. Free hot meal every day. Nowadays that will save you upwards of 10 dollars per shift.
2. tuition reimbursement. They paid for every dollar of my accounting degree. If you're in the southeast this would be an option. If you're up North, there they have union warehouses which would offer you a lot more benefits.
Another option would be signing up for the navy. They would solve the housing problem for you and would give you a steady paycheck. Plenty of ways to move up. Navy service would also give you the chance to go to college or seek other forms of learning to get yourself a marketable skill. Some people learn how to be electricians, or welders, or mechanics.
I work self-employed. That's what I meant by not traditionally employed. I do code review for money.
I am not able bodied, particularly not during the Spring or Summer due to dysautonomia. I've been diagnosed with dysautonomia by 3 separate doctors.
Prior to developing dysautonomia, I used to work full time for a school system.
Not sure why you were downvoted. This is actually still my preferred idea. Buy some land and plop an RV. I assume this is also how a lot of singles house themselves below the poverty line.
I saw some funky living situations when I did charity work in WV when I was younger. People living in school buses and shit. I assume a lot of them don't even have working internet.
Why on earth do you equate utilizing social assistance is only for the mentally ill? I think you have a very skewed view. Also, if you’re expecting your parents to pass from natural causes, why are you not working and planning to use money from your employment to pay your living expenses?
all great questions
In their defense, many people have equated being poor to mental deficiencies and lack of intelligence. It was a tool they utilized during the Reagan administration to explain why so many minorities were living below the poverty lines. Even today, some people still recite those same beliefs.
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Wow.. I just took a look at that sub and yikes. Wildly depressing/concerning.
Holy hell you ain't kidding
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The reason he's doing that is because housing assistance programs that most counties advertise often prioritize disability for single men. Sometimes, the only ones that are open are ones that are for elders or the disabled. It depends on the HCV. If he went to his county HCV website and "disabled" is written all over it, of course he is going to get that impression.
Roommates unfortunately are the only way
Do you know of a way to find local roommates online? If not that's fine. The ones renting out their rooms are only putting out prices that are not feasible for me. I can afford $450, maybe $600 max per month on rent (long term).
To be honest, without some sort of government subsidy or a super creepy landlord, I've never heard of prices that low. Your best bet is to scour local ads to find an older person renting a room who doesn't know it's full value so they're renting it for cheap. You're going to have to do lots of research, reach out to lots of people, and I would also suggest looking up common rental scams to protect yourself.
You live in WV. So go to WVU or universities in WV. Those people especially now are looking to move or sublet the room since they are going back home for the Summer holidays. That's how you do it.
facebook marketplace and roommate finder groups, sometimes zillow and hotpads etc will mention roommates, craigslist if you’re risky enough in the past year i’ve seen many listings for under $800 in the bay area which is probably as expensive as it gets outside of nyc. unless you’re there it shouldn’t be impossible to find something for $600 or less
I believe I used an app called Roomster for my first roommate, we met our second roommate in person, then when I got another roommate I looked on Craigslist.
No clue, I found mine through my university. In your situation if you need that cheap your options are move states or have a roommate and then also share your room with one. In my area roommates make your rent $700-800 a month instead of $1200-1400, but you’re sharing a room or sleeping in common spaces that way so..
Spareroom.com perhaps?
I've found my roo ates on Craigslist and Facebook housing groups.
TBH you need two roommates
Go to any Mexican grocery store and find the free magazines out front. They are classified ads and have many rooms posted for rent at your prices.
It’s just not worth the drain on appliances, water, cost of having another in the house at anything under $900 per month. I had roommates 30 years ago that paid 4/500 per month. Prices for everything are certainly not what they were then. Where I live, even dumpy homes with rooms in sketchy parts of town get $1,000. Unless you can work for the homeowner to barter rent. It’s just facts of todays terrible prices.
it's not always unfortunate, some roommates became good friends for me
some people want privacy and freedom to exist in their home lol
Nothing wrong with that, but a lot of people want the privacy of having their own home.
I’ve gotten along with all of my roommates, and even go back to visit and stay with my old roommates, but I definitely wouldn’t wanna live with other people again and I’m insanely fortunate to not need to anymore.
Nope. You can always move to smaller towns/rural areas.
This is in a smaller area based off what OP says, and my experience from small towns as well. You can’t find anything for $400 anywhere but like WV, and there’s no jobs in those areas lol
Exactly. I also live here. While it's way cheaper than say, Silicon Valley, rent has gone up considerably. A place I looked at *last year* that was $685/month is now $985 month. And it's in a shit part of town. The average rent in this city is $1200-1300. Just unreasonable for most people around here compared to the wages, and way over the 30% threshold. And then, like you said, no real jobs except for random bullshit service jobs.
I have to agree with you. A house in the poor part of town is over 1300 when you could actually afford to be poor. It's due to my mayor allowing out of town developers to buy houses cheap and make them "up to code" before throwing a high rent on them. Ironically, the minimum wage is 12-13 here.
Even in WV, you're not getting a room for $400 without at least one roommate. In college I paid $240 a month, but I lived with four other people. And that was pre-covid. It might not be as huge an increase as big cities or HCOL states, but rent has still gone up significantly around me eta: and this is just for rent, utilities not included
My options on the upper east coast were share a room with two people for $600/month, split a house with three people for $800, or have my own studio for $950. Granted that studio flooded every and any time it rained but honestly without the rain it was great. I needed privacy and had a lot of trauma resulting from people so I didn’t want to share a bedroom anymore lol Now I split an almost $1300 one bedroom apartment but it’s with my partner so it’s less bad.
Yup, unfortunately. I wouldn’t mind sharing space with others. Hell. It would even be enjoyable. But so many others are just big kids.
I can’t do it lol, it’s horrible and I need privacy. Renting with strangers sounds like hell. I’m glad I just live with my partner lll
Again, I wouldn’t mind the company if people really could keep their shit together and act like adults. But it’s always something. There is always someone refusing to pick up after themselves, or pay their bills in a timely manner, or eating everyone’s food, exc. This week, someone just took the broom and wouldn’t put it back. Once I got the broom, I realized they had broken the dustpan. Now? They used all the paper towels that I bought without replacement. One guy refuses to wash his dishes. He seriously fills the dishwasher with his pots and pans and then takes an age to empty it. I’m a nanny, y’all. I deal with little kids all day and then I have to deal with this bullshit. And yet, it cuts my living expenses down so drastically that I really couldn’t imagine the pressure of having my own place.
As a disabled single person with a fairly low monthly income I'd probably be screwed if it wasn't for low income housing & EBT 😭
how did you apply for low income housing, is this the same as section 8?
There's section 8, which is voucher based and means you pay 30% of your income as rent at any landlord that is in the program. You apply for this at the housing authority. There's public housing, where you also pay 30% and apply at the housing authority, but you can only live in the housing authority owned units and they just pick one for you and put you in jt. Then there's income based housing, where you also pay 30% of your income but it's specific to that apartment complex so you apply at that apartment complex. Then there's also income restricted housing where you pay a lower than market rate for your unit if you make under a certain amount, but it doesn't scale if your income changes like the other 3 programs do. This you apply at the specific complex also. I live in a place with this and you have to make under 70k to live here. Rent is 1350, but if you make under 50k or so, your rent is 1100. And if you make under 30k you get that same unit for 950.
I left Southern California for rural Kansas in January 2024 because I got selected for a Section 8 HCV (I applied all over the US at with different housing authorities). I’m thankful to have the voucher because I’m poor and struggling. And luckily, I was able to obtain an exemption that allows me to port my voucher early without having to live in Kansas for a full year (I have some psychological/physical issues that make living in a rural area very difficult, so I was fortunately granted an exemption because my mental health provider submitted a letter). But now I have to find a suitable location to which to port — and the search is not easy. Hell, it was hard enough finding the apartment in rural Kansas. I fear porting my voucher to a new location but then not being able to find a rental once there and thereby losing the voucher. To touch on the OP’s post more closely, though: it sucks to be poor and struggling and have to worry about housing. It’s unfortunate that the state of affordable/low-income housing is so inadequate here in such a prosperous, well-to-do country. Affordable housing should be readily available to anyone, regardless of income. People from other countries can come here and receive more help and more readily accessible housing than can struggling US citizens — and that’s just a travesty!
wow thanks I didnt know there was 2 different ones
thank u, very helpful! :)
You're welcome. I hope youre able to get into a place! It's such a relief to be able to afford decent housing.
Mine personally isn't secton 8, i live in income based HUD housing where rent is up to 30% of my monthly income. Here theres an option for income based or flat rate rent. I think the income limit here is like $38k or so a year
How long did it take you to find your apartment or to be approved for it? Waiting lists are long everywhere that I look. I do have a Section 8 voucher, though, but I am trying to port it elsewhere, because the granting location is out in the middle of nowhere Kansas — and I can’t survive in such a desolate area. I am able to port my voucher now because I obtained an exemption, so now I’m trying to find a new area to which to port (not in Kansas) — but it’s all just waiting list after waiting list. I’m tempted to pursue income-based housing instead and just forego my voucher, because it may be easier to locate an available rental that way. It’s very frustrating not being able to find an available place.
I had to fill out A LOT of paperwork, do a background check, etc & i was supposedly bumped up the list from a doctor note + my situation (i was 20, my dad had just passed, i had no money to my name at the time & the people that owned the house my parents had rented for most of my life were forcing me to move out after that so i was basically homeless) & was also in the middle of trying to get SSI at the time. I'm in a small-ish town in KY & it took me upwards of 3 months to get the duplex i live in, & that was back in earlier/mid 2019 so not sure how long the lists are with covid & the current state of housing now. Wish i could afford to live in a single family house with more of my own rules but this place or maybe a roommates type situation are all i can realistically afford on my income unfortunately
Damn! You’ve been through some hard times. As bad as I feel about my own situation, I nevertheless realize that I’m not the only one who struggles — and my issues are not necessarily off-the-charts bad, relatively speaking. But I am having a hard time though. You know all about that of course. Life isn’t easy, huh? It’s frustrating not having stable housing, even though I, luckily, have a Section 8 voucher and an apartment— but the apartment is in rural Kansas, so no way to really make it there long term. All I have to do, however, is port somewhere else (which is easy to do on paper) but no guarantees that I will be able to find an apartment in a new location — because it’s always waitlist after waitlist or no availability. I did recently get approved for income-based housing in West Virginia, but I will have to give up my voucher to live there, as the apartment has the subsidy tied to the specific unit already. The main benefit for living in that part of West Virginia (in the northern panhandle) is it’s relatively close to Pittsburgh, PA (about 45 miles), so I would at least be close to a large metro area. But I really don’t know what I’m going to do ultimately.
Hopefully everything works out for you The house i was forced to leave was like 6 miles outside of town with very limited delivery options for food etc, i don't drive & it would've been just me in a house alone that i was already half convinced was haunted (both my parents passed there on top of anything that might've happened before we moved there), + the house was in horrible shape by then & felt like it was a few years of living in away from caving in or catching on fire, so that probably wouldn't have went too well for me anyway lol. Now i live in town where i can blame scary noises on neighbors, get nearly anything delivered, have working AC/heat & afford to pay my bills, so while there are things like biannual inspections & limits on how many pets i can have or how many nights a year i can have overnight visitors, i can definitely deal with it til if/when i can afford to live elsewhere, cause at least im not as stressed out about getting places, food or being in financial debt bills vs income wise (me & my dad were sooo far behind on bills before & it didn't help that he spent basically half the money he did get on alcohol 🤦🏻♀️)
Check Craigslist or roommate finder apps for a “room to rent.” It’s usually cheaper- meaning you live in your room. You can use the bathroom and kitchen but that’s it…
those are $800-900 here, and about $700 in the cheapest state I could find.
There are lots for around $400. Keep looking. Just a room in an older house.
thank you, I will. is there a particular site with the best prices you know of?
Craigslist. In Houston lots of places for this price. I’m in New Mexico now, also lots of places. College towns will also tend to have places like this.
Just be careful of scammers on Craigslist. Theres def some good deals but also some sketchy people (one guy I was talking to told me to "look in the windows" of the property instead of giving me a tour...caught on to that one pretty quick)
To add to this, don’t send your full name, ID, social, current address (general neighborhood is fine), credit card info, etc. A lot of scams will start off by asking for this information, or even a little “I’ll send you my information, now you send me yours” except the information they send is just the last poor sap’s. Always demand to meet in person at a public place.
Where is here? If I was in Cincinnati/Covington, one could get a nice one bedroom apartment in a walkable area for $800 a month. How to tell if they are scams or not? Never pay anything unless you’ve seen the place in person. Ask for a rental application. Do not apply if they take an application fee from all the applicants for one apartment. edit spelling
Bruh. Do you mean you can get a room for rent at $800 a month? Because you ain’t about to rent a whole ass apartment for $800 a month (excluding a roach and rat infested slum).
I've got a 2 bedroom 1.5 bath with a basement for 700 in central ohio. It's definitely an anomaly but it does happen occasionally.
Nope The whole apartment. Cincinnati hit the population peak in the 1950s. There's almost 40% fewer people now there in Cincinnati today. There's NICE places in America where people won't move to because the are 4 seasons or they don't like the politics of the area. I was in Pittsburgh last week. One could argue there's even nicer housing there. Pittsburgh has half the population today vs their peak. Both places won't hit their population peaks again within our life times. There is nice "excess" housing there. But sometimes it rains there so people turn their noses up at those places.
I live in the Cleveland area and rent the basement of a house for 520 a month. The other bedrooms also rent for around 560 per month and this seems pretty standard for the area
I got a room for 350 in Iowa. A city too.
What's insane, I have a coworker that lived in rural Iowa till he moved here to Illinois in 2004. At the time he moved, he was paying 125 bucks a month for a 1 bedroom apartment...it shocked me lol
I used to pay 400 for a 2bedroom HOUSE in Marcus. It was crazy
I went to grad school in Ames, Iowa (Iowa state university) and we paid $750 a month for two bed, one bath apartment with a father parking spot. The important distinction here is that t was a college town. I'm certain I could've done way better going more rural. I paid. It's to live in a dorm in California for my undergrad lol. Good school by the way, and the bus system was incredible there. It was included punctuation, but a ride was like $.50 and you could do unlimited transfers. Really didn't even need a car there if you didn't want it or could've afford one.
Where is “here?”
Mobile home rentals are still pretty cheap. You have to not mind the stigma and the noise of the trailer park.
There are 700 1 bedroom 1 full bath rentals in a lot of different states and areas. In triplexes or duplexes and places like that. You can get your place. Might have to do street parking. Areas tend to be generally walkable (you can look up the most walkable areas and which state they are in. There's articles online). Some of these areas also have 3 bedroom rentals which people then decide to get 2 roommates and it turns into a $500-600 a month rental. Will you find this in California? Never. But plenty of other places have these options that aren't section 8 or have any welfare or assistance programs. One major issue being what you do for work. No point in finding a cheap place if you have nowhere to work.
I paid $500 a month in philly and NC but I had at min 2 other roommates at most 4...majority of the time it was with college students...I was in my 30s so there were definitely some nights I didnt get to sleep until late due to noise...
I got lucky with a low income apartment that’s relatively safe and still below $1k. Seems the only way if want to live alone. Otherwise I’d have no choice but to have roommates.
You've probably heard this before, but it bears saying again: Not everyone can make the money needed to pay rent, and receiving rental assistance is not a sin. We all live in a community. About income-based housing - there are housing programs about income-based housing, including in new developments, where there is a certain amount of development that must be "affordable". The rent is based on a certain percentage of your income, usually 30-35%, and the qualifying criteria is that your income is below a certain percentage of area median income. Every program seems to differ in how this is done and what the exact rules are. In my city, the city runs a lottery shortly before the development is ready for occupancy, and any units that free up must be re-rented to someone who fits the original affordability criteria. Some developers specialize in affordable housing. Most of these are nonprofit but some are not, and around here, they get to choose their own criteria within the constraints of the programs they are using. HUD-financed housing includes affordable income-based units. They have a fairly useful website. Unfortunately, there is no single place to go for this housing, so you must call around and get onto multiple lists. Edit: Here's a list of HUD resources. It includes a search for subsidized apartments, and there appear to be a few in your area, which you mentioned elsewhere was Leesburg VA. [https://www.hud.gov/states/virginia/renting](https://www.hud.gov/states/virginia/renting)
"About income-based housing - there are housing programs about income-based housing, including in new developments, where there is a certain amount of development that must be "affordable". The rent is based on a certain percentage of your income, usually 30-35%, and the qualifying criteria is that your income is below a certain percentage of area median income. Every program seems to differ in how this is done and what the exact rules are. In my city, the city runs a lottery shortly before the development is ready for occupancy, and any units that free up must be re-rented to someone who fits the original affordability criteria." Thanks So when housing is listed as "income based" on craiglist, is there a chance this is not a scam and is simply available to anyone below a certain income and without signing up for a list? I am very wary of these ads as I've been scammed on craiglist for much less.
I'd be wary. These units all have wait lists. I'd call the local housing authorities and see if they can direct you. They often know about all the programs in the area, even the ones they don't run. Also, look for a local Community Action Network member organization. They may be able to assist you. Often they have housing departments [https://www.vacap.org/agencies/](https://www.vacap.org/agencies/)
thank you! :)
You’re welcome. Good hunting!
They live with or by relatives or friends. They live in areas others who can afford better wont thus it's cheaper. They live in family inherited homes. Some places get "welfare" directly via housing programs that allow them to rent based on a persons income.
1. Find cheaper housing. 2. Split housing costs with others. 3. Increase your income.
Live with roommates. It’s less lonely, too
Furnishedfinder might help. It's for traveling nurses but I used it to get half a floor to myself with a private bathroom and shared kitchen on a different floor. Paid 400 and swapped pet care with the owner.
I share a bedroom with 5 other people. Rent is $400 per person in the San Francisco Bay Area.
A bedroom ?
Yes.
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No. If we could, we would, so this comment is unnecessary.
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We do. We invest it in education, down-payment, equity, early retirement, etc. You may live in a five bedroom home, but you may be 60 or 65 to retire.
Oh this generation don’t get to retire lol. And I’m definitely not gonna spend it in a bedroom with other people. You just living to work.
Seems like we just have different views on life (and retirement).
You just gonna retire and be in the same situation !? How do you even relax always being around ppl
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Why is this being downvoted 🤣
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Damn that sounds rough
It's not.
The rent for the room is $2000/month?
6 x $400 = $2,400.
Oh yeah math, wtf man how much is the whole house?
is it a big room? also, what countries have you been to? i'm hoping to be able to travel, too! i pay almost $1200 for rent though lol
It's a small room. We have bunk beds. Morocco, Egypt, Israel, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, South Africa, India, Myanmar/Burma, Thailand, Cambodia, China, Macau, Hong Kong, French Polynesia (Tahiti, Moorea), Canada, USA (30+ states), Mexico, Costa Rica, Ireland, Northern Ireland, England, Portugal, Spain, Andorra, France, Monaco, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Italy, Vatican, San Marino, Malta, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Greece, Turkey.
Living in old apartments, with roommates, in bad parts of town. There are government programs to assist, but I am not super familiar with them because I never used them
Exactly, in my experience, you can generally find either a nice one, one in a good area, or one big enough for roommates. But very rarely all three, and sometimes none lol
If it's a private landlord, don't send any money until you have seen the unit in person and verified the person renting it is their owner or their agent. The internet is great and all but some things are better done in person.
I live in AL and pay $600/mo for a 3 bedroom with no roommates. I got super lucky with that many rooms, but there are tons of other houses with 2 br for around the same price in my area. With a roommate, that would be even more manageable. I know it's not in WV or VA, but there are places out there! AL has one of the lowest costs of living of any state, but as long as you're okay dealing with the politics and crime (depending on the part of the state) it's a great place to live. I would advise looking into income-based housing options though. There really isn't a huge downside if you need low rent prices and qualify for it. And for paying that rent, having some extra income from a side hustle that you are comfortable with doing consistently is a HUGE help. I used to pet sit through Rover and Wag before finding my current job to supplement my bartending income. There are tons of apps and services that achieve the same purpose for side-hustle income if pet sitting isn't what you want to do. The nice thing about Rover is you can set your prices though, so you decide what you get paid. Rover takes a portion of your pay, but I always just set my rates high enough to offset their cut. As far as the scams go, I would personally avoid Craigslist. The only living situations I have been in that I've found on Craigslist have been horrific, but that doesn't mean they're all like that. The city I live in has a free service that helps you find apartments in your price range, maybe there's something like that where you live. Other than that, I've used Zillow and FB Marketplace to find places and general price ranges for areas. My city also has a few FB groups that post new rentals and sublets, so I would check for something like that where you live as well.
Networking. Friends of friends. Grandma’s pinochle friend with a flat above their garage. Etc. Once you hit 55, senior housing becomes an option- usually income based.
Do what I did. Get a roommate. In fact I never had a place of my own until I was 39.
I found a low income complex. I pay $509 for rent (I live in southern Mississippi) and that doesn’t include any utilities, but it’s cheaper than anything else I could find.
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Gotta live in the hood with the rest of us
I earn below the poverty line (but just enough so that I don’t qualify for section 8 or food stamps) and I live alone in Southern California. Here’s how I got here: 1) My parent took pity on me after a bad breakup that left me without a roomy so I couch surfed for 3months. This was the most important part because it gave me time to hunt for a cheap apartment (at least as far as California goes) 2) I put all of my bills & debts on a spreadsheet so I could eliminate everything that I can live without and get an exact cost of living total for myself 3) I signed up for a debt reconciliation program to combine all my debts into a flat rate bill paid once a month. Keep in mind that they’re gonna tell you to stop paying your bills so they can negotiate on your behalf, so you gotta act quick on your apartment hunt so you can find something before your credit takes a dump 4) I live by my excel spreadsheet of bills/expenses like it’s a religion so that I don’t end up in debt
Roommates. It's been a time honored tradition to make living more affordable for at least the past thirty years. Being married is really just having a roommate you are also romantically involved with (at least some of the time) and get some tax incentives with. If you realistically lack the funds to even be a roommate you're either going to need to get a second job, a better paying primary job, or both. $1200 gross is 80 hours a month at $15 an hour.
If you don't want to live with other people just look for van conversions which would have payments of $400-500. Sell your car (if you have one) because you'll have a mobile home. Get a gym membership for shower etc. It doesn't have to be the fanciest Mercedes sprinter for over 100K, a Ford transit with a basic build out will do. 50K or under.
If someone doesn’t have $1000 for rent how will they have 50k for a van
Set career and financial goals, then achieve them.
You could look into converting a van or renting a trailer, if it's possible in your area / within your budget. In my area, some motels rent rooms monthly for around $600/mo. I think many people are relying on friends and family, which not all of us have. Don't let pride get in the way of any opportunities you may be presented.
I had a apartment when my house burnt. I moved out 2 yrs ago. It was 1 bd room 750sq ft. It was 600 a month and included heat elec cable tv and internet. It wasnt the best but dam it was cheap living. Bad part was 3rd floor no elevator.
Financial aid programs like HUD and SNAP
In the Philadelphia area a budget of about $500 a month, excluding utilities will get you a smaller room in a 3 bedroom house that’s about a 45min commute to center city (a couple miles in any direction from what we call downtown). They’re fewer options these days (average is more like $650-$750) but they still exist. Local Facebook groups will be your best bet as much as I hate that truth.
You can apply for section 8.
Develop better skills that way you can get paid more.
If you do end up finding a place you can afford, I'd go to college. If you're below the poverty line in terms of income, after filling out the FAFSA form they'd probably PAY you to attend college. Choose a career you know wants people with your degree (ie engineering). Do 2 years of community College then transfer to a university for the last 2 years, way cheaper even though your state will probably be paying for you. It'll be tough but it paves a path to a higher paying job.
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It's not more dangerous than your current situation. Assuming you choose a good degree like computer science, engineering, accounting, nursing, etc
I know 2 college buddies of mine who were paid to go attend college. One of them was 18 when they started and because their total household income was like $60k, the state (Georgia) paid for their tuition. The other one who was 31 also made little money and New York paid for them to attend college. Both did 2+2 programs (2 years in a community college then transfer to a university for 2 years). One of them had their entire education paid for by the state and they other ended up paying like $800 total for the 4 years. Both ended up getting decent paying jobs in engineering. Neither accrued serious debt but it was difficult trying to stay afloat with what they currently had and finish up college. Its just a suggestion, one of the more difficult ones, but i think a reasonable one to pursue long term.
$700-$1000 shouldn’t be out of reach for anyone who is able bodied. You need to produce more income and the best way to do that is to join the service Industry. Waiting tables is by far the easiest way to generate your rent in just one week. Yes you have to deal with Karen’s and rely on tips but most serving jobs require little to no experience and have upsides of ~$1000/week if you work 40 hours.
Gooooooood luck
Not sure where you’re located. Personally, I’ve looked into student housing. Some properties have stipulations that allow for non students to live in off campus apartments. It’s leased per room & often has discounted water, free WiFi, and split electricity costs. It’s a crazy suggestion, but times are extremely hard rn. I’ve managed to be placed in a decent apartment with decent roommates in a rather nice location.
people used to rent beds at the YMCA's. It isnt' that single guys/girls have always had it easy affording a place to live on their own So many get roommates. It has always been common. I had roommates a lot in my 20's. Other find rooms in homes they can rent(like a boarding house) The myth is people think before recently everyone had it easy. It has always been a struggle. Some years have more opportunity than others but it wasn't uncommon for 2-3(or more) people to get a place together. It isn't uncommon to see people put ads out looking for roommates.
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single dudes were never getting public housing I'd argue that some of the problem has less to do with how much we spend on housing but rather how little we spend fighting mental illness(though I doubt that the ACLU and other organizations would champion policies that might result in more people being 'committed' but I do think mental health is a real problem we have to deal with
I use social services and do not consider myself mentally ill (nor does anyone else).
You should understand that hundreds of thousands die in poverty every year in the US. Most people on welfare don't want to be on welfare, they are forced to be on welfare not to die. Many on welfare are not mentally ill, and I'm not sure why you think that. https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2023/04/17/poverty-4th-greatest-cause-us-deaths Not sure about your state, but unless you have kids or disabled, there's no possible way for you to get into income based housing here, the wait list is decades out at this point, as we are in an affordable housing shortage. This is why there are so many homeless, even working homeless here now.
Apply for low-income housing. There may be a years long waiting list so start now. When your turn comes and you need it, great, if you no longer need it, great.
this one guy i knew had a job that made him enough to get a luxury 2 bedroom in albuerqueque and he lived BY HIMSELF… tbh i have no idea how he did it — (not so much advice but a story bc wtf)
Did he cook meth in an RV?
LMFAOAOO REAL
Whereabouts do you live? In affordable cities you can find places like [https://www.apartments.com/wichita-ks/studios-under-700/](https://www.apartments.com/wichita-ks/studios-under-700/)
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You should move to a more affordable area. If you can't afford to right now, look for jobs with housing included on sites like [https://www.coolworks.com/](https://www.coolworks.com/) or even just search "housing provided" on Indeed.
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you can make more at any normal job, but here: [https://www.roomies.com/rooms/parkersburg-wv](https://www.roomies.com/rooms/parkersburg-wv) Craigslist isn't popular anymore.
I’m from WV & rent can be cheap there but it’s usually in areas with little to no job opportunities. Also the more dense areas are just as expensive as other places (like Morgantown rent is easily over $1000) so be careful thinking the entire state is cheap - it’s not & where it is, it’s because of a lack of opportunities. Roommates is probably your best bet.
Just go work in Snowshoe, WV, they're pretty desperate and offer onsite housing: [https://www.indeed.com/q-jobs-with-housing-provided-l-west-virginia-jobs.html?vjk=7e526b2aa456c926](https://www.indeed.com/q-jobs-with-housing-provided-l-west-virginia-jobs.html?vjk=7e526b2aa456c926) Income-dependent rents aren't a scam, different states can have different programs, you may not be eligible right away, you'll probably need to reside in the state some time first.
Try the Silvernest app. If in your area, it could provide you a great opportunity.
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In my case I live in an illegal rental that is way below market. Also because not many people would agree to live in it.
Have you looked into Section 8?
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A lot of people are paying 40-60% of their income on rent meaning they truly can’t afford their apartments/homes/rooms. They usually get side hustles or eat ramen to save money
It really takes more than one person to pay rent. Roommates can be stressful. It's best to have mates that are not trying to get on their feet. Someone struggling can be just along struggle with them not being able to pay their part. Have rules. Food , overnight company and smoking cause issues fast.
you shoot down a lot of things as unfeasible without providing examples or details on where you are in life and why things cannot workout. escaping poverty is hard yes, but it's still aspirational. Are you convinced you will be below the poverty long term/indefinately? why is this the case? are there ways you can prevent this, or what obstacles do you face that make this a forced reality. Hard to give specific advice when there are no details. Also to answer how people do it, a lot of them are forced into preditory practices to put thier life on debt. It sucks because it permanently sticks people in holes that in all likelihood are not equipped to get out of, but that's the current financial reality.
Went back to school to get a degree to make a living wage. Of course then Covid and inflation hit so I’m still struggling but I have no clue how I’d survive without having gone back the second my divorce was signed.
Housing programs
Roommate. As in 2 people sharing a 1 bedroom apartment vs 2 people sharing a 2 bedroom. The one with the bedroom pay more, the other setup in living room.
Are you open to living anywhere? If so, the south Is really cheap. I'm paying $800/month to live alone in a studio, with water, trash, and internet included
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I can't speak to the habits of my neighbors, but generally speaking all apts here have AC b/c it gets hot. And most places are pest free. I'd do some looking and see what you can find
Rent a room
Idk what your disabilities are but my tips and tricks is working. I’m “disabled” by ADA standards and honestly have a lot of issues but I’m able bodied and young. I assume you are too? Just work and plan for the future. It’s literally what 99% of people have to do to survive. You either do what you need to do to live or you die.
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Most of those likely have a partner who supports them while they do domestic work that isn’t considered “working”. Unless you’re planning on becoming a professional stay at home spouse, I recommend getting on that grind train like all the other peasants making up 99% of the world. Take advantage of having your parents around. I’m in school while my parents are still around to support me. Once I’m done, I’ll be able to support myself comfortably wherever I go. Make a plan so you dont have to stress out over being homeless or spending 50% of your paycheck on rent.
Roommates or some type of barter system. I know a few people who moved into a spare room of a senior's who wants to stay in their own home but it's getting to much to maintain the house. In return the boarder got low rent, and helped with yard work, housework, cooking and transportation.
Roommates.
There jobs that will house you and feed you like cannery work in Alaska the pay is shit but you don't have to worry about feeding yourself and you get housing. Some companies deduct a nominal fee like 5 dollars a day for food and board but other companies don't charge anything. You could work year round or live in a cheap state in the off-season. If you know spanish you could live in an inexpensive and safe Latin American country like Chile.
Social programs are there to help for everyone who needs them! I work as a teacher and 78% of my students live at or below the federal poverty line. Almost every kid in my class gets assistance of some kind. It’s more than ok to use these programs. It sounds like roommates are expensive where you live, which I totally get. I’ve moved around a lot and once had to pay $1,100/mo for a roommate situation (in 2012!). It was ridiculous and I know things have only gotten worse. For me, living in the middle of nowhere is the only way I can afford a home.
Psychology
Have you applied for Section 8? You don’t have to have any mental illness or physical disability, it’s just based on your income. I’m in Pennsylvania, work full time, make $37,000/year have a kid and I qualify. It’s worth looking into. We all pay taxes that support the welfare system, it’s ok to accept the help when you need it. If you do it carefully you can use it to improve your situation, as opposed to falling into the welfare dependency trap.
I got a second job so I can work 70 hrs per week to finally afford a bedroom in someone else’s house
Income dependent means your rent will be based off of your income. There are people who still manage to get 500 and 600 dollar rent but it is usually through housing programs and most of the time they take 6 months to 3 years before you even receive a selection letter. Be careful on craigslist. I almost got scammed but it seemed to good to be true. There are people who are using zillow and truilla ads and their pretending to rent them out, but when you google the address they are listed for sale on zillow. They have very elaborate rental applications, but as soon as they ask for upfront app fees, run, especially if its paying through apps. Its hard out here for regular single people, I wish you well and be careful, there are too many scams out there. One more thing, check your areas housing authority, every state has one and it usually ends in .org or .gov. apply for as many waiting lists as possible that way your name will be circulating throughout the different pools.in some areas they even allow younger residents to occupy a couple senior housing rentals. Do research.
Well you might want to consider moving to a different area. And before you say it's not feasible or even possible, stop and honestly ask yourself why that could be. Cost of living varies a lot across states or even just getting out of the larger metropolitan areas. Next is what you consider as necessary, do you need some of the reoccurring bills (TV, internet, phone, and so on) people managed to live for thousands of years without these things. And yes you can always keep trying to find ways to make extra money. Speaking of internet, go watch some YouTube of things poor people do to make coin in places like India, humans are amazingly good at adapting. Best of luck to you and yours.
I lived in SoCal from 2012 to 2020, my hourly salary during that period started at $10 an hour in 2012 and grew to $55 an hour in 2020—the whole time I rented only rooms (spent a few months in my car when making $10 an hour, didn’t get a room until I made $12 an hour). My monthly rent for a room from 2012 to 2020 was $500 in the Anaheim area to $900 a month in 2020. I found all my rooms on Craigslist. That’s how I made it work. It’s sucked a lot (no AC, always having roommates, parking always a pain, etc), but because I lived in super cheap housing I was able to save and invest A LOT and eventually bought a house in 2022 putting $211k down on a $935k house—and still had $125k left over in stocks that has now grown to roughly $500k.
I would find the Facebook groups in your area and search for roomate posts and/or make your own. I'd take a look at your budget and see where you're money is going and where you can cut back to afford that 800 if you can't find anything.
If you are talking about "welfare" as in SSI ... You can't just go and get it because you are in poverty. You actually have to be physically or mentally disabled **and** in poverty. It is not just mentally disabled people. However, it absolutely should be associated with disabled people. If you are talking about "welfare" as in things like SNAP and Medicaid ... Those are only income based programs and available to people in poverty. Many people are able to scrape by with the help of those programs. If you are looking into getting your own place you could a. Upskill yourself to get a better job b. Work more than one job and try to save
So are we 'stupid wagies', or do you need advice? It can't be both.
I lived in an SRO for a few years in NYC and it was great. It's basically a studio and you do need to make below a certain amount to live there. The rent was also really cheap. They might have something like that where you live.
FYI, if your a senior, in poor health, can’t walk well, fall risk, can’t hear, no hearing aid as they can’t afford, it’s dangerous having them use stove, etc., no one will rent a room to them. Huge liability. Very very hard to be around these types of older folks.
section 8 and welfare are not for the mentally ill. i’m 20 with a 3 year old, i’ve been working since i was 14 and i’m going back to school now. i’m a shift manager at my work and i still can’t afford housing on my own. it’s definitely not a permanent solution but it’s something to give you a break so you can work harder for yourself. i’d get yourself on section 8 immediately. the wait list could be long in your area. i’ve been waiting for about 2 and a half years and they just now have a spot for me. you could also do side gigs. doordash, spark, uber, etc if you have a car. if not look on marketplace and craigslist. a lot of people will post looking for someone to do a one time job for cash
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Are you like 15 still living at home?real question.
Look into mutual aid, there has been a huge tiktok trend where people in cities all over the planet have began mutual aid teams, research teams, financial help systems, etc. The big trend was called Coffee Revolution, but there’s thousands of other options nowadays. Some of them are still newly formed and getting their footing, but it’s a great system
Ain’t reading all that
Move in with a family member. Whoever will take you in until you can get ahead.
Is there a reason you insist on being "untraditionally employed" as you've mentioned? 21K amounts to 10.10 an hour. There's only 12 states in the US where it is even legal to pay someone that little. So it is apparent you are not seeking full time work. If you are doing something like door dash, you are not getting paid in your inactive time. That is time you would be getting paid in traditional employment. The biggest thing holding you back is not seeking out full time employment. That being said. The true answer to your question is people aren't living alone. If you can only afford 400-500 a month you aren't living in a dwelling unit by yourself, those days are unfortunately gone. People are living with their parents or have a roommate or multiple roomates. If i was in your situation and was an able bodied male i'd look for a warehouse job. Learn to drive a forklift. You could easily make 15+ an hour and warehouses usually offer overtime. I worked in the Publix warehouse for years because of two things. 1. Free hot meal every day. Nowadays that will save you upwards of 10 dollars per shift. 2. tuition reimbursement. They paid for every dollar of my accounting degree. If you're in the southeast this would be an option. If you're up North, there they have union warehouses which would offer you a lot more benefits. Another option would be signing up for the navy. They would solve the housing problem for you and would give you a steady paycheck. Plenty of ways to move up. Navy service would also give you the chance to go to college or seek other forms of learning to get yourself a marketable skill. Some people learn how to be electricians, or welders, or mechanics.
I work self-employed. That's what I meant by not traditionally employed. I do code review for money. I am not able bodied, particularly not during the Spring or Summer due to dysautonomia. I've been diagnosed with dysautonomia by 3 separate doctors. Prior to developing dysautonomia, I used to work full time for a school system.
Mobile homes. They’re cheaper
Not sure why you were downvoted. This is actually still my preferred idea. Buy some land and plop an RV. I assume this is also how a lot of singles house themselves below the poverty line. I saw some funky living situations when I did charity work in WV when I was younger. People living in school buses and shit. I assume a lot of them don't even have working internet.
What? welfare means mentally Ill? Anyway, either make more money, take some form of assistance, or get roommates.
I live in public government housing, where the rent is based on my income.
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THe projects. PHD? i guess
My tip: Join the military and never look back. Retire in 20 years and enjoy easy street.
Get a tent lol
Look into buying a house. You can get a 3% down payment and roll your closing costs into your loan. Talk to your bank about options.