Living in my car? (San Diego: apartment, how much, look for a job)

[Venividi]

Hello everyone, new to the forum. I'm posting this because I was hoping for some advice/tips. I currently don't have a place to go and am living in my car, I have a part-time job. I just started the job and had been jobless for awhile I have about a 100 bucks in the bank till I get paid then it might be 200. Not an ideal situation, I've been sleeping in my car for 2 months getting by on savings, I have a gym membership and a prepaid phone. The car I am sleeping in is very small (2 door) and gets terrible gas mileage (it also currently smells).

Basically I'm looking for options, I can hopefully start to get more hours at my job now that my training is done, I start school at a community college in a month or so and will be getting financial aid. How should I proceed? I'm struggling with finding places to park at night, can't sleep past 6am because of the sun/people (my windows aren't tinted at all) and I'm getting worn down. I don't have anything to do when I'm not working until school starts. What should I do? I hope once I have regular hours and income I can afford to live with someone or something, how much would I need? How should I spend my money? I have to be careful with how much I drive because I get really ****ty mileage (150ish on a full tank costs 30 to fill my tank) so I try to stay around my gym/work.

I would love to have a regular place I could park or a bed/couch every once in awhile, my knees hurt really bad in the morning from having to keep them bent the while I sleep. I tried couchsurfing.com but no one wanted to host me, I'm not a traveler just homeless. What should I do? Does anyone know any areas I can park without worrying about the cops? I've had a security guard come up to me once at like 3am and now I'm terrified. I can't afford a ticket or lose my car. Any ideas here? I struggle with food too since I can't cook anything, I mostly eat packets of tuna or get a hot dog at Costco because they're cheap.

[moved]

If you're living in your vehicle, you have to move around, and sleep in a different location every night. The exception to that is to find a store that has overnight stockers. You'll be able to park there, but won't be able to stay there when it gets lights outside.

Go to the library during the day, that will give you something to do.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by Venividi

Hello everyone, new to the forum. I'm posting this because I was hoping for some advice/tips. I currently don't have a place to go and am living in my car, I have a part-time job. I just started the job and had been jobless for awhile I have about a 100 bucks in the bank till I get paid then it might be 200. Not an ideal situation, I've been sleeping in my car for 2 months getting by on savings, I have a gym membership and a prepaid phone. The car I am sleeping in is very small (2 door) and gets terrible gas mileage (it also currently smells).

Basically I'm looking for options, I can hopefully start to get more hours at my job now that my training is done, I start school at a community college in a month or so and will be getting financial aid. How should I proceed? I'm struggling with finding places to park at night, can't sleep past 6am because of the sun/people (my windows aren't tinted at all) and I'm getting worn down. I don't have anything to do when I'm not working until school starts. What should I do? I hope once I have regular hours and income I can afford to live with someone or something, how much would I need? How should I spend my money? I have to be careful with how much I drive because I get really ****ty mileage (150ish on a full tank costs 30 to fill my tank) so I try to stay around my gym/work.

I would love to have a regular place I could park or a bed/couch every once in awhile, my knees hurt really bad in the morning from having to keep them bent the while I sleep. I tried couchsurfing.com but no one wanted to host me, I'm not a traveler just homeless. What should I do? Does anyone know any areas I can park without worrying about the cops? I've had a security guard come up to me once at like 3am and now I'm terrified. I can't afford a ticket or lose my car. Any ideas here? I struggle with food too since I can't cook anything, I mostly eat packets of tuna or get a hot dog at Costco because they're cheap.

I don't know your age but if you are young, why not join the military or the job corps? Or, you might look for a job as a live in caretaker for an elderly or disabled person.

[wall st kid]

Originally Posted by Venividi

Hello everyone, new to the forum. I'm posting this because I was hoping for some advice/tips. I currently don't have a place to go and am living in my car, I have a part-time job. I just started the job and had been jobless for awhile I have about a 100 bucks in the bank till I get paid then it might be 200. Not an ideal situation, I've been sleeping in my car for 2 months getting by on savings, I have a gym membership and a prepaid phone. The car I am sleeping in is very small (2 door) and gets terrible gas mileage (it also currently smells).

Basically I'm looking for options, I can hopefully start to get more hours at my job now that my training is done, I start school at a community college in a month or so and will be getting financial aid. How should I proceed? I'm struggling with finding places to park at night, can't sleep past 6am because of the sun/people (my windows aren't tinted at all) and I'm getting worn down. I don't have anything to do when I'm not working until school starts. What should I do? I hope once I have regular hours and income I can afford to live with someone or something, how much would I need? How should I spend my money? I have to be careful with how much I drive because I get really ****ty mileage (150ish on a full tank costs 30 to fill my tank) so I try to stay around my gym/work.

I would love to have a regular place I could park or a bed/couch every once in awhile, my knees hurt really bad in the morning from having to keep them bent the while I sleep. I tried couchsurfing.com but no one wanted to host me, I'm not a traveler just homeless. What should I do? Does anyone know any areas I can park without worrying about the cops? I've had a security guard come up to me once at like 3am and now I'm terrified. I can't afford a ticket or lose my car. Any ideas here? I struggle with food too since I can't cook anything, I mostly eat packets of tuna or get a hot dog at Costco because they're cheap.

is there anyway you could make your car look like nobody is in it while you sleep? this is tricky because no matter where you sleep someone might come by and look inside the car, like security.

i drove thru a town in california recently and notice a lot of campers on the streets and that got me thinking that maybe some towns 'permit' people to live in vehicles and park on the city streets as long as A,B and C. Try and become an expert on town ordinances and whatnut, maybe you can figure out a place to sleep in the car without anyone bothering you.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by wall st kid

is there anyway you could make your car look like nobody is in it while you sleep? this is tricky because no matter where you sleep someone might come by and look inside the car, like security.

i drove thru a town in california recently and notice a lot of campers on the streets and that got me thinking that maybe some towns 'permit' people to live in vehicles and park on the city streets as long as A,B and C. Try and become an expert on town ordinances and whatnut, maybe you can figure out a place to sleep in the car without anyone bothering you.

I don't think any cities actually allow people to sleep on the streets, but some police departments are probably too busy to roust people who are doing nothing more than sleeping, but watch out! There are a number of cities particularly in California where sleeping in your car is a criminal offense and they do arrest people and take them to jail for it.

You can legally sleep in your car at California highway rest stops but I think the hours are limited, so I don't think you could camp out there and start doing your laundry in the restroom

[Venividi]

I don't think I can join the military but I can look into it. I have tried to kill myself before and been held on a 5150, I can't own a gun for 5 years. I don't think I could pass a psych evaluation with them.

[2sleepy]

Originally Posted by Venividi

I don't think I can join the military but I can look into it. I have tried to kill myself before and been held on a 5150, I can't own a gun for 5 years. I don't think I could pass a psych evaluation with them.

What about checking into resources for the mentally disabled? Even if you are currently ok you might qualify for some kind of assistance.

The DRM Regional Resource Directory: California

Home | 2-1-1 San Diego

[RosieSD]

If you are considering suicide or find yourself feeling severely depressed, call this number immediately: (888) 724-7240

Check this website for support and resources, but don't hesitate to call the number above: http://up2sd.org/resources/suicide-p...n-and-support/

Also, make a face-to-face appointment with an advisor/counselor in the counseling center at the Community College where you will be going and explain your situation. Don't put this off; call them today. Trust me on this: Community College counselors have dealt with students in similar situations in the past. They can help you figure out what to do.

While you are there, also talk to the financial aid office as well; they may be able to adjust your financial aid offer a bit to help you get into an apartment earlier. But they can't help if they don't know your situation.

Finally, keep posting here and let us know how you are doing. We are happy to listen. But, you also need some help and advice from professionals who are trained to help people in your situation, so don't put off getting that help. An appointment with the CC counseling center is a good place to start.

[AndroidAZ]

Is there any possibility you can move to a cheaper place, like Las Vegas where housing is super cheap and you can get jobs working night shifts etc until you get back on your feet?

[Tulemutt]

The military is downsizing these days, opting for more intensely specialized forces. Assuming this is a serious thread, the OP doesn't strike me as a likely candidate for military service at this time. The military option used to be an excellent gateway, even for people not interested in combat arms specializations. (Most military service is support, not combat arms.) Right now they have become very picky choosy, with background requirements and checks, even for technical and supply support MOS. All said not to mention that the majority of folks are not compatible with a military lifestyle model. So, while until about 10 years ago the services struggled to meet recruitment numbers and it would have represented an option, a reversal is in place.

That all said, Sleepy is on to a different option worth pursuing. Mental health organizations are not just for schizophrenics and other extreme disorders. People who suffer persistent depression and dysthemia, especially with suicidal ideations present, as the OP reports having had, and / or who lack impulse control, experience recurring rage, or exhibit any number of other symptoms of stress are all accommodated under mental health services umbrellas.

There is help for homeless in various other, non-mental health, programs, as well. A lot of homeless transition through their struggles without falling into addictions and dependencies and mental illness - by consulting with various agencies for options and assistance. Persons on hard times who are motivated to get training - such as the OP is pursuing at Community College - are the type of coherent homeless that turn into success stories. Potential success is what agencies like to serve the most

I'd suggest also going to the counseling offices at the community college and asking for resource recommendations. There have been many homeless students in the system. This isn't new scenario for them to advise and support.

Good luck.

Note: just saw that as I was writing the above, Rosie also posted the advice to seek counsel at the college. Right on