I am Homeless (no job, no income, no boyfriend/husband/person to help me); What Are My Options? [story included] (school, living in)

[Gunluvver2]

Originally Posted by BeautifulSoulTragicLife

Hello, I have lived in LA for about 2 years, but now my ex-boyfriend left to live in another state... leaving me homeless.

I am not disabled (not to jinx myself), I am not elderly, and I have no kids (I'm in my late 20s). So I do not think I qualify for any/much help from the state of California.

I have an EBT card/CalFresh card that is set to about $160 per month, and I currently have health insurance for the ultra-low income. but that's it.
I do not know much about cash aid. I do not receive any cash aid, and if I applied for it............. from what I hear, it's only about $100 per month. I cannot live off of that.
I do not know much about free housing. but from what I've gathered, there is a long waiting list. and even if/when you get taken off of the list, the housing is in a crime-ridden area that is unsafe for a skinny/fragile young white girl (me). I have heard that the housing is in south central and other unsafe areas of LA.

I also do not know much about homeless shelters. I DID manage to purchase a cheap car off of Craigslist right before the unfortunate series of events that lead to my sudden homelessness. I have been sleeping in my car. I tend to think that sleeping in my car is probably safer than sleeping near a bunch of strangers at a homeless shelter. What do you think?

I have been applying to jobs like crazy. And I frequently go very far in the interviewing process... only to find out at the very end that it was between me and one other candidate, and they chose the other candidate.

I have been showering at the gym. I have a presentable look, and an elegant demeanor. I would make a great employee. My bachelor's degree is in English. But I can not seem to get hired anywhere. I make sure to be as polite as possible during job interviews . . . and it always seems like they are going to hire me (they tell me details about the company, the face-to-face interviews are long, etc.), but then I'm always one of their final choices but not the final one who actually lands the position.

I tried uber/lyft but I have gotten tickets that I can't even afford... so I am not a fit to be an uber/lyft driver. My car also cannot handle the freeway (I use "avoid freeways" on google maps). So I can't do uber/lyft.

My dad pays for our family cell phone plan. He has offered me his credit card to stay in a hotel/motel for a few nights, but I mean, by parents are struggling too and they do NOT have much money. So I can't put like $700 on his credit card or more... so my parents can only help me so much. I can't put them further in debt.

I have tried waitressing before but was forced to quit because honestly... I am not a fit for it at all. Both myself and the managers noticed that waitressing was not my "thing."

In my past, I have worked as an assistant, a receptionist, an actor, a substitute teacher, and a journalist. Substitute teaching is not enough work; I just get called in on the rare occasions when a teacher is sick. Being a journalist/writer didn't pay nearly enough to live off of and was too 24/7 so I had no time to do my own writing. and I have not been able to land another receptionist/admin assistant job yet.

My ex bf was my only friend, so I have no help now that he is gone.

What should I do? Please help me. I won't even be able to afford gas for my car soon. I am ultra-poor and all of my credit cards are closed.

Please help

\
Get out of California as soon as possible. Sell your car and buy either a bus ticket or an Amtrak ticket to Nebraska. Our unemployment rate here is less than 4%. I live in Lincoln and it is a great place. Your English degree may not help you immediately but there are MANY fast food places, grocery stores and other jobs that you can work at until you get on your feet and have a network in place. If you do not have a criminal record or DWI's finding a job will NOT be a problem. Small efficiency apartments are available for as low as $300/month or for the same amount of $$$ you can share a house with roommates. The local Lincoln City Libraries are a great resource in your job search. Bus service is available from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

When you get to Lincoln let me know by posting a note on the Nebraska section of C-D. I am on a tight budget but I can give you a few pointers on who/where/what.

[Linda_d]

Originally Posted by seain dublin

It's not "soulless" if you make a go of it. And not depend on others or the govt to pay your freight.

You move to LA(or any place for that matter) sit on your hiney for 2 years depending on a man to support you, he takes off, and rather than working yourself the last 2 years and maybe having your own bank account(you know separate), don't want to wait tables(a job from her own physical description fits the bill) than expect strangers on here who can really do nothing for you to help?

Even if she worked part time over the last 2 years and socked away a few thousand dollars she would have something of her own. Why is a 20 something able bodied woman not working the last two years? No kids, no family members she is taking care of......laziness. Boyfriend got tired of paying for two on one income.

Well I guess that would qualify as "soulless", but this same scenario could happen in Phoenix, Atlanta, and many other places.

I love how people blame LA for everything.

Very well said! How many women with children, married/divorced/single in their late 20s hold down at least part-time jobs, and this sweet thing has been sitting on her butt for 2 years?

If she can't wait tables, there's always the fast food places.

[SandyCo]

To the OP, who seems unwilling to deal with the reality we're all dishing up here -

Go home. Being homeless (even in L.A.) is not a good life plan for you. Once you're down there, it's very difficult to get back out. I don't care how miserable Detroit is or whatever. You're not entitled to stay here without some means of supporting yourself, it's just that simple.

If you're determined to stay, maybe a "hostessing" (i.e. prostitution) job would work well. And I'm sure there's always work in the porn industry.

[MotleyCrew]

Originally Posted by BeautifulSoulTragicLife

I would like responses that do not consider restaurant work an option and do not consider moving back home an option.

I don't know why so many posters seem to not like me very much. I'm being honest, and I'm just trying to gather options that I may not know about

Then you can simply live in your car until it gets towed. Not one person here or anywhere can tell you what you want to hear. I doubt that like or dislike has anything to do with the responses here. But do apply at McDonalds and other fast food, high turnover places of employment. You have a degree...so have you tried an employment agency?

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by federalist.

I am so sorry that you are going through hard times. Have you tried working with an employment agency? Many are free of charge for the job placement; however, I think they collect a portion of your paycheck.

sorry I can't feel sorry for her. She had her 3 hours of fun wih us yesterday, has now disappeared into no man's land and if she is real at all (I doubt) she doesn't want our help or our advise.

She can't do retaurant work; she can't move back home: she has a possible pre cancerous condition (don't we all especially if we spent time in the sun) if she is educated she certainly knows about employment agencies, temps and permanent placements, she is collecting food stamps, so she knows how to play the game, etc. No wonder her boyfriend, real or make believe left..

[KazChasey]

Maybe "she" is transgender. Explains why "she" can't go home, and why "she" can't wait tables (Probably looks like Woody Harrelson in a wig).

[hipcat]

OP sounds like a typical millennial. Useless Degree, Refuses to do jobs that are "beneath" them. And massive entitlement.

There's plenty of jobs available in this city if you really want to look for them. But it seems you want to complain to strangers on a message board.

[seain dublin]

The OP with her English degree could have been a substitute teacher for $165 a day, that's right.

There are people doing this and get enough hours/days to make some nice money. I don't know if it still applies but after so many months as a long term sub you are eligible for health benefits.

Had she been doing that the last 2 years instead of sitting on her a** living off the boyfriend she could easily have socked away at least $8,000 to $10,000 since he was paying the bills.

[shotcall]

Originally Posted by nmnita

What is Gods green earth do you expect any of us to do for you? You have to do it on your own and it is about impossible for any of us to believe you can not get a job. So you want to stay in Ca. big deal. I want to win the lottery but I am realistic and it might be time for you to be realistic as well. I am truthfully glad if you can't get any publc assistance other than food stamps. Am I being harsh and cold? Yes, but it is time you realize your problems are your own and you need to find ways to better yourself. It can be done. Talk to a councilor or someone at a church for starters.

This post right here sums up my opinion on this matter.

[SFBayBoomer]

Originally Posted by BeautifulSoulTragicLife

I would like responses that do not consider restaurant work an option and do not consider moving back home an option.

I don't know why so many posters seem to not like me very much. I'm being honest, and I'm just trying to gather options that I may not know about

Sorry, kiddo, no can do with your demands that we exclude at least one of those options.

I can understand that you might not be able to wait tables for a variety of reasons, mostly physical (including an illness that might include you falling down or dropping plates); however, there are so many other jobs that you could do that excluding waiting tables is fine with me.

But I don't think you have the right to be so demanding about what kind of work you can do, other than maybe excluding waiting tables, for reasons I mentioned.

You must either go home to your parents in Detroit for awhile or suck it up and apply for work at Walmart, a temp agency, McDonalds (taking orders from customers) or whatever.

I am PO'd that a young woman/man is getting any kind of public assistance whatsoever when there are other options available to you, especially when (if your story is true) you are really out here to get discovered and get into show business or whatever. I do not want to foot the bill for your choices.