Looking for a job in Knoxville, TN and will be sleeping in my car. What areas to stay away from? (sublease)

[blondieb86]

I currently live in Ohio and hoping to find a job or two in Knoxville, TN. Problem is I don't know what areas are dangerous and I would like to know since I don't know anyone and will be sleeping in my car until I get a job and save enough for housing.

[NJDevil]

Why do you have to move here so quickly, before you have time to save up a little? Where would you park at night, in store parking lots? What kind of work are you looking for?

[Serious Conversation]

You need to get the job before you come or have at least several months of living expenses. This is going to be a disaster coming to TN with no job and no residence.

[smokyman]

I have not been to Knoxville for years, but if I remember correctly, the western burbs might be a good place to look for a place to crash (no pun intended!). Go to day labor places, such a Labor Ready, etc., until you save up enough for a weekly. When I was there in 2000, I stayed at a weekly in downtown Knoxville near the stadium while doing assembly work at a plant about 15 minutes away. I eventually moved to a small town in Roane County where I was able to rent half of a duplex for only $250/month (can you believe it!). I loved that quiet, little town, where living was simple and cheap, and the people didn't rush around like nutcases. Then, like an idiot, I went back to live in a filthy rat race in Las Vegas. I live in Reno, NV now, but I'm getting out of hear soon, too, and heading back to East Tennessee, where people aren't so phony, greedy and insane, even if most of them don't have a mouthful of teeth... So what?

[Barking Spider]

Blondie...Not sure the rush to come to Knoxville without a job or means to support yourself. And why Knoxville?
At any rate, sleeping in your car until you can get on your feet is a bad plan.

[creeksitter]

Employment prospects here are better than a lot of Ohio.

My advice is sleep behind a church if you can find one with a secluded rear parking area. Maybe they will adopt you?

Lots of subleases are available for the summer if you get a job.

[theurbanfiles]

What are your skills or things that you would have an ability to do? I think that is the first question, because, ultimately, you want to be somewhere you can thrive, so my advice would be unless the situation in Ohio is particularly dangerous or unsavory, to remain there and think about what it is you truly want to do, and what you need to do to get there. Good luck!

[knoxnut]

Originally Posted by Serious Conversation

You need to get the job before you come or have at least several months of living expenses. This is going to be a disaster coming to TN with no job and no residence.

100% agree. This is the general advice before moving anywhere not just Knoxville, because who knows how long it will take to land a job. It took me over 2 years before I found a permanent job, with 7 years spent before that as a subcontractor never being sure I wouldn't be laid off the next week. It's not a good position to be in, and I had thoughts of doing the same thing as you w/ regards to packing up and moving to another city before having a job in place - not one person thought this was a good idea, including a career coach I worked with.

Also, essentially trespassing by parking your car and sleeping at various places just sounds like asking for trouble - you don't know who could come up on you while you're sleeping, be it someone who wants to steal your car or the police. That said, if you are determined to do this, then I'd probably start with contacting some churches or other organizations and see if they will either give you permission to park in their parking lot, or help you find somewhere you can park at night.

[onetoughkitty]

Do you know people here? Why would you move here and sleep in your car in HOPES of finding a job? And if you do know people here, why wouldn't they help you with employment prospects or finding temporary housing in the meanwhile? I am hoping this is just a troll post because I can't imagine this scenario turning out well.

[Barking Spider]

I'm thinking troll post since it was just the one. Makes no sense to me to up and move, and the only plan is to sleep in car until something comes along.