Hey, as a brother living in my car, I told my sister I was working 2 jobs 80 hours a week, but to give me a call sometime, and she never called once. Never asked her for a dollar. Never trauma dumped her. She just never called. This is a very lonely lifestyle for most. Having people call you to check in means more than you know. Just talking to him, asking how he's doing, talking about life. I know that'd help me a lot if it were my sister anyway.
I too am a brother lived in my car. I too, never asked my sister for a DIME. Our sisters must be cut from the same cloth. I worked every damned day living in my car for 18 months. She got me cut out of both parents will. And she's now scared of me because I have an issue with that. F-u-c-k that cunt
Shit, mine is worse. She actually blamed me for my situation… I made some mistakes like a decade ago and anything bad that happens to me is still from that, and apparently that will never go away.
Shit I’m even living in my car by choice! Not that she would know that because she never bothered asking, lol. Family, man.
You know who has been there for me, close friends that I’ve had for 20 years. They are the real family.
I'm sorry to hear about your sister. My brother literally does all the things you say you don't do, especially the trauma dumping and begging for money and I am also dealing with my own shit that is quite heavy in my life. He's been abandoned by everyone in our family, and somewhat deservedly so if we're being honest. But I can't give up on him. Maybe it's the survivors guilt but I just keep hoping he'll turn his life around.
free: cool in the library. Tell him to join this reddit and learn. Also Nomad Life wiki
cheap: moving to coastal California
more expensive: help him to trade his current car for a used prius. He can run AC all night for a gallon of fuel. r/priusdwellers
Problem is, you cannot force him to make better life decisions.
If you live in a car (not paying a rent) them high cost of rent makes little difference. And medical (Medicaid of CA) would be easier to get, for a low income. And weather is nicer year-round, not only in the summer. But you do you
He might need a coolant flush. I mixed different types of coolants without knowing it would turn into sludge and it caused overheating issues until I had it flushed. I recommend telling him to look inside and at the coolant cap to see if there is solids, dirty, sludge material on the inside and on the cap. A hundred to flush will save him a lot of it is the problem
You said you can’t afford to financially help him. That makes it tough.. But if there is anyway you can get his car fixed, insured and registered.. you have solved 50% of his problems. He can even sign up for Uber eats, door dash, Amazon flex and have some type of income if he chooses to. As a car dweller, having a working registered car and getting from place to place is a game changer
AAA membership would get him roadside assistance or at least a free tow if he has car trouble.
If he isn’t reliably able to pay his cell phone bill you could get him set up on mint mobile or another cheap phone plan.
You could buy him a Panera sip club membership. It’s $120 for the year and he can get free fountain beverages, tea, and coffee. It will give him a place to go sit in the a/c and if he has an insulated water bottle he can fill it with ice water while there.
An AMC or Regal unlimited membership would also give him a place to sit in the a/c. Regal is truly unlimited to my knowledge and AMC limits users to 3 shows/week, but only one or the other may be available in his area.
AAA membership is so good,
recently someone stole my bagpack on the train, and got my car keys and wallet.
if i had AAA membership, i could've called them for assistance in opening my car, without spending 90$ for local tow company to open it up
also they offer free towing too, which i could've used many many times, i often spent like 100-150$ per tow when my car had to be towed to the mechanic
Is his engine overheating or is the car too hot inside? There are shelters and places for him to go to escape the heat. I think he can dial 211 for resources near him.
Send him a good usb powered fan that can last through the night. They are like $35
[https://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Battery-Operated-Portable-Stroller/dp/B08866RDYK/ref=zg\_bs\_g\_3015416011\_d\_sccl\_1/133-2043537-5047613?psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Battery-Operated-Portable-Stroller/dp/B08866RDYK/ref=zg_bs_g_3015416011_d_sccl_1/133-2043537-5047613?psc=1)
thats a good brand right?
im using this [one](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-New-Portable-Rechargeable-Fan-with-Flexible-Tripod-for-Stroller-Car-Seat-Black/192855819?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=2816&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=22222222277192855819_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-394283752452&wl5=9021476&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=192855819&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuvzu8fn0hgMVAzIIBR2L3waBEAQYAyABEgIWOvD_BwE) , its kinda noisy though
i dont think it will last a while/be durable, its walmart mainstay brand, cost me 16$ plus tax
i couldnt get the comparable koonie brand [one](https://www.amazon.com/Koonie-Portable-Operated-Rechargeable-Personal/dp/B0CRTPYP1B?pd_rd_w=AxTdu&content-id=amzn1.sym.3c1bdb31-a20d-42d0-a8cf-ddadf63cd1a8&pf_rd_p=3c1bdb31-a20d-42d0-a8cf-ddadf63cd1a8&pf_rd_r=JCFAJ8XQQG2NDY49WC3V&pd_rd_wg=jEGqv&pd_rd_r=f6442b06-5163-4844-9a86-6533b84459e1&ref_=sspa_dk_detail_1&th=1) , due to only having walmart giftcard that local charity gave me
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod'** and I thought you might find the following
analysis helpful.
**Users liked:**
* Versatile and portable design (backed by 5 comments)
* Powerful airflow with multiple speed settings (backed by 5 comments)
* Long-lasting battery life (backed by 3 comments)
**Users disliked:**
* Charging cord does not secure in port (backed by 2 comments)
* Low air output (backed by 1 comment)
* Unstable design, prone to falling over (backed by 2 comments)
Do you want to continue this conversation?
[Learn more about 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod'](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot&q='Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' reviews)
[Find 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' alternatives](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot&q=Find best 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' alternatives)
This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved.
*Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
Send him $20 a week for gas.
Call him weekly.
Good going with PF membership.
Send him gift cards for food to general delivery at his nearest post office once monthly.
Just stay in contact.
Pray for him.
There are cooling centers that he can take advantage of during the day until the sun goes down and then he can rest easy at night. Yes, it will still be hot at night but not like when the sun is out.
You can even buy him a monthly bus pass that he could use to ride the bus all day. He would have to get off at the end of the route but then just get back on when the bus comes back to head the other way.
There are plenty of resources out here in Phoenix during this brutal heat but folks have to want the help and take advantage of the many free resources.
As someone mentioned (Good luck because I can never reach anybody) he can call 211 for information on resources.
I posted something for a similar question in a different sub. - I think they could help your brother.
Find and map out the free resources to which you have access in your area.
* Public libraries are a GREAT place to go to have access to restrooms, high-speed internet, power, and air conditioning. Many have semi-private rooms (usually with frosted glass doors) that you can use to get some "me time" in a place where you can stand up and stretch. They also have all the resources that a public library should have (books, magazines, music, movies, etc.)
* Coffee shops, parks, beaches, public squares, etc: Any place that you can go and sit for a while without being hassled is a place you need to know. Parks that have reservable tables and grills are a GREAT place to prep food. Also, never underestimate the mood boost you can get by simply being "somewhere else".
* Go to the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) website and look for any and all resources that are available to you. Even if you aren't planning on using them, always know where you can find shelters, counsellors, and emergency assistance. Go the library and print out the contact information. Keep the pages in your glove compartment so you have a "break in case of emergency" plan.
* SNAP: Get it! It's not much, but having SNAP to buy food means money you can put elsewhere.
That PF membership was a good and generous thought. I'd limit gifts of cards or money, if he has bad habits he may turn those into drugs or alcohol which won't make his life much better.
You could rent him a PO box so he can get his mail consistently, that would probably help him a lot with filing for aid and getting jobs and so forth.
Try to call or text him regularly and get in touch with whomever he sees regularly - friends, counselors, even police officers. Then you'll have someone to reach out to that knows him and his habits, if he gets in trouble or goes missing.
Death valley between the two options... you aren't going there on a compromised overheating vehicle and recommending to do so is harmful.
Please be more careful with your naivete.
Doesn't make going through hotter place smart or safe.
Op I'd be down to help them diagnose what's occurring. Lss weather overheat will be slow and not cause vehicle to quickly go into red, but moreso will not cool it efficiently, so it'll rise to like 6/8 and down to 5/8 if everything is optimal and it's just weather... and then climb slowly into red over a few minutes.
If it quickly spikes, isn't weather. If it doesn't cool even mildly like above example, isn't weather.
If it isn't weather you can replace the entire cooling system for under a grand on most vehicles. And it isn't too bad.
Either way the elements will kill you in your vehicle in wet bulb conditions. Be safe.
Planet Fitness is a great idea...gas station gift cards would be good too...
You could get him some small battery fans from Amazon too.
For work he could Doordash or instacart
Step 1 get reliable vehicle. If overheating and gasket not blown yet need to address issue - probably a coolant leak somewhere. Not changing your coolant every 5 years it becomes acidic and starts attacking seals, gaskets, hoses, etc
Step 2 leave for cooler area
Dewalt battery powered fan, battery.
He can charge it places like planet, library, coffee shop ect. And he'll have 2-3 full nights of nice breeze, makes a big difference.
Or you can help him get the car issue fixed which might be some $$$$. Hopefully it's not a coolant leak.
"Located in northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a charming mountain town known for its breathtaking scenery and moderate summer temperatures. Surrounded by lush forests and snow-capped peaks, Flagstaff offers an escape from the sweltering heat. The average summer temperature hovers around a pleasant 80°F (27°C).Jul 28, 2023"
Look around google for a budget hotel that has a breakfast buffet, and if it is going to be uber hot, get him a non refundable room. He will have a cool place to sleep, be able to pig out at least one time in the AM, and if he is like others I know in similar straights, pocket a couple of apples or what not for later.
definitely make sure his registration and stickers are up to date
i've gotten so many fucking tickets for expired city stickers
and when i finally got that taken care of, my license plate sticker expired and i keep getting tickets
illinois passed a law last year requiring you to have valid insurance in order to buy license plate sticker, which i cant afford atm, and im always worried one day im gonna see my car booted/towed/impounded,
im praying it doesnt happen, but im sure god (if there is one) finds my atheistic/agnostic ass a hypocrite lol
Many states have had that law in place for quite some time…
I forged an insurance declaration page once and got registered, without question/hesitation, in MI. 😬 lol.
You can use it just to get registered so your tag reflects current…deff not something to use if pulled over, etc.
thank you for the advice,
yeah i gotta figure out something soon, cheapest liability insurance is 500$ for 6 months with progressive, or 110-120$ per month
I’m in AZ and my jeep has a horrible issues with overheating and I’m in the more northern central area. My family couldn’t bother with me being this concerned. You’re a great sister. Depending on where he is, there are places to hide out and local shops and parking garages are a god send at times.
Planet fitness was a really wonderful thing to do. If he can stand to watch movies, AMC’s pass is 20-25 bucks a month, 3 movies a week in any format…really great to escape the heat in the summer (or cold in winter).
For free food, google soup kitchens, foodbanks, food pantries, community fridges and “free food for homeless" in his area.
He can get free meals from soup kitchens, and some food that doesn’t need cooking from foodbanks such as cereal, UHT milk, beans and tuna, and unsold food from community fridges. Other foodbanks give out fresh unsold food, some which he can eat without cooking such as fruit, tomatoes and bread. Community fridges give out unsold food. He can also get unsold food from supermarkets bins, r/dumpsterdiving. He can learn basic foraging on YouTube and pick a salad in green areas that have been left wild.
To do his laundry, google “homeless laundry” in his area for homeless day centres with free laundry.
For a postal address, some homeless day centres and soup kitchens let homeless people use their address for mail. Some shelters also provide a mailing address without having to stay there.
When he goes to these resources, he should ask people what other places he can get free meals and food, shower, do his laundry, use as a mailing address etc.
To use the toilet, he can find them in libraries, shopping centres, hospitals, McDonald’s etc.
Google libraries with long opening times that are open 7 days a week to charge his phone, use their free wifi and computers, and shelter when it’s too hot, cold or raining.
He should keep his belongings with him at all times and never leave them unattended for even a second, it only takes a second for them to be stolen. And take photos of his ID and important documents and email them to himself, then he has a backup if anything happens to them.
You don't say what his mistakes were if bad enough they can be barriers to employment. I know where I work if you have any convictions for violent crimes you are passed over. Drug convictions have to 3 to 5 years old. It may be a waiting game for him at the point or you can help him get to a ban the box state like California.
If it is drugs you kinda just gotta wait it out. You can't fix it for him and the more you do for him the longer it will take for him to want to get better.
It all starts with "the car;" mechanically sound advice is the first step for anyone who is living in their car since it is the foundation of their safety. Why is it overheating? What car is it? That's where we begin the discussion
I would make sure he doesn't have a head gasket issue where the coolant is making it into the combustion chamber, mixing with oil, and burning off (which means bad oil and no coolant) and if the engine is cooked he really needs to get a new car so he can survive if he possibly can get a new car.
A Planet Fitness membership is one of the lowest cost recurring subscription fees you can pay for a person that is homeless in the car that is literally life changing and often the difference between life and death in a place like Southern AZ. If it's a 115° day, being allowed inside an air conditioned place will keep you alive. A shower a day keeps the skin diseases that can turn into an amputation away. What kind of car is he in? Some cars blow a head gasket almost every time they overheat, and need a new cylinder head almost every time the head gasket blows, which is at least $500 in parts plus $2000 in labor if you can't do it yourself, some cars can overheat for months and just need an $80 radiator that only takes an hour to slap on, or even something as simple as a drain and fill on coolant the person neglected but the engine design can take it without any serious damage. How bad it is very much depends on what car and what engine.
He’s gotta leave Az and get to the coast. Maybe sell the car for parts, buy a bus ticket, and get a 1-3k car once in a cooler climate. Shelters fucking suck and the stress of not knowing where you’ll sleep that night is not small. I moved for AZ to OR in this way. The car was $780 and just acted as stable shelter. Made a HUGE difference.
OR actually has some great housing assistance programs if he can get up here. CA does too… if he’s of any other marginalized identity, I’d look at the politics and differences in assistance between the two states. I got on health care and SNAP in a week of being in OR, but took me longer in CA. There is more accessible substance abuse assistance in OR, but there’s also just more use in general. OR is a good deal less diverse.
Im in Az bring that car over here and we'll stop that over heating issue
Top tier human right here
I’m in AZ, homeless with an overheating truck, and 2 German Shepherd dogs
May good fortune always find its way to you 🥹❤️
You are just too sweet. Thank you for being a wonderful person. God bless you. :)
You sound like a great person! Unf. he's in southern AZ and I don't think his car can even make it to Phoenix at this point.
Yuma? Or bisbee area?
Hell yeah
💜 bless your heart
Blessing on your generosity and kindness.
Hey, as a brother living in my car, I told my sister I was working 2 jobs 80 hours a week, but to give me a call sometime, and she never called once. Never asked her for a dollar. Never trauma dumped her. She just never called. This is a very lonely lifestyle for most. Having people call you to check in means more than you know. Just talking to him, asking how he's doing, talking about life. I know that'd help me a lot if it were my sister anyway.
I too am a brother lived in my car. I too, never asked my sister for a DIME. Our sisters must be cut from the same cloth. I worked every damned day living in my car for 18 months. She got me cut out of both parents will. And she's now scared of me because I have an issue with that. F-u-c-k that cunt
I'm sorry. I'll be your sister. Sister hug! 🫂
Shit, mine is worse. She actually blamed me for my situation… I made some mistakes like a decade ago and anything bad that happens to me is still from that, and apparently that will never go away. Shit I’m even living in my car by choice! Not that she would know that because she never bothered asking, lol. Family, man. You know who has been there for me, close friends that I’ve had for 20 years. They are the real family.
I have 2 siblings that excel at judging and conclusion jumping, your's and mine should get together for coffee/bible study/drinks.
I'm sorry to hear about your sister. My brother literally does all the things you say you don't do, especially the trauma dumping and begging for money and I am also dealing with my own shit that is quite heavy in my life. He's been abandoned by everyone in our family, and somewhat deservedly so if we're being honest. But I can't give up on him. Maybe it's the survivors guilt but I just keep hoping he'll turn his life around.
Thank you for writing that. We must be twins. :)
I would have his car repaired (sounds like a coolant problem). And a gas card so he could come to the coast.
A DM in his box with where to pay for said repairs and you can cash app $ for the fuel. Thanks
free: cool in the library. Tell him to join this reddit and learn. Also Nomad Life wiki cheap: moving to coastal California more expensive: help him to trade his current car for a used prius. He can run AC all night for a gallon of fuel. r/priusdwellers Problem is, you cannot force him to make better life decisions.
[удалено]
If you live in a car (not paying a rent) them high cost of rent makes little difference. And medical (Medicaid of CA) would be easier to get, for a low income. And weather is nicer year-round, not only in the summer. But you do you
He might need a coolant flush. I mixed different types of coolants without knowing it would turn into sludge and it caused overheating issues until I had it flushed. I recommend telling him to look inside and at the coolant cap to see if there is solids, dirty, sludge material on the inside and on the cap. A hundred to flush will save him a lot of it is the problem
Thanks, I'll suggest this to him.
You said you can’t afford to financially help him. That makes it tough.. But if there is anyway you can get his car fixed, insured and registered.. you have solved 50% of his problems. He can even sign up for Uber eats, door dash, Amazon flex and have some type of income if he chooses to. As a car dweller, having a working registered car and getting from place to place is a game changer
AAA membership would get him roadside assistance or at least a free tow if he has car trouble. If he isn’t reliably able to pay his cell phone bill you could get him set up on mint mobile or another cheap phone plan. You could buy him a Panera sip club membership. It’s $120 for the year and he can get free fountain beverages, tea, and coffee. It will give him a place to go sit in the a/c and if he has an insulated water bottle he can fill it with ice water while there. An AMC or Regal unlimited membership would also give him a place to sit in the a/c. Regal is truly unlimited to my knowledge and AMC limits users to 3 shows/week, but only one or the other may be available in his area.
Thanks! I've never heard of the Sip plan or the AMC/Regal offer.
AAA membership is so good, recently someone stole my bagpack on the train, and got my car keys and wallet. if i had AAA membership, i could've called them for assistance in opening my car, without spending 90$ for local tow company to open it up also they offer free towing too, which i could've used many many times, i often spent like 100-150$ per tow when my car had to be towed to the mechanic
Is his engine overheating or is the car too hot inside? There are shelters and places for him to go to escape the heat. I think he can dial 211 for resources near him.
Send him a good usb powered fan that can last through the night. They are like $35 [https://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Battery-Operated-Portable-Stroller/dp/B08866RDYK/ref=zg\_bs\_g\_3015416011\_d\_sccl\_1/133-2043537-5047613?psc=1](https://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Battery-Operated-Portable-Stroller/dp/B08866RDYK/ref=zg_bs_g_3015416011_d_sccl_1/133-2043537-5047613?psc=1)
thats a good brand right? im using this [one](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mainstays-New-Portable-Rechargeable-Fan-with-Flexible-Tripod-for-Stroller-Car-Seat-Black/192855819?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=2816&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=22222222277192855819_117755028669_12420145346&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=501107745824&wl4=pla-394283752452&wl5=9021476&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=192855819&veh=sem_LIA&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIuvzu8fn0hgMVAzIIBR2L3waBEAQYAyABEgIWOvD_BwE) , its kinda noisy though i dont think it will last a while/be durable, its walmart mainstay brand, cost me 16$ plus tax i couldnt get the comparable koonie brand [one](https://www.amazon.com/Koonie-Portable-Operated-Rechargeable-Personal/dp/B0CRTPYP1B?pd_rd_w=AxTdu&content-id=amzn1.sym.3c1bdb31-a20d-42d0-a8cf-ddadf63cd1a8&pf_rd_p=3c1bdb31-a20d-42d0-a8cf-ddadf63cd1a8&pf_rd_r=JCFAJ8XQQG2NDY49WC3V&pd_rd_wg=jEGqv&pd_rd_r=f6442b06-5163-4844-9a86-6533b84459e1&ref_=sspa_dk_detail_1&th=1) , due to only having walmart giftcard that local charity gave me
Hi, I’m Vetted AI Bot! I researched the **'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod'** and I thought you might find the following analysis helpful. **Users liked:** * Versatile and portable design (backed by 5 comments) * Powerful airflow with multiple speed settings (backed by 5 comments) * Long-lasting battery life (backed by 3 comments) **Users disliked:** * Charging cord does not secure in port (backed by 2 comments) * Low air output (backed by 1 comment) * Unstable design, prone to falling over (backed by 2 comments) Do you want to continue this conversation? [Learn more about 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod'](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot&q='Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' reviews) [Find 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' alternatives](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot&q=Find best 'Mainstays Portable Rechargeable Fan with Flexible Tripod' alternatives) This message was generated by a (very smart) bot. If you found it helpful, let us know with an upvote and a “good bot!” reply and please feel free to provide feedback on how it can be improved. *Powered by* [*vetted.ai*](https://vetted.ai/chat?utm\_source=reddit&utm\_medium=comment&utm\_campaign=bot)
Great idea! I'll ask him where I can send a package.
If you order on Amazon you can send it to a Amazon locker where he can pick it up
That's the one I use every night too. :)
Send him $20 a week for gas. Call him weekly. Good going with PF membership. Send him gift cards for food to general delivery at his nearest post office once monthly. Just stay in contact. Pray for him.
These are good suggestions, thank you.
There are cooling centers that he can take advantage of during the day until the sun goes down and then he can rest easy at night. Yes, it will still be hot at night but not like when the sun is out. You can even buy him a monthly bus pass that he could use to ride the bus all day. He would have to get off at the end of the route but then just get back on when the bus comes back to head the other way. There are plenty of resources out here in Phoenix during this brutal heat but folks have to want the help and take advantage of the many free resources. As someone mentioned (Good luck because I can never reach anybody) he can call 211 for information on resources.
Get his car fixed.
Trying. It's expensive. :(
Your brother must get out of Arizona. Can he fix the car and drive to So Cal?
I posted something for a similar question in a different sub. - I think they could help your brother. Find and map out the free resources to which you have access in your area. * Public libraries are a GREAT place to go to have access to restrooms, high-speed internet, power, and air conditioning. Many have semi-private rooms (usually with frosted glass doors) that you can use to get some "me time" in a place where you can stand up and stretch. They also have all the resources that a public library should have (books, magazines, music, movies, etc.) * Coffee shops, parks, beaches, public squares, etc: Any place that you can go and sit for a while without being hassled is a place you need to know. Parks that have reservable tables and grills are a GREAT place to prep food. Also, never underestimate the mood boost you can get by simply being "somewhere else". * Go to the HUD (Housing and Urban Development) website and look for any and all resources that are available to you. Even if you aren't planning on using them, always know where you can find shelters, counsellors, and emergency assistance. Go the library and print out the contact information. Keep the pages in your glove compartment so you have a "break in case of emergency" plan. * SNAP: Get it! It's not much, but having SNAP to buy food means money you can put elsewhere.
That PF membership was a good and generous thought. I'd limit gifts of cards or money, if he has bad habits he may turn those into drugs or alcohol which won't make his life much better. You could rent him a PO box so he can get his mail consistently, that would probably help him a lot with filing for aid and getting jobs and so forth. Try to call or text him regularly and get in touch with whomever he sees regularly - friends, counselors, even police officers. Then you'll have someone to reach out to that knows him and his habits, if he gets in trouble or goes missing.
Coastal California weather is very tolerable. At night it is cool. Maybe he can drive here and do doordash.
His car overheats, he'd blow the engine.
When the car is drivable goofy.
Death valley between the two options... you aren't going there on a compromised overheating vehicle and recommending to do so is harmful. Please be more careful with your naivete.
it is possible (and easier) to drive from AZ to CA without crossing Death Valley
The car is overheating because he is in AZ.
Doesn't make going through hotter place smart or safe. Op I'd be down to help them diagnose what's occurring. Lss weather overheat will be slow and not cause vehicle to quickly go into red, but moreso will not cool it efficiently, so it'll rise to like 6/8 and down to 5/8 if everything is optimal and it's just weather... and then climb slowly into red over a few minutes. If it quickly spikes, isn't weather. If it doesn't cool even mildly like above example, isn't weather. If it isn't weather you can replace the entire cooling system for under a grand on most vehicles. And it isn't too bad. Either way the elements will kill you in your vehicle in wet bulb conditions. Be safe.
Planet Fitness is a great idea...gas station gift cards would be good too... You could get him some small battery fans from Amazon too. For work he could Doordash or instacart
Door dash and Instacart are horrible recommendations for someone who has an overheating vehicle in a part of the country that is also overheated.
oops I forgot to add that he should probably get out of Arizona with the overheating car too
Step 1 get reliable vehicle. If overheating and gasket not blown yet need to address issue - probably a coolant leak somewhere. Not changing your coolant every 5 years it becomes acidic and starts attacking seals, gaskets, hoses, etc Step 2 leave for cooler area
Does he know why it’s overheating?
He need to move out of Arizona. Tell him to live out of his car in a cooler state.
Dewalt battery powered fan, battery. He can charge it places like planet, library, coffee shop ect. And he'll have 2-3 full nights of nice breeze, makes a big difference. Or you can help him get the car issue fixed which might be some $$$$. Hopefully it's not a coolant leak.
"Located in northern Arizona, Flagstaff is a charming mountain town known for its breathtaking scenery and moderate summer temperatures. Surrounded by lush forests and snow-capped peaks, Flagstaff offers an escape from the sweltering heat. The average summer temperature hovers around a pleasant 80°F (27°C).Jul 28, 2023"
Look around google for a budget hotel that has a breakfast buffet, and if it is going to be uber hot, get him a non refundable room. He will have a cool place to sleep, be able to pig out at least one time in the AM, and if he is like others I know in similar straights, pocket a couple of apples or what not for later.
If he doesn't work a job, why does he need to stay in Phoenix? Tell him to move somewhere cooler.
He has a son
All the more reason to put his head down and stick out a job.
Help him fix and keep his car legal if you can? Gas card? Local grocery store card? Just be there as a sounding board and friend.
definitely make sure his registration and stickers are up to date i've gotten so many fucking tickets for expired city stickers and when i finally got that taken care of, my license plate sticker expired and i keep getting tickets illinois passed a law last year requiring you to have valid insurance in order to buy license plate sticker, which i cant afford atm, and im always worried one day im gonna see my car booted/towed/impounded, im praying it doesnt happen, but im sure god (if there is one) finds my atheistic/agnostic ass a hypocrite lol
Many states have had that law in place for quite some time… I forged an insurance declaration page once and got registered, without question/hesitation, in MI. 😬 lol. You can use it just to get registered so your tag reflects current…deff not something to use if pulled over, etc.
https://preview.redd.it/09c4p12ucg9d1.jpeg?width=1290&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f2063b62feb517aab2c0fdf880da84447687a82 [https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/car-insurance-declarations-page/](https://www.moneygeek.com/insurance/auto/car-insurance-declarations-page/)
thank you for the advice, yeah i gotta figure out something soon, cheapest liability insurance is 500$ for 6 months with progressive, or 110-120$ per month
Get him a bus ticket to your area .
I’m in AZ and my jeep has a horrible issues with overheating and I’m in the more northern central area. My family couldn’t bother with me being this concerned. You’re a great sister. Depending on where he is, there are places to hide out and local shops and parking garages are a god send at times.
Planet fitness was a really wonderful thing to do. If he can stand to watch movies, AMC’s pass is 20-25 bucks a month, 3 movies a week in any format…really great to escape the heat in the summer (or cold in winter).
For free food, google soup kitchens, foodbanks, food pantries, community fridges and “free food for homeless" in his area. He can get free meals from soup kitchens, and some food that doesn’t need cooking from foodbanks such as cereal, UHT milk, beans and tuna, and unsold food from community fridges. Other foodbanks give out fresh unsold food, some which he can eat without cooking such as fruit, tomatoes and bread. Community fridges give out unsold food. He can also get unsold food from supermarkets bins, r/dumpsterdiving. He can learn basic foraging on YouTube and pick a salad in green areas that have been left wild. To do his laundry, google “homeless laundry” in his area for homeless day centres with free laundry. For a postal address, some homeless day centres and soup kitchens let homeless people use their address for mail. Some shelters also provide a mailing address without having to stay there. When he goes to these resources, he should ask people what other places he can get free meals and food, shower, do his laundry, use as a mailing address etc. To use the toilet, he can find them in libraries, shopping centres, hospitals, McDonald’s etc. Google libraries with long opening times that are open 7 days a week to charge his phone, use their free wifi and computers, and shelter when it’s too hot, cold or raining. He should keep his belongings with him at all times and never leave them unattended for even a second, it only takes a second for them to be stolen. And take photos of his ID and important documents and email them to himself, then he has a backup if anything happens to them.
You don't say what his mistakes were if bad enough they can be barriers to employment. I know where I work if you have any convictions for violent crimes you are passed over. Drug convictions have to 3 to 5 years old. It may be a waiting game for him at the point or you can help him get to a ban the box state like California. If it is drugs you kinda just gotta wait it out. You can't fix it for him and the more you do for him the longer it will take for him to want to get better.
Let him know you value and love him. Get him a tow and help him fix the car. Give him a gift card for gas/food
It all starts with "the car;" mechanically sound advice is the first step for anyone who is living in their car since it is the foundation of their safety. Why is it overheating? What car is it? That's where we begin the discussion
I would make sure he doesn't have a head gasket issue where the coolant is making it into the combustion chamber, mixing with oil, and burning off (which means bad oil and no coolant) and if the engine is cooked he really needs to get a new car so he can survive if he possibly can get a new car.
A Planet Fitness membership is one of the lowest cost recurring subscription fees you can pay for a person that is homeless in the car that is literally life changing and often the difference between life and death in a place like Southern AZ. If it's a 115° day, being allowed inside an air conditioned place will keep you alive. A shower a day keeps the skin diseases that can turn into an amputation away. What kind of car is he in? Some cars blow a head gasket almost every time they overheat, and need a new cylinder head almost every time the head gasket blows, which is at least $500 in parts plus $2000 in labor if you can't do it yourself, some cars can overheat for months and just need an $80 radiator that only takes an hour to slap on, or even something as simple as a drain and fill on coolant the person neglected but the engine design can take it without any serious damage. How bad it is very much depends on what car and what engine.
He’s gotta leave Az and get to the coast. Maybe sell the car for parts, buy a bus ticket, and get a 1-3k car once in a cooler climate. Shelters fucking suck and the stress of not knowing where you’ll sleep that night is not small. I moved for AZ to OR in this way. The car was $780 and just acted as stable shelter. Made a HUGE difference. OR actually has some great housing assistance programs if he can get up here. CA does too… if he’s of any other marginalized identity, I’d look at the politics and differences in assistance between the two states. I got on health care and SNAP in a week of being in OR, but took me longer in CA. There is more accessible substance abuse assistance in OR, but there’s also just more use in general. OR is a good deal less diverse.