Homeless people in Alaska? (Anchorage, Craig: rental, buy, living in)

[Alaskapat528]

I am taking it that you are in Anchorage?

First of all, go to Alaska Housing; you are homeless, they will put you at the top of the list. Ask them for information about the cell phones for $1 a month and where you can obtain one. They are for the homeless to aid them in finding jobs.

Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) - HUD

Second, go the Public Assistance office to see what they can do for you as far as shelter and food.

State of Alaska | DPA

Third, go to Lutheran Social Services. Explain your situation and see if they can put you up in a motel for a night or two. Do not mention the dog. They also have a food bank. Ask them if you can have a gasoline voucher to put gas in your truck as you are looking for employment. They do have housing for men with the stipulation that you find employment in a certain amount of time, however, they won't let you take the dog there.

Home

You've got to get a roof over your head and the dog's to get off the street, and to hopefully save your truck. Call the lien holder and explain your situation; ask for assistance in order for you to keep the truck.

Once you have found shelter and food, hit the streets and take any job you can regardless if it only pays $7 an hour; that's better then nothing an hour. I've worked assisting the homeless and as I said you have to get off the streets before your money runs out. Best of luck.

[Metlakatla]

Originally Posted by Rance

You can't find a dish washing job or anything? I've had to lower m7y standards on more than one occasion as far as work. I'm not too proud. 9 or 10 bucks an hour is way better than spending 9 or 10 bucks a day and no way to replenish it.

The problem here is that even for dishwashing jobs et al, the competition is such that employers are most likely to go with those who have telephone numbers or are otherwise easy to contact. Yeah Rance, we all know the saga of how you chopped firewood for a winter to get by but you did so while having a home base. This guy doesn't have that.

To the poster...if you're still around in the spring look me up, DM me...wish I could offer more.

You might want to google Chena Hot Springs and fill out an online app for winter work. I know they offer housing for employees. Best of luck to you..

[NomadicBear]

I think this post highlights how difficult these times are for people. I'm unemployed as well, and since I was self employed I get no unemployment check. It's very difficult to find a job right now, period, and even harder to find a decent employer who's paying well. I've looked at rents in AK, and aside from being way out in BFE, I don't see how to make it without multiple incomes in a household. It's easy to see how people just give up.

[Alaskapat528]

Originally Posted by NomadicBear

I think this post highlights how difficult these times are for people. I'm unemployed as well, and since I was self employed I get no unemployment check. It's very difficult to find a job right now, period, and even harder to find a decent employer who's paying well. I've looked at rents in AK, and aside from being way out in BFE, I don't see how to make it without multiple incomes in a household. It's easy to see how people just give up.

Exactly. They lose all hope and it's hard to pull out of that, which is why it's so important to get assistance of some kind of shelter/housing/food to have a home base to seek employment.

[Rance]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

The problem here is that even for dishwashing jobs et al, the competition is such that employers are most likely to go with those who have telephone numbers or are otherwise easy to contact. Yeah Rance, we all know the saga of how you chopped firewood for a winter to get by but you did so while having a home base. This guy doesn't have that.

To the poster...if you're still around in the spring look me up, DM me...wish I could offer more.

You might want to google Chena Hot Springs and fill out an online app for winter work. I know they offer housing for employees. Best of luck to you..

I know one thing...I sure as hell didn't have no internet. Funny how a guy living in a truck has internet.

[alaskangrown]

In Fairbanks, jobs are plenty, but without a place to live, or transportation, that doesn't really matter. How do you get a house if you can't get a job? But now with this new housing development going up for homeless, I am thinking it will change big time. It has been really successful everywhere else, so hopefully it will really help some people.

A lot of homelessness has to do with mental illness and addiction here as well- booze is often cheaper than food, no joke!

I too am unemployed now, partly by choice, but it does make things harder. One thing that is possible here that isn't elsewhere is subsistence living. I know MANY people that came here with a backpack, and are now in the woods (not even that far from town!) making a living off a few odd jobs, growing and hunting their food, and cycling to get around all winter. It's not for everyone, but it's still pretty sweet!

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by Rance

I know one thing...I sure as hell didn't have no internet. Funny how a guy living in a truck has internet.

One explanation.......drive around with the laptop plugged into the cig lighter/power outlet and find an open wireless internet connection and use it....becoming real common now a days that the one expensive item that a homeless person defends with their life is their laptop and for this reason....it is their contact/lifeline to family and friends. A free connection can be found easily and with free plug in available at coffee places etc they can recharge the battery while plugged in.

[GOPATTA2D]

An iTouch can be used over wifi also. You can find free signals everywhere. A few years back, before Internet phones, we road warriors knew all the tricks to finding a signal. Pull under most hotel porticos and you will find wireless. Most of them were open, but even the secure ones used the default passwords. Internet is not hard to find if you have the hardware.

[blueflames50]

Originally Posted by GOPATTA2D

An iTouch can be used over wifi also. You can find free signals everywhere. A few years back, before Internet phones, we road warriors knew all the tricks to finding a signal. Pull under most hotel porticos and you will find wireless. Most of them were open, but even the secure ones used the default passwords. Internet is not hard to find if you have the hardware.

oh that's right!! I forget about the small gadgets as I don't own one as of yet!! Borrowed a friend BlackBerry and got internet, emails etc the whole trip...just didn't like the tiny tiny keypad!! yes the poster could have one of these instead of a laptop.

[starlite9]

My issue is that if someone is down and out, a fifty dollar a month cell phone plus the interent costs are a bit odd for someone who needs the money. That is a lot of food down the rat hole.