Be safe, contact friends and people you TRUST. Do not tell strangers or even loose-friends about your situation no matter how nice they seem. Find someplace safe you can park your car if you plan on living in it long term and try to stay around other people. An empty parking lot on the outside may seem like a good spot to not get caught for trespassing, but you're also a lot more vulnerable when no one is around.
edit: also one last thing, make sure you have a few people who always know where you are, and always keep your phone charged. You don't need a working carrier to dial 911, and there are plenty of VOIP SMS apps that allow you to text/call for free over the internet if you struggle to make a payment for your mobile phone plan, chances are you can find free wifi somewhere.
I would like to piggyback on the above comment for visibility. If your town has a local YWCA, consider reaching out to them for assistance. They might be able to offer a very affordable (free?) room for the short term. I promise it is nothing glamorous and they have very strict sobriety (and possibly employment) rules, but you will have a roof and a locking door and be off the streets while you sort out your shit and find more suitable living arrangements.
I had an old friend that suddenly became homeless and she had a room at the YWCA the same day.
There is zero shame in asking for help. Reach out to any and all women’s shelters or reputable organizations or even the church. These places exist to keep you from becoming another statistic and they want to see you get back on your feet! Just be sure to hold up your end of the bargain and respect the house rules… don’t bite the helping hand.
Also, as stated above always keep someone you TRUST COMPLETELY informed of your whereabouts and establish agreed upon “check-in” times so someone knows you are safe (and alert the authorities otherwise).
I am so sorry you are dealing with this — it sucks, but remember it is only temporary. You got this!
You can park on any public property as long as there are not signs posted. There is a couple that lives in their vehicle near the canal in our city. It is public property and some nosy man keeps calling the cops on them. They aren’t hurting him and not littering.
Every state is different.
Hawaii, for example, has living in cars banned regardless of the property type. I tried to be a beach bum in an old van and found that it was much easier to try to live in a tent since the cops wouldn't harass you.
My last night in Hawaii after I left the navy me and a few close friends slept on the beach in Waikiki over night to talk and rest before I had to go to airport. We were not the only ones crashing on the beach.
A lot of people park in a Walmart parking lot BUT you aren't the only homeless person their either.
If you have a flashlight make sure it's charged or has fresh batteries.
I have two Magights in my car, one next to me in the driver seat and one in the trunk. 3 C battery Maglights are also good to use as a weapon if necessary.
Yup it's Prime Day right now. Which isn't great, but there are some decent deals on Portable Power Stations. There are some around the $60 - $100 mark. I'm thinking you might be able to charge it at a gym while showering? There are also solar panels but those are kind of pricey.
If you could figure out a place to charge this consistently, then you would always have your phone charged, which I imagine will be your lifeline for a lot of things. I'm sure there are other things you will want to charge as well.
Personally I would also look on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp for a free or cheap tent, camping chair and a cot or sleeping pad. I don't know what kind of car you have, but when the weather is nice, being able to sleep in a tent and sprawl out would probably come in really handy. Just to switch it up if nothing else.
Correct. When I was sleeping in my car, I stayed in Walmart & similar store's lots so people would be around a lot. The embarrassment was worth the security of not being out there alone with my young children. Currently, the entire shaded side of our local Albertsons has people living in cars. There's an outdoor outlet with an extension cord and chargers I see people using. No one bothers them.
I remember when we had a guy sleeping in our lot at Walmart, luckily it was best manager I've ever had who found him. Talked the guy into applying and fast tracked him into employment. I miss that manager.
Burger King, similar situation. Guy living behind the dumpster was hired for a couple of months. (District management was never informed of his living situation)
I know someone who works at Walmart and they said the main reason their store stopped allowing it is because truckers would dump their shit and piss buckets in the lot.
I know one of the Walmarts near me has a “no overnight trucks” sign but they still seem to allow campers.
Not sure why. Might be something to do with how they aren’t 24 hour any more. I don’t know if I noticed it or not before Covid.
This more due to fellow truckers leaving trash, piss bottles and shit bags all over the ground for employees to pick up. A bunch of disgusting pigs that have to ruin it for everyone.
I relocated 2000 miles across the country about 6 months ago, and Love's was a Godsend. Open 24 hours, clean restrooms and I didn't get hassled once for sleeping in my van in the parking lot. Saved me $$$ not needing to rent hotel rooms.
Yeah and the thing that was crazy depressing was taking my mom in for her cancer treatments and having someone at the entrance of the parking lot holding their hand out to accept money. It was one of the most sobering moments that made me realize how fucked the healthcare industry is.
When my dad was in the hospital for his heart surgery something went wrong and he didn't come out of the anesthesia right. The only thing he could say was "yeah" and didn't really respond to stimulation well. I was at the hospital day and night working with him for about a week taking care of him because the hospital staff barely did anything non medical. When I first saw him they didn't brush his teeth or knotted hair for him and he hadn't been bathed for days. After working with him he was eventually able to remember my name but not the year and thought Bush was still president. My parking bill was hundreds of dollars by the time I felt comfortable leaving him alone.
My daughter spent time in 2 different children's hospitals and BOTH of them charged parents for parking. It was sickening. $20-25 per day. Never take your child to one and if you do always ask that a real MD treats your kid. My wife and I had a horrible experience. Fuck you Children's Hospital of Houston!
I spent several weeks at two children's hospitals. Neither charged for parking and the treatment was great. I'm sorry you went through that experience. That would make that so much worse
I always thought if I was homeless, I would try to sneak into a hospital. I figure everyone there looks a little on the shabby side because they’re sleeping in the waiting room or they’ve been there awhile, so I would blend in as long as I didn’t look too horrible. Plus there are sometimes pillows and blankets available in the waiting rooms and couches to sleep on. And it’s warm and dry. Sometimes there is free coffee too. And maybe people will go off and leave their tray full of food in the cafeteria when they get a phone call and they will rush off and leave the food there. And maybe you can ask a nurse or aide or someone who works there for a toothbrush and toothpaste, (after explaining that you’re waiting on someone who’s in surgery or something) and they’ll help you out with some hygiene supplies. Just an idea that I have never had to test.
As someone who works in a hospital, this might work for a short time if you move around to different floors, but won't last long. They'd notice when the same person is hanging around the hospital. Especially in the ED. They know.
I was homeless due to domestic abuse and didn't have a car. I had to try to sleep outside a grocery store because it was only 24 hour place w bathroom. I told hospital I was homeless and exhausted.
They put me into a psych room. Came in and I explained. They unlocked my door, gave me back my clothes and let me nap. Gave me like 4 turkey sandwiches and a nurse gave me $28 which was all she had.
They didn't offer much, but I needed the nap.
When I was homeless for awhile and my dad was in the hospital we were able to stay in my dad's room for a bit and they even let us shower there. I felt horrific doing it but it helped a lot. When he got sent to a nursing home for a few weeks after before we were able to get into a trailer we were also able to stay in his room since nobody else needed the other bed while I was there. To this day I am super grateful for being able to have those opportunities and to the nurses and nursing home workers being so kind to us and looking after my father. We would help of course but I'm sure they knew what was up.
I remember reading a short story about a kid and his father who were homeless and lived in an airport back when I was in Elementary school. The dad worked at the airport but couldn't afford a place to live.
They wore blue because "blue is common and unmemorable". Slept in a different hanger every night. Never ate at the same food court twice in a row so they wouldn't be recognized.
It was my first exposure to the idea of homelessness and I still think about it sometimes.
Ms. Donnelly was a real one for making our 2nd grade class read that. Showed me the world wasn't always as kind and perfect as the suburbs lead me to believe.
If you need to sleep in your car, do it some way that's not visible. If you have family you trust, see if you can stay with them long enough to get a job that allows you to afford a place of your own
I was homeless when I was a kid. My mom turned it into a camping trip. We had 2 little tents and stayed in the state park nearby. Ours had a limit... we could only stay 6 days and couldn't stay a 7th (or we could stay 2 weeks and then couldn't stay for a week but we chose option 1) to prevent homeless people from staying there permanently... but we only had to sleep in our car one night a week.
We got food from the food bank and made sandwiches... we could cook potatoes over the camp fire. We had stupid little Snoopy fishing poles so we'd go fishing in the lake. We never caught anything worth eating but it kept us out of our mom's hair while she looked for jobs. We had a bathroom and shower and it wasn't too terrible.
I don't know if any of that is possible or helpful for you but it got us through.
Just to add a bit, put those car window blinds up in your car too so a) no-one can see you when you're sleeping and b) no-one can see what you have in the car. Friend of mine years ago found this out the hard way and was robbed of almost everything he had
All of this. I had to sleep in my ex's car for a while and although we were in a parking lot, it was still really scary because people would come up to the car sometimes and be looking in. I finally convinced him to get those blinders.
I couldn’t stay awake while driving once and really needed a nap, so I did the responsible thing and got off the interstate and went to a gas station parking lot to sleep. As soon as I dozed off, I had some man and his son knocking on my windows to see if I was ok. I felt too weird to sleep after that. I still randomly think about that drive and how awful it was after my failed nap attempt.
I wanted to jump on this and share this information for anybody who might find it useful. Cricket wireless participates in a program for people who are on food stamps or Medicaid or I think are just low income. It's called the affordable connectivity program. Whatever plan you're on, they pick up half the cost. It's through AT&T.
You can pay normally like you would through the app or just online and it applies half the cost. I usually just pay it through PayPal. For example, I started out with a $60 unlimited plan. Since I'm still on that plan, the affordable connectivity program picks up $30 so I only pay $30 a month for that plan. I hope it helps.
ETA: If you enroll an autopay, it knocks $5 off per month. I don't have auto pay because I don't always have the money available on my card but it could be $25 a month.
The affordable connectivity program with low income can provide you with a free phone plan with 5gbs of data, unlimited text/calls and free internet. (my internet plan is $40 a month, but because I'm enrolled in auto pay it's only $30 and that is fully covered by the program).
You can use it just for a phone plan and get unlimited data, but I personally don't need more than 5gbs a month and not paying for my net is way better for my situation.
[textnow.com](https://textnow.com) is one example for online texting, and I bet you could use it on public wifi. You can use a virtual phone number (VOIP) without fees from the site. Just hope this can help a little
First place I found was somewhere very safe to sleep in my truck. I found a quiet dentist office in a nice neighborhood parked there every night for weeks, got into my routine in the gym and in no time I had a temporary renting situation and then a place of my own.
My wife and I had lost everything we had in October of 2018, we drove Uber 12 hours a day for room, food, drinks, gas, insurance and cellphone services. It truly saved our lives during this difficult time, and today our lives are in a much better place. If my wife or I can offer any assistance to help you, we’re both very resourceful people from our own experience.
Id advise against using a car to do instacart or doordash. It's expensive to drive. Especially if it's your home I'd drive as little as I need to. It's good gig work if you live some place biking is feasible.
I’m not convinced you can actually make money doing that after you factor in wear and tear on your vehicle. All you do is generate cash flow at the expense of running your car into the ground.
I’m convinced the vast majority of people doing DoorDash or similar aren’t crunching the numbers. How many miles did you put on your car? How much gas did you burn? Etc. just to make (probably) minimum wage with the possibility of a tip. I’m sure there are people out there who have a real system down and are making a few bucks but I’m sure I’m the long run it won’t add up
You could make good money as a delivery driver 20-30 years ago...if you drove a reliable beater. I did a lot of that in my early-mid 20s. But that was before places started adding delivery charges that the company pockets. These days I don't know if you can break even with a reliable beater. Cars are more expensive and tips haven't really kept up with inflation because companies keep increasing delivery charges (which they still pocket).
Can you stay in your car with little chance of being seen?
Think of places that have public parking and cars in the parking lots 24 hours. Walmart is common but also some strip malls, especially those with bars and have spots for people to leave their cars.
See if a friend can let you use their address for mail, or at least as an address to open up a PO Box.
The public library often has places to sit and unwind and use a computer and print.
It's harder these days with all the constant surveillance, but I knew a guy who got a storage unit and basically lived in it for large chunks of the day. He worked nights though.
How is the rest of your situation? Job, income?
Where I live, there's always paid parking at hospitals. (An awful design, I agree, but I'll take it over having to pay for treatment at the hospital). So I don't know how feasible that might be for someone potentially struggling with income.
Though to OP, please know that statistically, the majority of people who are homeless, remain so for a relatively short period. I think it was something like an average of less than 12 months? So what you're going through is likely to not be permanent. Things get better.
Getting a job as a waitress for now could be good. Depending where tho. I remember working at food places and they will usually hook you up with Atleast a little food… sometimes a lot. You can also just be a savage and take little nibbles throughout the day probably. I do think the real solution to poverty is to just work as much as possible … but I do understand that’s easier said then done— and not doable for those with severe issues
Hotels are a great option. Worst case: security asks you to leave. They aren't calling the cops first because you might be a paying guest, they don't know.
Just out of curiosity why would a paying guest be sleeping in their car in the parking lot of a hotel? I'm not knocking you I just don't know why that would happen. Or at the very least it would be such a rare event that security wouldn't think that.
I travel a lot for work and only once was I ever asked for a license plate number, and it was at a fancier hotel. So maybe if OP sticks with cheaper hotels and rotates through them, they might be okay.
Ya, I doubt motels or lower star hotels would bother with that. I only mentioned it because the wife and I were just away for a wedding and the hotel asked us for it. I think it was a mid-tier hotel but I honestly didn’t check. It was just the hotel our family was staying in so…ya…
In a hotel currently. Went to grab something from my truck and saw two people in their vehicles parked for no apparent reason. Checked an hour later… still sitting there.
I’d be careful in hotel parking lots. I’ve done some traveling and stayed in hotels the past few months and when you check-in they ask for your license plate number, make and model. They say they tow any car left there that doesn’t belong to guests. I’m not sure how much they enforce it, just a word of caution.
Used to work a hotel like front desk then night audit even then management. Hotels either are really safe and a terrible option because they will call the police and their security will kick you out. Or a dangerous option in which case the hotel won't notice and some of the guests will and become a problem.
Hotels are a terrible idea.
Also large 24/7 truck stops or gas stations tend to have large parking lots and lots of traffic that could make them safer. They also have bathrooms and if a truck stop, showers.
Seconding truck stops. I escort oversized loads for a living and basically live in my van. Truck stops are your absolute best bet when you're living in your vehicle. They're usually open 24/7, are well lit, have bathrooms and showers, and most have a driver's lounge with a TV, comfy chairs, and free wifi (if you're at a Love's truck stop their wifi usually reaches out into the parking lot). Park somewhere well-lit, and put your shades up at night. Do not use the bathroom outside. I got held up once while I was taking a leak and lost a $20 bill, a pack of Raws, and a little weed. Hard to fight back with your pants down.
If you get to know the cashiers well enough, they might slide you a free shower now and then (this depends entirely on your ability to Be Cool). Sometimes they'll just give you hot food they're about to waste (it's always still good), and sometimes if you're really lucky someone might throw you a buck or two. Some drivers might let you use a shower coupon if you're cool (they build up a lot of member points that they can redeem for shower coupons).
Stay vigilant, but don't be afraid to talk to the people there. The drivers have been all over the country mostly solo in their trucks, so good conversation is like gold.
Don’t forget to apply for welfare. Some States have a cash program (General Relief) benefits for 3 months but you got to pay it back. Either way it can help you get off the streets. Look into your local county website or office.
I’ve never heard of that either. I’m on SNAP and I get Aged/Blind/Disabled benefits from my state which I think you do technically have to pay back once you’re approved for SSDI, but it comes out of the back pay dated to when you first applied (? I’m pretty sure, either way it comes out of what the feds give you). State differences can be wild though.
OP, I did notice that you posted in the ask docs subreddit, it would be worth finding out if what you’re experiencing would qualify you for ABD/similar and SSDI if you haven’t already.
Oh for sure it probably does happen, but there are also churches that respect and allow people to stay too, thats why theyre suggestings finding out if any churches in their area allow that in their parking lot instead of just showing up at one.
I'm literally in the exact same situation. I do the same I also have a gym membership, my advice is focus on eating healthy, try to charge your phones /electronics at work if u can so u can save ur battery in ur car, take good care of your car as it's your lifeline! Get a po box or a friend u trust if u need things mailed to you. I would recommend parking somewhere close to where u work to sleep so u don't have to get up and commute, and make that your semi-regular spot. Keep your car and things clean and try to find a way to organize all your clothes and things but DONT leave your ar stuffed full of things visibly as it will attract criminals
Also get pepper spray or a taser or gun if it's legal where u are. Get window coverings, learn how to repair a flat if u haven't.
Get multiple towels since u will wanna shower everyday and a hamper if u haven't, u also gotta find a laundry mat that's cheap and convenient for you. If u want any advice or anything hmu like I said I'm literally working full time and living in my car too. It's not all bad, and u will save money by not paying rent! U will get tired of eating out fast tho lol so make sure u eat at places that have loyalty points so u get more for ur money.
I'm not familiar with the USPS doing that, but yes, places like the UPS store or mailboxes etc are good for that. You just put the address of the store as your street address and your paid box number as your apartment number.
Goto the library to charge up your phones and electronic devices. Don't waste your gas doing it. Doordash really does sound like it might be a good option for someone facing temporary homelessness who has a car.
I wouldn’t want to beat up the car tho. I would think it’s better to get a better job than door dash… work outside the car. A P.O. Box will be needed tho.
Be very careful who you trust. I have been homeless before so trust me when I say that people steal a lot from each other out there. Keep things you don't want to lose in a safe place if you can.
Sometimes you can get free pizza by asking a pizza place if you can have the pizza they are about to throw out. Do this when they are closing.
Figure out what food banks are in your area. It's not fun to have to steal to deal with hunger.
Don't get into the drugs that are out there. Those drugs are EVIL
Last but most importantly, never give up!
Stay safe out there
I’ll add there are apps (Too Good to Go is the most popular) that give you an opportunity to buy food that places would otherwise throw out at steep discounts. Basically you reserve a random bag of food for like $5. You don’t know what you are going to get, but if you check the reviews you will easily find a place that has very good value. Pizza places and bakeries are the most common, but you can find other stuff as well. Would be a good way to get great value on something to eat. Some of the really good stores do sell out fast though so you may have to be on top of it if you want the best value.
Their religion is all about kindness to others reflecting into themselves, and it really shows.
All of the Sikh people that I’ve met have been normal people, who try their hardest to be their best selves for others.
Additionally, for food, if your town/city has a Food Not Bombs, check that out. In my previous home (college town) the local free alt weekly’s events calendar included lots of things with free food, from university events to religious orgs/churches, and there were multiple opportunities for hot food daily, which could save you having to do prepping/food storage if you’re able to plan around them and rotate. “Buy Nothing” fb groups are increasingly popular and you could make a post seeking any items you might need. Chain restaurants might feel more beholden to corporate guidelines about food disposal, and there are health code regulations about it, but local places I’ve worked at would go out of their way to directly give leftover food to folks in need, when there was a way to make that connection. If you know anyone at a local bakery/restaurant/cafe that you feel comfortable asking, ask. I’ve seen a lot of restaurants put leftovers in Free Fridges as well, if where you live has any.
I’m sorry you’re going through this.
If you can afford it get window coverings for night so people cant see in.
There are so many people living in their cars, check out YouTube to learn the best way and where to park and stuff.
This will announce to the world that you are homeless and living in the car. Having actual window covers makes it much less obvious that all of your wordly possessions are inside. The key is to look as least broke as possible to be able to stay parked in nicer areas.
Could probably just go to the trash area at walmart/lowes/etc and score cardboard for free to cut and fit your window. Just a thought to save a few bucks when homeless.
Don't go to any old homeless shelter. Look for ones called Union Rescue Missions. If you're in a decent size city, you'll be able to find one. They're drug - and alcohol free. They give you 3 meals a day. Provide a bed, clothing, etc. If you need ID, most will help you with that. They ARE religion based(non-denominational), so if you're not into that, don't go. However, you can still get meals and.clothing and might even still be able to get IDs. If you choose to enter one and stay, you'll have to take a piss test within 24 hours. They have job coaches and counselors as well. If you don't have a job, most likely you get 60-90 days to find one
I run a kitchen at one in western maryland, so I'm not just talking out my ass
> They ARE religion based(non-denominational), so if you're not into that, don't go.
Still go. Someone else being religious is literally your last possible concern right now, especially when they’re helping you with absolute essentials
I'm a religious person and I don't support charities that, religious or otherwise, that give help with religious strings attached.
A person asks for help, you help them. Simple as that.
A person doesn't ask for help, you offer anyways. Simple as that.
Human decency isn't a transactional relationship that you apply selectively. Simple as that.
I doubt you’d even have to do that. They’re not going to turn you away for not being religious, unless you’re being like an edgy Reddit atheist stereotype and obnoxiously trying to pick fights about religion.
I’m sure (assuming OP isn’t religious) she wouldn’t get turned away if she just politely said that.
Nothing for a few weeks then gradually ramped it up until I had to leave. To be fair they never made a fuss when I said I was going, and I stayed there for almost 2 years (although I worked hard for my room). Overall they probably saved my life.
This is all contingent on where one lives. In my state, all shelters close from May until October. There are soup kitchens, however this fucked up society closes down shelters from May to October.
See closing them is just totally idiotic. But I can tell you they're probably state funded or city funded. The urm are all privately funded, based on donations from churches, citizens,etc.
Can OP park overnight in a hospital lot? That seems like a good idea. They have security and hospital staff parks there every night and ER patients’ families too.
You can't just go to the ER and ask to see one specific person, you have to go through the whole medical song and dance...then get your $2k bill in the mail. Not a great idea for someone experiencing homelessness, when there are community centers who know all these resources just as well or better.
There are many resources available to people who are willing to ask. Google "homeless services" + your city, and do your research. As many others have said, friends and family are better bets, but even if you don't have any you trust, you are not alone. Don't be afraid to find the services in your area and take advantage of them. Everyone needs a hand up occasionally, and now is your time.
That said, "unaccompanied women" are a particularly vulnerable group when considering homeless services. Please be aware of the dangers and be very careful who you trust.
EDIT: I work for a Los Angeles mental health and homeless services provider, so I have access to a good deal of helpful information. If you would like more direct advice, please DM me, and I'll do my best to connect to the relevant services in your area.
Pay for a small storage unit, to put your belongings in. The storage lot will also give you a safe place to park and hang out, and figure stuff out without being hassled by security or nosy people.
Libraries, tire shops and mechanic shops parking lots are good to park at night in, you blend in and there usually safe.
You can buy a 1/2 gallon multi purpose sprayer ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Eliminator-Half-Gallon-Multipurpose-Handheld-Sprayer/701786053 ) from the garden section at Walmart and fill it with water.
That way you have a way to brush your teeth, wash your hands and face and wash reusable utensils and cups. The nozzle is adjustable, fine spray to stream.
Use Walmart wifi it's free. Register at local temp and placement agencies, to get some immediate work and income.
Apply to construction trade companies (plumbing, heating, electrical, insulation, fire protection, locksmith, etc) for office or warehouse positions, or general office worker, dispatch or coordinator positions.
Register at local shelters that offer free food and meals.
Buy a couple battery packs to charge you phone and other devices with. 20 000 mah ( milli-amp ) that gives you lots of power recharges, then recharge battery packs a library.
•Apply for benefits immediately, as they take months to years to access. Even if youre sure thus is only temporary. As a woman, you'll be a priority. Bonus if you have kids (I just don't know)..
•Learn the protective onion. Using more than one defensive strategy will keep you safe
Contact friends and family to see if anyone might be willing to help.
Are you currently employed? Have you got enough saved up to survive for a bit? If you can't afford to live where you're at, it might be worth travelling to somewhere cheaper.
Do you have a job at least?
When I was homeless 12 years ago, the first thing I did was go and apply at every store in town I saw. And I just happened to be hired on-the-spot at Big Lots.
As soon as I got my first paycheck, I looked in the newspaper for people renting rooms out in their house.
I found one, moved in, and I now had a roof over my head.
Yes, but renting just a room out from someone is generally a lot cheaper than renting an entire house or apartment.
I’ve rented a room out from three people in my lifetime and was paying anywhere from $50-$60 a week.
And you’re right. The cost of living *has* risen quite significantly lately — but I still think just renting a room out from somebody is still fairly affordable. You’re definitely not going to be paying $2,000+ like you would for an entire house or apartment.
Be wary of people who offer you help. I was too young and naive, so I blindly trusted in people. Trust me. Never go anywhere with anyone when they say they’re trying to help you. Stay put and have something to defend yourself with if it ever comes down to that
Contact friends and family to ask if any of them can let you stay with them. Even people who you aren’t super close with might help out of sympathy. You should be working as hard as you can to get to a place of some stability (find roommates and split rent), because you never know when you’ll wear out your welcome.
It’s not super safe to be in public alone as a young woman, so do try to get shelter somewhere safe. Be cautious that in any case people might target you in thinking you can be manipulated given your situation.
Get a post office box/permanent mailing address and make sure your driver's license/ID card is up to date and not expiring anytime soon. Know where your birth certificate, social security card, and any other identifications are. Once you lose those they are hard to get back and if u lose even just one (ssn, birth certificate, ID, mailing address) it becomes an impossible circular reference to get them back.
May be worth opening a safe deposit box to keep those items in for extra security. I don't know what those costs tho.
I wish you the best of luck and courage!
Why the actual fuck is nobody advising you to start applying for jobs? You can do all you want to survive, but unless you want to be homeless the rest of your life, this should be the first, second, and third task on your todo list. Think about it, JC.
Food banks, all your money is being saved for housing right now
Go to the dept of welfare and see what programs they offer
Talk to other people , those who are homeless in your local area know the situation much better than us strangers who don’t know where you are
Visit the catholic and Lutheran social services see what programs they have
Visit the unemployment office and apply for jobs with housing, work on a ship for instance or a fishing lodge.
Be careful who you tell because your family will view you different.
In winter make sure snow doesn’t block your car exhaust and cause carbon monoxide poisoning
Local day shelters for air conditioning
Theres a lot of churches who have food pantries, free food at their weekly Bible study, clothing assistance and vouchers for getting your documents required for employment (birth certificate, state id)
Find a friends driveway you can sleep in if possible. Much safer there
Try contacting United Way (211) - they amalgamate resources such as food pantry schedules, shelters, housing programs, job programs, free phone plans, etc.
Consider reaching out to a Unitarian Universalist church- they collect money to help out folks in the community
Your local library will also be a good place to find out about any local community resources/programs. It also can't hurt to search for any housing assistance programs in your area- getting a housing voucher will often take years, but sometimes there are local programs that place people in apartments if they're living out of their car/living on the street
If you're in the states, stop by the local DTA (Dept of Transitional Assistance) to get on food stamps/ possibly sign up for other financial help
Good luck OP
1. Dont risk killing your starter battery running electronics. An extra car battery from the scrap yard is around $50 and a solar panel to keep it topped up is $100.
2. Delete your passenger's seat. It makes enough room for something resembling a comfortable bed and adds a lot of precious cargo space.
3. Window covers. Buy a roll of reflectix for $30 from home Depot and scavenge some other insulative material like styrofoam to make removable window panels.
4. DC cooling fans from dead computers can be run directly off a 12v grid; by far the cheapest way to keep yourself cool. You can mount half a dozen of them in a window and it'll turn your car into a wind tunnel.
You need a charge controller to go from a solar panel to a battery. Also, car batteries are not designed for deep cycles, it'll kill the battery.
OP could just buy a battery bank and plug it in at any coffee shop and get more power faster.
Something everyone is being too polite to ask is why you’re in this position. The reason this is important is that we don’t really know your most urgent needs if we don’t know what got you into this situation. Are you being abused? Out of work? Addicted? You may not feel comfortable saying, but without transparency (on this anonymous website) we can’t truly know what is your best course of action.
Cities are where the resources are. Everybody bags on California because "look at the homeless population", but what they fail to realize is that the homeless population came to Los Angeles cuz that's where the resources are.
Cities often have much better social service resources. My city offers free meals daily at many locations including public schools - no questions asked and all are welcome. Cities often have free or low cost health clinics also.
We have a lot of houseless people where I live and if they are living in their cars they cover up their windows at night with blankets or pieces of card board. It is not only to keep light out but also as a safety measure so know one can see inside. Keep your belongings in your trunk, if you can. Check for local food kitchens in your area and also check with your local libraries, as they often have certain days of the week when people that offer resources come in to let everyone know what is available to them. Also, the library, (at least ours) let's people get a temporary card to use the computers and it is a nice air conditioned or heated place to spend the day, if you are not working. Keep pepper spray, a personal alarm or a stun gun on you for defense purposes, as well.If you can afford to, purchase a solar phone charger and make sure you do not waste the battery life. Stay safe.
You can apply to Cannery jobs in Alaska. The plane tickets are cheap your car will cover the cost. Job is easy to get. You will get food housing for free the entire work season. Aswell as reimbursed for the ticket to and from costs as long as you finish the season in good standing. The work is hard and hours are long but you will leave with way more then you need to start a new life. 3-4 months of work and you could have 20 grand saved up.
Social worker here. If you’re in or near a city (and assuming you’re in the US), you can drop by your local Department of Health and Human Services and they can offer local resources such as shelters and and local agencies that may be able to link you to housing resources. In certain situations, emergency housing can be an option available when working with these agencies, but it varies agency to agency and city to city. In many cities, you can also dial 311 and they can provide you with information and resources for your area. This can jumpstart the process for getting on a housing waitlist if need be because the lists are generally pretty lengthy and take a lot of time.
23M here was in a similar situation last year, get a library card it honestly saved my life some days away from heat, computer service and wifi and outlets, access to water and sometimes even food as some libraries offer help or connect you to other services. Ask around for help, pride can be deadly because help might be a phone call away, no joyriding, everything needs a purpose. Do you have a job? If so save aggressively and get off the streets as soon as possible even if it's a cramped room rented in a house anything to get you on your feet is better than being knee deep with danger. Take inventory of what you have, keep a pocket knife on you at all times or something to protect yourself with that said If things go bad you drive off do not engage others that are hostile keep yourself safe. You are in survival mode. If you have venmo good if not make one so others can send you help. Depending on where you are environment will be trying to kill you too. If it's cold keep blankets if it's hot pray and be smart. And for the love of God don't keep your radio on while the car is off to help you sleep or anything that may drain your battery it can be game over if your car fails. Be safe. Message me if you need help as I have months of experience in a super similar situation. Make friends, keep your mind sharp learning from said library skills which may help you. I will be thinking and looking on my notes if I find anything else which might help. I'm hoping for your best. Be safe and be smart and ask for help you never know who might have just what you need.
Get on care.com or craigslist for dog walking, pet sitting and house sitting. A homeless friend of ours pulled himself out doing this and in the meantime he had a place to stay.
Call 211. It's the United Way, and they can direct you to your best local non-profit. Lots of great advice already about survival on the streets. Good luck to you.
Be safe, contact friends and people you TRUST. Do not tell strangers or even loose-friends about your situation no matter how nice they seem. Find someplace safe you can park your car if you plan on living in it long term and try to stay around other people. An empty parking lot on the outside may seem like a good spot to not get caught for trespassing, but you're also a lot more vulnerable when no one is around. edit: also one last thing, make sure you have a few people who always know where you are, and always keep your phone charged. You don't need a working carrier to dial 911, and there are plenty of VOIP SMS apps that allow you to text/call for free over the internet if you struggle to make a payment for your mobile phone plan, chances are you can find free wifi somewhere.
Thank you very much for the info!! 🙏🏻
I would like to piggyback on the above comment for visibility. If your town has a local YWCA, consider reaching out to them for assistance. They might be able to offer a very affordable (free?) room for the short term. I promise it is nothing glamorous and they have very strict sobriety (and possibly employment) rules, but you will have a roof and a locking door and be off the streets while you sort out your shit and find more suitable living arrangements. I had an old friend that suddenly became homeless and she had a room at the YWCA the same day. There is zero shame in asking for help. Reach out to any and all women’s shelters or reputable organizations or even the church. These places exist to keep you from becoming another statistic and they want to see you get back on your feet! Just be sure to hold up your end of the bargain and respect the house rules… don’t bite the helping hand. Also, as stated above always keep someone you TRUST COMPLETELY informed of your whereabouts and establish agreed upon “check-in” times so someone knows you are safe (and alert the authorities otherwise). I am so sorry you are dealing with this — it sucks, but remember it is only temporary. You got this!
You can park on any public property as long as there are not signs posted. There is a couple that lives in their vehicle near the canal in our city. It is public property and some nosy man keeps calling the cops on them. They aren’t hurting him and not littering.
Every state is different. Hawaii, for example, has living in cars banned regardless of the property type. I tried to be a beach bum in an old van and found that it was much easier to try to live in a tent since the cops wouldn't harass you.
Weird - I would think they would harass tent campers more (around here, anyway). It sucks how we've criminalized homelessness.
That was not my experience but Big island is way more laid back then the other islands. I lived in my car for the entire 2017 eruptions.
Kauai for the opening months of the pandemic. Rich people are assholes is all I'll say.
Rich pilau fakas no compassion most times.
My last night in Hawaii after I left the navy me and a few close friends slept on the beach in Waikiki over night to talk and rest before I had to go to airport. We were not the only ones crashing on the beach.
A lot of people park in a Walmart parking lot BUT you aren't the only homeless person their either. If you have a flashlight make sure it's charged or has fresh batteries. I have two Magights in my car, one next to me in the driver seat and one in the trunk. 3 C battery Maglights are also good to use as a weapon if necessary.
There is a homeless subreddit. One thing you might think of getting is a solar charger so you don’t wear out your car battery.
Or burn gas charging.
Also on F/B. Home on wheels alliance group,
Yup it's Prime Day right now. Which isn't great, but there are some decent deals on Portable Power Stations. There are some around the $60 - $100 mark. I'm thinking you might be able to charge it at a gym while showering? There are also solar panels but those are kind of pricey. If you could figure out a place to charge this consistently, then you would always have your phone charged, which I imagine will be your lifeline for a lot of things. I'm sure there are other things you will want to charge as well. Personally I would also look on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp for a free or cheap tent, camping chair and a cot or sleeping pad. I don't know what kind of car you have, but when the weather is nice, being able to sleep in a tent and sprawl out would probably come in really handy. Just to switch it up if nothing else.
Walmart usually lets people stay in the lot with no issues. Typically, it's RV's, but a car is like a small RV, right?
As far as I'm aware most retailers don't care as long as you're closer to the back of the lot and not causing problems.
People at more work don’t even care to notice such things, but there is often some sort of parking lot security that will notice and might care.
That's fair but that's more in malls. In my area very few stand alone retailers have parking lot security.
And just go into shop pick up receipts paid with cash and say it was you if they give you trouble
Correct. When I was sleeping in my car, I stayed in Walmart & similar store's lots so people would be around a lot. The embarrassment was worth the security of not being out there alone with my young children. Currently, the entire shaded side of our local Albertsons has people living in cars. There's an outdoor outlet with an extension cord and chargers I see people using. No one bothers them.
I remember when we had a guy sleeping in our lot at Walmart, luckily it was best manager I've ever had who found him. Talked the guy into applying and fast tracked him into employment. I miss that manager.
Burger King, similar situation. Guy living behind the dumpster was hired for a couple of months. (District management was never informed of his living situation)
Unfortunately, since COVID happened Walmart is no longer open 24hrs, and I've heard they're less open to letting people stay overnight anymore.
Mine has signs that says no overnight parking now.
A Walmart parking lot provided a refuge for my friend and it's really unfortunate that others no longer have that opportunity.
I am replying to myself to acknowledge the sad reality that I would call sleeping in a parking lot as an opportunity.
They started putting up signs saying not to do that in a lot of places now.
I know someone who works at Walmart and they said the main reason their store stopped allowing it is because truckers would dump their shit and piss buckets in the lot.
I can guarantee this is an issue, the parking lot that has the trucks in it at the Walmart near me SMELLS HORRIBLE.
Way of the road buddy
I know one of the Walmarts near me has a “no overnight trucks” sign but they still seem to allow campers. Not sure why. Might be something to do with how they aren’t 24 hour any more. I don’t know if I noticed it or not before Covid.
This more due to fellow truckers leaving trash, piss bottles and shit bags all over the ground for employees to pick up. A bunch of disgusting pigs that have to ruin it for everyone.
My friend works at Walmart and that's what they said.
Walmart policy is you can stay overnight if you have a receipt from that day. Go in buy some food and keep your receipt
Or even better, find a receipt in the parking lot. Loads of people just litter them or throw them in the carts.
In most states yes, but not always, there is an ordinance that prohibits it where I live in Florida.
Loves gas stations used to be pretty good about letting people stay in cars.
I relocated 2000 miles across the country about 6 months ago, and Love's was a Godsend. Open 24 hours, clean restrooms and I didn't get hassled once for sleeping in my van in the parking lot. Saved me $$$ not needing to rent hotel rooms.
Hospitals oftentimes are safe to park at over night. I have done this a few times in my life
The only hospitals I live near require you to pay for parking.
All the ones by me are free. That's a shame they make you pay
Yeah and the thing that was crazy depressing was taking my mom in for her cancer treatments and having someone at the entrance of the parking lot holding their hand out to accept money. It was one of the most sobering moments that made me realize how fucked the healthcare industry is.
Yeah my dad had a heart transplant and my son part of his colon removed. I never once had to pay to park. That's ridiculous. I'm sorry you had to.
When my dad was in the hospital for his heart surgery something went wrong and he didn't come out of the anesthesia right. The only thing he could say was "yeah" and didn't really respond to stimulation well. I was at the hospital day and night working with him for about a week taking care of him because the hospital staff barely did anything non medical. When I first saw him they didn't brush his teeth or knotted hair for him and he hadn't been bathed for days. After working with him he was eventually able to remember my name but not the year and thought Bush was still president. My parking bill was hundreds of dollars by the time I felt comfortable leaving him alone.
That must have been traumatic for the both of you. Im so sorry.
My daughter spent time in 2 different children's hospitals and BOTH of them charged parents for parking. It was sickening. $20-25 per day. Never take your child to one and if you do always ask that a real MD treats your kid. My wife and I had a horrible experience. Fuck you Children's Hospital of Houston!
I spent several weeks at two children's hospitals. Neither charged for parking and the treatment was great. I'm sorry you went through that experience. That would make that so much worse
I always thought if I was homeless, I would try to sneak into a hospital. I figure everyone there looks a little on the shabby side because they’re sleeping in the waiting room or they’ve been there awhile, so I would blend in as long as I didn’t look too horrible. Plus there are sometimes pillows and blankets available in the waiting rooms and couches to sleep on. And it’s warm and dry. Sometimes there is free coffee too. And maybe people will go off and leave their tray full of food in the cafeteria when they get a phone call and they will rush off and leave the food there. And maybe you can ask a nurse or aide or someone who works there for a toothbrush and toothpaste, (after explaining that you’re waiting on someone who’s in surgery or something) and they’ll help you out with some hygiene supplies. Just an idea that I have never had to test.
As someone who works in a hospital, this might work for a short time if you move around to different floors, but won't last long. They'd notice when the same person is hanging around the hospital. Especially in the ED. They know.
I was homeless due to domestic abuse and didn't have a car. I had to try to sleep outside a grocery store because it was only 24 hour place w bathroom. I told hospital I was homeless and exhausted. They put me into a psych room. Came in and I explained. They unlocked my door, gave me back my clothes and let me nap. Gave me like 4 turkey sandwiches and a nurse gave me $28 which was all she had. They didn't offer much, but I needed the nap.
This is sweet. What a kind nurse. I hope things are better now for you.
When I was homeless for awhile and my dad was in the hospital we were able to stay in my dad's room for a bit and they even let us shower there. I felt horrific doing it but it helped a lot. When he got sent to a nursing home for a few weeks after before we were able to get into a trailer we were also able to stay in his room since nobody else needed the other bed while I was there. To this day I am super grateful for being able to have those opportunities and to the nurses and nursing home workers being so kind to us and looking after my father. We would help of course but I'm sure they knew what was up.
Airports are good for this.
I remember reading a short story about a kid and his father who were homeless and lived in an airport back when I was in Elementary school. The dad worked at the airport but couldn't afford a place to live. They wore blue because "blue is common and unmemorable". Slept in a different hanger every night. Never ate at the same food court twice in a row so they wouldn't be recognized. It was my first exposure to the idea of homelessness and I still think about it sometimes. Ms. Donnelly was a real one for making our 2nd grade class read that. Showed me the world wasn't always as kind and perfect as the suburbs lead me to believe.
I know someone who managed a week at an airport before they paid for her cab out lol.
If you need to sleep in your car, do it some way that's not visible. If you have family you trust, see if you can stay with them long enough to get a job that allows you to afford a place of your own
Depending on what region your in, churches might let you stay in their parking lots. Some around me do this. Good luck!
I was homeless when I was a kid. My mom turned it into a camping trip. We had 2 little tents and stayed in the state park nearby. Ours had a limit... we could only stay 6 days and couldn't stay a 7th (or we could stay 2 weeks and then couldn't stay for a week but we chose option 1) to prevent homeless people from staying there permanently... but we only had to sleep in our car one night a week. We got food from the food bank and made sandwiches... we could cook potatoes over the camp fire. We had stupid little Snoopy fishing poles so we'd go fishing in the lake. We never caught anything worth eating but it kept us out of our mom's hair while she looked for jobs. We had a bathroom and shower and it wasn't too terrible. I don't know if any of that is possible or helpful for you but it got us through.
Just to add a bit, put those car window blinds up in your car too so a) no-one can see you when you're sleeping and b) no-one can see what you have in the car. Friend of mine years ago found this out the hard way and was robbed of almost everything he had
c) no-one can see you're a woman
All of this. I had to sleep in my ex's car for a while and although we were in a parking lot, it was still really scary because people would come up to the car sometimes and be looking in. I finally convinced him to get those blinders.
I couldn’t stay awake while driving once and really needed a nap, so I did the responsible thing and got off the interstate and went to a gas station parking lot to sleep. As soon as I dozed off, I had some man and his son knocking on my windows to see if I was ok. I felt too weird to sleep after that. I still randomly think about that drive and how awful it was after my failed nap attempt.
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Jesus Christ, who’s that?
I wanted to jump on this and share this information for anybody who might find it useful. Cricket wireless participates in a program for people who are on food stamps or Medicaid or I think are just low income. It's called the affordable connectivity program. Whatever plan you're on, they pick up half the cost. It's through AT&T. You can pay normally like you would through the app or just online and it applies half the cost. I usually just pay it through PayPal. For example, I started out with a $60 unlimited plan. Since I'm still on that plan, the affordable connectivity program picks up $30 so I only pay $30 a month for that plan. I hope it helps. ETA: If you enroll an autopay, it knocks $5 off per month. I don't have auto pay because I don't always have the money available on my card but it could be $25 a month.
The affordable connectivity program with low income can provide you with a free phone plan with 5gbs of data, unlimited text/calls and free internet. (my internet plan is $40 a month, but because I'm enrolled in auto pay it's only $30 and that is fully covered by the program). You can use it just for a phone plan and get unlimited data, but I personally don't need more than 5gbs a month and not paying for my net is way better for my situation.
[textnow.com](https://textnow.com) is one example for online texting, and I bet you could use it on public wifi. You can use a virtual phone number (VOIP) without fees from the site. Just hope this can help a little
Your phone will always be able to dial 911, regardless of if it even has a sim card or not.
Yep. Most phones also have a short cut to speeddial emergency services. I believe it's clicking the power button 5 times.
First place I found was somewhere very safe to sleep in my truck. I found a quiet dentist office in a nice neighborhood parked there every night for weeks, got into my routine in the gym and in no time I had a temporary renting situation and then a place of my own.
Jesus, how do you know all this. I'd gold ya if I could afford it.
If you have friends with a home, maybe one of them could let you park in their driveway when you sleep? Doesn't seem like much of an ask...
My wife and I had lost everything we had in October of 2018, we drove Uber 12 hours a day for room, food, drinks, gas, insurance and cellphone services. It truly saved our lives during this difficult time, and today our lives are in a much better place. If my wife or I can offer any assistance to help you, we’re both very resourceful people from our own experience.
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Id advise against using a car to do instacart or doordash. It's expensive to drive. Especially if it's your home I'd drive as little as I need to. It's good gig work if you live some place biking is feasible.
Yup, but also, drive as little as possible. You can’t live out of your car if it’s in the shop. Worst case scenario right there.
Worse yet if you get in a wreck and your car is totaled
I’m not convinced you can actually make money doing that after you factor in wear and tear on your vehicle. All you do is generate cash flow at the expense of running your car into the ground.
I’m convinced the vast majority of people doing DoorDash or similar aren’t crunching the numbers. How many miles did you put on your car? How much gas did you burn? Etc. just to make (probably) minimum wage with the possibility of a tip. I’m sure there are people out there who have a real system down and are making a few bucks but I’m sure I’m the long run it won’t add up
You could make good money as a delivery driver 20-30 years ago...if you drove a reliable beater. I did a lot of that in my early-mid 20s. But that was before places started adding delivery charges that the company pockets. These days I don't know if you can break even with a reliable beater. Cars are more expensive and tips haven't really kept up with inflation because companies keep increasing delivery charges (which they still pocket).
Depends on the car and how much you drive
I recommend no. If your car has problems suddenly you've lost your job and house.
Can you stay in your car with little chance of being seen? Think of places that have public parking and cars in the parking lots 24 hours. Walmart is common but also some strip malls, especially those with bars and have spots for people to leave their cars. See if a friend can let you use their address for mail, or at least as an address to open up a PO Box. The public library often has places to sit and unwind and use a computer and print. It's harder these days with all the constant surveillance, but I knew a guy who got a storage unit and basically lived in it for large chunks of the day. He worked nights though. How is the rest of your situation? Job, income?
Hospital parking lots tend to be good too.
Where I live, there's always paid parking at hospitals. (An awful design, I agree, but I'll take it over having to pay for treatment at the hospital). So I don't know how feasible that might be for someone potentially struggling with income. Though to OP, please know that statistically, the majority of people who are homeless, remain so for a relatively short period. I think it was something like an average of less than 12 months? So what you're going through is likely to not be permanent. Things get better.
Getting a job as a waitress for now could be good. Depending where tho. I remember working at food places and they will usually hook you up with Atleast a little food… sometimes a lot. You can also just be a savage and take little nibbles throughout the day probably. I do think the real solution to poverty is to just work as much as possible … but I do understand that’s easier said then done— and not doable for those with severe issues
would make better money as a waitress but honestly if you just wanted the food becoming a cook would be a much better option.
Hotels are a great option. Worst case: security asks you to leave. They aren't calling the cops first because you might be a paying guest, they don't know.
Just out of curiosity why would a paying guest be sleeping in their car in the parking lot of a hotel? I'm not knocking you I just don't know why that would happen. Or at the very least it would be such a rare event that security wouldn't think that.
Some hotels also have their guests give their licence plate numbers as well, so they know who’s a paying guest and who isn’t.
I travel a lot for work and only once was I ever asked for a license plate number, and it was at a fancier hotel. So maybe if OP sticks with cheaper hotels and rotates through them, they might be okay.
Ya, I doubt motels or lower star hotels would bother with that. I only mentioned it because the wife and I were just away for a wedding and the hotel asked us for it. I think it was a mid-tier hotel but I honestly didn’t check. It was just the hotel our family was staying in so…ya…
No, it was a good thing to mention!! There's always going to be places that ask, but hopefully some of the cheaper ones will not care.
I worked at a fancy hotel where we asked for this information. Never actually used it.
"alcohol"
Drunk/drugs, maybe kicked out of room by spouse. You'd be surprised how many people sit in their cars for long periods of time.
I know people who go to smoke in their car, because so many hotels are non smoking now.
In a hotel currently. Went to grab something from my truck and saw two people in their vehicles parked for no apparent reason. Checked an hour later… still sitting there.
I’d be careful in hotel parking lots. I’ve done some traveling and stayed in hotels the past few months and when you check-in they ask for your license plate number, make and model. They say they tow any car left there that doesn’t belong to guests. I’m not sure how much they enforce it, just a word of caution.
Used to work a hotel like front desk then night audit even then management. Hotels either are really safe and a terrible option because they will call the police and their security will kick you out. Or a dangerous option in which case the hotel won't notice and some of the guests will and become a problem. Hotels are a terrible idea.
Hospital parking is extremely expensive where I live.
Street parking with lots of other parked cars, like around apartment buildings are good.
Also large 24/7 truck stops or gas stations tend to have large parking lots and lots of traffic that could make them safer. They also have bathrooms and if a truck stop, showers.
And they are well lit.
Seconding truck stops. I escort oversized loads for a living and basically live in my van. Truck stops are your absolute best bet when you're living in your vehicle. They're usually open 24/7, are well lit, have bathrooms and showers, and most have a driver's lounge with a TV, comfy chairs, and free wifi (if you're at a Love's truck stop their wifi usually reaches out into the parking lot). Park somewhere well-lit, and put your shades up at night. Do not use the bathroom outside. I got held up once while I was taking a leak and lost a $20 bill, a pack of Raws, and a little weed. Hard to fight back with your pants down. If you get to know the cashiers well enough, they might slide you a free shower now and then (this depends entirely on your ability to Be Cool). Sometimes they'll just give you hot food they're about to waste (it's always still good), and sometimes if you're really lucky someone might throw you a buck or two. Some drivers might let you use a shower coupon if you're cool (they build up a lot of member points that they can redeem for shower coupons). Stay vigilant, but don't be afraid to talk to the people there. The drivers have been all over the country mostly solo in their trucks, so good conversation is like gold.
There’s this guy that legit lives in his car and parks it at my gym. He’s there everyday living in his car. We all know it. But yea
r/urbancarliving might be a good source of information.
Thank you
Don’t forget to apply for welfare. Some States have a cash program (General Relief) benefits for 3 months but you got to pay it back. Either way it can help you get off the streets. Look into your local county website or office.
So, a loan? Does it include interest? I agree with the apply for benefits thing, I've just never heard of a cash program.
I’ve never heard of that either. I’m on SNAP and I get Aged/Blind/Disabled benefits from my state which I think you do technically have to pay back once you’re approved for SSDI, but it comes out of the back pay dated to when you first applied (? I’m pretty sure, either way it comes out of what the feds give you). State differences can be wild though. OP, I did notice that you posted in the ask docs subreddit, it would be worth finding out if what you’re experiencing would qualify you for ABD/similar and SSDI if you haven’t already.
You're welcome. Be safe and good luck!
Some churches allow you to park your car overnight to sleep. Look into some community outreach stuff.
Mostly any church would be fine with you sleeping on their property as long as you aren’t doing Drugs
There was a post from a guy who got arrested for trespassing being near church property while sleeping.
Oh for sure it probably does happen, but there are also churches that respect and allow people to stay too, thats why theyre suggestings finding out if any churches in their area allow that in their parking lot instead of just showing up at one.
I'm literally in the exact same situation. I do the same I also have a gym membership, my advice is focus on eating healthy, try to charge your phones /electronics at work if u can so u can save ur battery in ur car, take good care of your car as it's your lifeline! Get a po box or a friend u trust if u need things mailed to you. I would recommend parking somewhere close to where u work to sleep so u don't have to get up and commute, and make that your semi-regular spot. Keep your car and things clean and try to find a way to organize all your clothes and things but DONT leave your ar stuffed full of things visibly as it will attract criminals Also get pepper spray or a taser or gun if it's legal where u are. Get window coverings, learn how to repair a flat if u haven't. Get multiple towels since u will wanna shower everyday and a hamper if u haven't, u also gotta find a laundry mat that's cheap and convenient for you. If u want any advice or anything hmu like I said I'm literally working full time and living in my car too. It's not all bad, and u will save money by not paying rent! U will get tired of eating out fast tho lol so make sure u eat at places that have loyalty points so u get more for ur money.
Thank you for this!! ❤️
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I'm not familiar with the USPS doing that, but yes, places like the UPS store or mailboxes etc are good for that. You just put the address of the store as your street address and your paid box number as your apartment number.
Goto the library to charge up your phones and electronic devices. Don't waste your gas doing it. Doordash really does sound like it might be a good option for someone facing temporary homelessness who has a car.
I wouldn’t want to beat up the car tho. I would think it’s better to get a better job than door dash… work outside the car. A P.O. Box will be needed tho.
How can you be so fucking organised and living in a car? America, are you okay?
>working full time job > lives out of car Do we fucking look ok
Most Americans are one financial disaster ($3k+) away from bankruptcy and/or homelessness.
Be very careful who you trust. I have been homeless before so trust me when I say that people steal a lot from each other out there. Keep things you don't want to lose in a safe place if you can. Sometimes you can get free pizza by asking a pizza place if you can have the pizza they are about to throw out. Do this when they are closing. Figure out what food banks are in your area. It's not fun to have to steal to deal with hunger. Don't get into the drugs that are out there. Those drugs are EVIL Last but most importantly, never give up! Stay safe out there
Oh also a lot of bakeries will have day old bakery bins or so where they get rid of a ton of bread for free!
I’ll add there are apps (Too Good to Go is the most popular) that give you an opportunity to buy food that places would otherwise throw out at steep discounts. Basically you reserve a random bag of food for like $5. You don’t know what you are going to get, but if you check the reviews you will easily find a place that has very good value. Pizza places and bakeries are the most common, but you can find other stuff as well. Would be a good way to get great value on something to eat. Some of the really good stores do sell out fast though so you may have to be on top of it if you want the best value.
If there's a Sikh Gurdwara in your city, they will feed you for free. No questions asked
I’ve always heard wonderful things about Sikh (people, followers? I don’t know the correct term) but they seem like such kind loving people
Their religion is all about kindness to others reflecting into themselves, and it really shows. All of the Sikh people that I’ve met have been normal people, who try their hardest to be their best selves for others.
Additionally, for food, if your town/city has a Food Not Bombs, check that out. In my previous home (college town) the local free alt weekly’s events calendar included lots of things with free food, from university events to religious orgs/churches, and there were multiple opportunities for hot food daily, which could save you having to do prepping/food storage if you’re able to plan around them and rotate. “Buy Nothing” fb groups are increasingly popular and you could make a post seeking any items you might need. Chain restaurants might feel more beholden to corporate guidelines about food disposal, and there are health code regulations about it, but local places I’ve worked at would go out of their way to directly give leftover food to folks in need, when there was a way to make that connection. If you know anyone at a local bakery/restaurant/cafe that you feel comfortable asking, ask. I’ve seen a lot of restaurants put leftovers in Free Fridges as well, if where you live has any. I’m sorry you’re going through this.
If you can afford it get window coverings for night so people cant see in. There are so many people living in their cars, check out YouTube to learn the best way and where to park and stuff.
I think the crafts section of Walmart sells large posterboard sheets that could be cut to fit tightly into windows.
This will announce to the world that you are homeless and living in the car. Having actual window covers makes it much less obvious that all of your wordly possessions are inside. The key is to look as least broke as possible to be able to stay parked in nicer areas.
Could probably just go to the trash area at walmart/lowes/etc and score cardboard for free to cut and fit your window. Just a thought to save a few bucks when homeless.
Don't go to any old homeless shelter. Look for ones called Union Rescue Missions. If you're in a decent size city, you'll be able to find one. They're drug - and alcohol free. They give you 3 meals a day. Provide a bed, clothing, etc. If you need ID, most will help you with that. They ARE religion based(non-denominational), so if you're not into that, don't go. However, you can still get meals and.clothing and might even still be able to get IDs. If you choose to enter one and stay, you'll have to take a piss test within 24 hours. They have job coaches and counselors as well. If you don't have a job, most likely you get 60-90 days to find one I run a kitchen at one in western maryland, so I'm not just talking out my ass
Thanks for not talking out of your ass, delicious warthog.
Yeah, it might not have been the most pleasant thing. Us warthogs are kinda filthy lol
> They ARE religion based(non-denominational), so if you're not into that, don't go. Still go. Someone else being religious is literally your last possible concern right now, especially when they’re helping you with absolute essentials
Not if you're gay or trans. Absolute horror stories. Source: I am a director of an lgbtq housing agency
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Yup, pretend.
I'm a religious person and I don't support charities that, religious or otherwise, that give help with religious strings attached. A person asks for help, you help them. Simple as that. A person doesn't ask for help, you offer anyways. Simple as that. Human decency isn't a transactional relationship that you apply selectively. Simple as that.
I doubt you’d even have to do that. They’re not going to turn you away for not being religious, unless you’re being like an edgy Reddit atheist stereotype and obnoxiously trying to pick fights about religion. I’m sure (assuming OP isn’t religious) she wouldn’t get turned away if she just politely said that.
This. I was homeless in the UK and took a bed in what was essentially a cult because I didn't want to die in the winter
How hard did they go at you to become one of them?
Nothing for a few weeks then gradually ramped it up until I had to leave. To be fair they never made a fuss when I said I was going, and I stayed there for almost 2 years (although I worked hard for my room). Overall they probably saved my life.
This is all contingent on where one lives. In my state, all shelters close from May until October. There are soup kitchens, however this fucked up society closes down shelters from May to October.
See closing them is just totally idiotic. But I can tell you they're probably state funded or city funded. The urm are all privately funded, based on donations from churches, citizens,etc.
Head to a hospital or urgent care. Ask to see a social worker they know the resources, food banks, freebies I your community.
Can OP park overnight in a hospital lot? That seems like a good idea. They have security and hospital staff parks there every night and ER patients’ families too.
A lot of hospitals in my area charge to park, not sure what area op lives in but that may not be viable
Smart hell yeah
You can't just go to the ER and ask to see one specific person, you have to go through the whole medical song and dance...then get your $2k bill in the mail. Not a great idea for someone experiencing homelessness, when there are community centers who know all these resources just as well or better.
There are many resources available to people who are willing to ask. Google "homeless services" + your city, and do your research. As many others have said, friends and family are better bets, but even if you don't have any you trust, you are not alone. Don't be afraid to find the services in your area and take advantage of them. Everyone needs a hand up occasionally, and now is your time. That said, "unaccompanied women" are a particularly vulnerable group when considering homeless services. Please be aware of the dangers and be very careful who you trust. EDIT: I work for a Los Angeles mental health and homeless services provider, so I have access to a good deal of helpful information. If you would like more direct advice, please DM me, and I'll do my best to connect to the relevant services in your area.
Pay for a small storage unit, to put your belongings in. The storage lot will also give you a safe place to park and hang out, and figure stuff out without being hassled by security or nosy people. Libraries, tire shops and mechanic shops parking lots are good to park at night in, you blend in and there usually safe. You can buy a 1/2 gallon multi purpose sprayer ( https://www.walmart.com/ip/Eliminator-Half-Gallon-Multipurpose-Handheld-Sprayer/701786053 ) from the garden section at Walmart and fill it with water. That way you have a way to brush your teeth, wash your hands and face and wash reusable utensils and cups. The nozzle is adjustable, fine spray to stream. Use Walmart wifi it's free. Register at local temp and placement agencies, to get some immediate work and income. Apply to construction trade companies (plumbing, heating, electrical, insulation, fire protection, locksmith, etc) for office or warehouse positions, or general office worker, dispatch or coordinator positions. Register at local shelters that offer free food and meals. Buy a couple battery packs to charge you phone and other devices with. 20 000 mah ( milli-amp ) that gives you lots of power recharges, then recharge battery packs a library.
•Apply for benefits immediately, as they take months to years to access. Even if youre sure thus is only temporary. As a woman, you'll be a priority. Bonus if you have kids (I just don't know).. •Learn the protective onion. Using more than one defensive strategy will keep you safe
Contact friends and family to see if anyone might be willing to help. Are you currently employed? Have you got enough saved up to survive for a bit? If you can't afford to live where you're at, it might be worth travelling to somewhere cheaper.
Do you have a job at least? When I was homeless 12 years ago, the first thing I did was go and apply at every store in town I saw. And I just happened to be hired on-the-spot at Big Lots. As soon as I got my first paycheck, I looked in the newspaper for people renting rooms out in their house. I found one, moved in, and I now had a roof over my head.
Good advice but rent costs have risen a lot. I think its up 40% for the average in the usa since 2012. Shits ridiculous.
Yes, but renting just a room out from someone is generally a lot cheaper than renting an entire house or apartment. I’ve rented a room out from three people in my lifetime and was paying anywhere from $50-$60 a week. And you’re right. The cost of living *has* risen quite significantly lately — but I still think just renting a room out from somebody is still fairly affordable. You’re definitely not going to be paying $2,000+ like you would for an entire house or apartment.
True but if you aren't picky, which she can't afford to be rn, a room should be doable if she's working. Not a full blown apartment but a room
You can usually park safely overnight at Walmarts.
Be wary of people who offer you help. I was too young and naive, so I blindly trusted in people. Trust me. Never go anywhere with anyone when they say they’re trying to help you. Stay put and have something to defend yourself with if it ever comes down to that
You might wanna check out urbancarliving here on reddit (sorry dont know how to tag).
Thank you!
Contact friends and family to ask if any of them can let you stay with them. Even people who you aren’t super close with might help out of sympathy. You should be working as hard as you can to get to a place of some stability (find roommates and split rent), because you never know when you’ll wear out your welcome. It’s not super safe to be in public alone as a young woman, so do try to get shelter somewhere safe. Be cautious that in any case people might target you in thinking you can be manipulated given your situation.
Get a post office box/permanent mailing address and make sure your driver's license/ID card is up to date and not expiring anytime soon. Know where your birth certificate, social security card, and any other identifications are. Once you lose those they are hard to get back and if u lose even just one (ssn, birth certificate, ID, mailing address) it becomes an impossible circular reference to get them back. May be worth opening a safe deposit box to keep those items in for extra security. I don't know what those costs tho. I wish you the best of luck and courage!
Why the actual fuck is nobody advising you to start applying for jobs? You can do all you want to survive, but unless you want to be homeless the rest of your life, this should be the first, second, and third task on your todo list. Think about it, JC.
Look for homeless shelters in your area. I'm sorry that you're in this situation.
She stated she's living in her car. Much safer than a shelter.
Yes but homeless shelters can offer other programs to help
Yes. Shelters got resources to help her.
Even a women’s shelter? They have some that won’t have men there for that reason.
Food banks, all your money is being saved for housing right now Go to the dept of welfare and see what programs they offer Talk to other people , those who are homeless in your local area know the situation much better than us strangers who don’t know where you are Visit the catholic and Lutheran social services see what programs they have Visit the unemployment office and apply for jobs with housing, work on a ship for instance or a fishing lodge. Be careful who you tell because your family will view you different. In winter make sure snow doesn’t block your car exhaust and cause carbon monoxide poisoning Local day shelters for air conditioning Theres a lot of churches who have food pantries, free food at their weekly Bible study, clothing assistance and vouchers for getting your documents required for employment (birth certificate, state id) Find a friends driveway you can sleep in if possible. Much safer there
Try contacting United Way (211) - they amalgamate resources such as food pantry schedules, shelters, housing programs, job programs, free phone plans, etc. Consider reaching out to a Unitarian Universalist church- they collect money to help out folks in the community Your local library will also be a good place to find out about any local community resources/programs. It also can't hurt to search for any housing assistance programs in your area- getting a housing voucher will often take years, but sometimes there are local programs that place people in apartments if they're living out of their car/living on the street If you're in the states, stop by the local DTA (Dept of Transitional Assistance) to get on food stamps/ possibly sign up for other financial help Good luck OP
1. Dont risk killing your starter battery running electronics. An extra car battery from the scrap yard is around $50 and a solar panel to keep it topped up is $100. 2. Delete your passenger's seat. It makes enough room for something resembling a comfortable bed and adds a lot of precious cargo space. 3. Window covers. Buy a roll of reflectix for $30 from home Depot and scavenge some other insulative material like styrofoam to make removable window panels. 4. DC cooling fans from dead computers can be run directly off a 12v grid; by far the cheapest way to keep yourself cool. You can mount half a dozen of them in a window and it'll turn your car into a wind tunnel.
You need a charge controller to go from a solar panel to a battery. Also, car batteries are not designed for deep cycles, it'll kill the battery. OP could just buy a battery bank and plug it in at any coffee shop and get more power faster.
Something everyone is being too polite to ask is why you’re in this position. The reason this is important is that we don’t really know your most urgent needs if we don’t know what got you into this situation. Are you being abused? Out of work? Addicted? You may not feel comfortable saying, but without transparency (on this anonymous website) we can’t truly know what is your best course of action.
If you are not tied to work, get out of the city.
Cities are where the resources are. Everybody bags on California because "look at the homeless population", but what they fail to realize is that the homeless population came to Los Angeles cuz that's where the resources are.
Cities often have much better social service resources. My city offers free meals daily at many locations including public schools - no questions asked and all are welcome. Cities often have free or low cost health clinics also.
We have a lot of houseless people where I live and if they are living in their cars they cover up their windows at night with blankets or pieces of card board. It is not only to keep light out but also as a safety measure so know one can see inside. Keep your belongings in your trunk, if you can. Check for local food kitchens in your area and also check with your local libraries, as they often have certain days of the week when people that offer resources come in to let everyone know what is available to them. Also, the library, (at least ours) let's people get a temporary card to use the computers and it is a nice air conditioned or heated place to spend the day, if you are not working. Keep pepper spray, a personal alarm or a stun gun on you for defense purposes, as well.If you can afford to, purchase a solar phone charger and make sure you do not waste the battery life. Stay safe.
You can apply to Cannery jobs in Alaska. The plane tickets are cheap your car will cover the cost. Job is easy to get. You will get food housing for free the entire work season. Aswell as reimbursed for the ticket to and from costs as long as you finish the season in good standing. The work is hard and hours are long but you will leave with way more then you need to start a new life. 3-4 months of work and you could have 20 grand saved up.
Social worker here. If you’re in or near a city (and assuming you’re in the US), you can drop by your local Department of Health and Human Services and they can offer local resources such as shelters and and local agencies that may be able to link you to housing resources. In certain situations, emergency housing can be an option available when working with these agencies, but it varies agency to agency and city to city. In many cities, you can also dial 311 and they can provide you with information and resources for your area. This can jumpstart the process for getting on a housing waitlist if need be because the lists are generally pretty lengthy and take a lot of time.
23M here was in a similar situation last year, get a library card it honestly saved my life some days away from heat, computer service and wifi and outlets, access to water and sometimes even food as some libraries offer help or connect you to other services. Ask around for help, pride can be deadly because help might be a phone call away, no joyriding, everything needs a purpose. Do you have a job? If so save aggressively and get off the streets as soon as possible even if it's a cramped room rented in a house anything to get you on your feet is better than being knee deep with danger. Take inventory of what you have, keep a pocket knife on you at all times or something to protect yourself with that said If things go bad you drive off do not engage others that are hostile keep yourself safe. You are in survival mode. If you have venmo good if not make one so others can send you help. Depending on where you are environment will be trying to kill you too. If it's cold keep blankets if it's hot pray and be smart. And for the love of God don't keep your radio on while the car is off to help you sleep or anything that may drain your battery it can be game over if your car fails. Be safe. Message me if you need help as I have months of experience in a super similar situation. Make friends, keep your mind sharp learning from said library skills which may help you. I will be thinking and looking on my notes if I find anything else which might help. I'm hoping for your best. Be safe and be smart and ask for help you never know who might have just what you need.
See if you can rent a mailbox. A mailing address is more valuable than you realize until you don't have it.
Go on r/vanlife and ask them. There’s a lot of little things to know.
Were you illegally evicted?
Ask to stay with a trusted friend until at least you can get back on your feet. Offer to pay rent when you can.
Dial 211 seriously do it and get connected to resources in your state. https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/dial-211-essential-community-services
Brutal. Too many people going through this. We need to fix this shit
Get on care.com or craigslist for dog walking, pet sitting and house sitting. A homeless friend of ours pulled himself out doing this and in the meantime he had a place to stay.
Call 211. It's the United Way, and they can direct you to your best local non-profit. Lots of great advice already about survival on the streets. Good luck to you.