I will be homeless

Originally posted by Amaterasu
I have tried to notify my friends on ATS of this, one at a time, but the "flood control" is making it rough.

Seeing nowhere to post this specifically, I chose this section, but mods may see a better place...

A note to my friends:

As of Sunday, we (my fiance and I) will have to be out of where we are - the people we have been staying with, doing domestic, organization and yard work, will need the space for a friend who is in the same boat as we are (unable to find work, would be homeless).

I am sorry they had to choose. I am sure it was a difficult choice for them.

I will try to make it onto ATS when I can, but it is likely to be rare.

I thank you for your friendship and look forward to better times.

You might try the temp agencies, and day labor places til you can
find a good job.

Donate blood or plasma if you can.

Post an Ad on craigslist that you are looking for a room, and looking
for work and see if someone can work something out with you.

Get the sunday paper and and circle all the jobs you could do
if your life depended on it, then apply for the ones you think you
could tolerate out of that group.

Get a few supplies and go door 2 door with 1 story businesses and offer
to wash their windows for $5 - 10 cash.

Once your good at it you can do it in 20 - 30 min. and if you get
established with a few places it can turn into some decent money.

I knew a guy that was averaging $15/hr cash doing this and
he worked up to about 20 hrs a week worth of work, and it
made him over $1,000 a month part time.

If your in good shape and you get the good squeegees you can
do it pretty quick.

Also to save money apply for food stamps, and contact your
local equivalent of the jesus house for one hot meal a day.

If you do make some decent money try to refrain from getting
a place right away, and look hard for a VERY cheap way to live
with what is coming in the economy soon.

As bad as it is now, things are soon to get worse due to the
500+ trillion derivatives nightmare that is coming.

Consider getting a towable RV camper to park someplace VERY cheap.

My friend got a 24 ft. camper on craigslist for $1,100.

Any bills and or credit cards call them and tell them you are
homeless and they will not be getting any money for awhile.

Get a phone book and call all the local churches and ask them
if they have any part time work, or could ask their members
if they need any part time workers.

If you want any more advice email me at onsiterepair[AT]yahoo.com.

Good Luck !

Originally posted by governmentsecrets i don't understand how two "normal" people who are willing to work hard can have no money.

Half the people in my town are normal, good people and are broke. Didn't think it is all that odd these days.



Amaterasu, I hope all works out for you and a great opportunity comes your way. You'll be in my thoughts.

[edit on 10/19/2008 by shockedonlooker]

Originally posted by Amaterasu

Originally posted by rightuos
reply to post by Amaterasu

 

I am a graphic designer/video editor/Flash designer-animator/writer who was laid off

Do you have a degree?

Sadly, I am entirely self-taught. I have been doing graphics for close to 20 years... But no degree.

If you have some sample work on the web still in use, and think
you would do well on a phone interview you could consider
Tjobs.com.

They list all the telecommute jobs around the country on their
site and they get them off all the different job boards and
collect them there.

Often you can use some of the wording and google will find the
job board they are on without paying Tjobs.com their fee for
contacting the employer.

Your type of work is one of the predominant ones listed there.

Good Luck !

If you don't mind me asking..

In what state are you?

There are any number of organizations I can put you in touch with that can help....

I have done some pretty extensive work with the homeless...

Semper

amaterosa

I don't know your exact situation and I haven't read the whole thread but I will say this: Get out of the Northeast ASAP. I'm in Florida and we have literally million of homeless people and they can't be harassed or kicked out.

Get out of the cold and get down here.

Originally posted by Mabus
Avoid the cold coming at all costs. Hotels have lobbies. Go hotel to hotel just so none of them can question why you are in their lobby for so long.

Write out a contract with someone that you'll pay them soon as you get the money if you two can stay with them. That someone can be a someone in the caring industry. If you were down south where there is hospitality it would surely work out with even who would be strangers at first. But since you are in New York go to someone professional who is in a caring type industry. I mean, they wouldnt be in it is they honestly care for ppl. They shouldnt mind you two staying with them for a while or till you all get back on foot.

Old ppl usually have caring hearts too. Since they know they'd want someone to take care of them soon. So if you can find an old person or old couple who shouldnt have kids living with them, who arent that old, and see if they'll help you out in exchange for you helping them out in some BIG way.

These ideas dont bite.

If you do have to be out in the cold wear layers, and under some of them
you can add trash bag ponchos to keep the water off you if it is
raining.

Cold air plus water can drain your core body temp quickly, wind
amplifies all of this.

Try to find a shelter, but do not carry much if any cash around on
you in case street ppl try to take it from you.

If you can donate blood or plasma for money, save it up and maybe
get a bus ticket out of New York.

Bad days ahead for that place when the 500+ trillion derivatives
fiasco finally lays its egg.

Good Luck !

Click here for more information.

gosh AMA..............nasty time of year for it I gotta say......

When my son was 9 we went belly up homeless and made a perma camp site up in the mountains......was pretty tough but my kid was so proud of how well I can chop wood. It took some time to pull it together enough to get a roof over our heads again. We were homeless for close to 9 months....

I wish you guys the best of all possible luck.

Seriously think about relocating to 4 corners while your thus unfettered and ready to plant new roots.....its so nice out this way 'energy-wise'........
you need to experience it for yourself to really know what I am talking about though...



[edit on 18-10-2008 by theRiverGoddess]

reply to post by Amaterasu


I have nothing to say to help you.. nothing to give you.. no advice to turn your World around.. Our world's are what they are, formed only by our desire to shape it... I can give you a quote:

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all."

Dale Carnegie

Best of luck to you.

Man up, find a tent and liv ein the woods

Miss, I apologise for seaming mean but I will not provide you with sympathy. I am encouraging you to fly and not fall to the ground. The mother bird is not being mean when it pushes her young from the nest, it is forcing them to fly. I am trying to force you to fly.

These other people should be ashamed for calling you homeless and putting you in touch with this or that organisation. You are a fully capable person who can and will succeed. You do not need a hand out, you need a hand up. My hand up is a reality check.

The old saying goes "give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man to fish and they will eat for a lifetime". These other people want you to eat for a day, putting you in the mentality to always need to beg for fish. It's a cycle and it is a hard one to break. Here's your pole, the water's over there. Know your worth and you will know what to do within a week.

Good luck. I will be the last to give you sympathy but the first to cheer for your success. I wish someone had been kind enough to tell it to me straight when I was not doing so well. You don't need to thank me when you see I was right.

Time to fly little birdie.

[edit on 10/19/2008 by Spoodily]

reply to post by Amaterasu


Sorry about the difficulty. Sounds familiar. Things will work out. Things WILL get better, for all of us. Good luck and God bless you.

Having been homeless, I mean totally homeless without even a change of clothes (after Hurricane Opal in 1995) I feel your pain, and I also know that the only person who can get you out of your situation is YOU. You have to be willing to do what it takes.

What sort of work are you looking for?

I am assuming (hoping?) that you are a realist, not some girlie drama schmuck holding out for a desk job.

If you are down with anything, put in apps for fluff jobs like burger flipping and stocking store shelves, hit up all the temp agencies, and then spend your mornings in day labor offices (Labor Finders?) while you wait on calls.

Got a cell phone? Good. Save your minutes. Incoming calls mean somebody is thinking of you. Outgoing calls mean you wasted your minutes. Now get a cheap black permanent marker and some cardboard boxes, and make up signs advertising yourself for work with your cellphone number at the bottom. Put them up EVERYWHERE. Take whatever is offered, do twice the job that the employer is expecting, and you might be hired permanently or recommended to someone else.

Hungry? Swallow your pride and stake out dumpsters at pizza places, they sometimes throw out whole pies that are made wrong or that come off the buffet after they get too old to sell. Also check out the dumpsters of donut shops, glazed donuts are fried in oil and coated in sugar, both are natural preservatives. Watch out for yellowjackets.

For clothing you can get a clothing allowance from many thrift stores, something like 3 shirts and 3 pairs of pants, maybe some workboots if they have them.

The world is a real place.

Good luck.

Amaterasu, you're one of my favourite posters here and I wish you all the best. What I don't understand though (and I'm sure other American ATS members will put me in the picture), is the lack of government support. Here in New Zealand, if you are out of work, you go on the dole (Unemployment Benefit). They don't leave you out in the cold. The only homeless people we have in New Zealand are the ones who really are chronic substance abusers.. if your circumstances have taken a turn for the worst through no fault of your own, our government will support you every step of the way, via our welfare state.

How come it's so different in America?

Here's some help.

1. Move south. It's going to get really cold where you are. Head for Florida.

2. Check the states that have the best assistance for homeless before you go. Usually you can get a monthly allowance of $250 or so from any social service area.

3. File for work immediately with the employment development department of your state of choice.

4. Collect unemployment to assist in housing.

5. Check with the Salvation Army or some group that can provide a mailing address. You will need a mailing address to receive benefits.

Good luck, and God go with you.

Hello,
I saw this thread and I thought maybe I could offer some advice. I'm not sure if your fiancee is picky about jobs or whatever, but thought this might help. I live in North Dakota, and at the moment we are having a huge oil boom. The oil companies are begging for workers to work for them. But the jobs pay very very very well. The grunt jobs start at over $20 an hour. Most people though are clearing over 100k a year. No experience neccessary.

But I figured if you two are in real bad shape, you may want to consider making your way over here, and your fiancee getting a job on the oil fields is pretty much guaranteed. A bulk of the work is located in Williston, ND. I've been there a few times, and it's a beautiful town. But it would definately help you both get on your feet, and probably a lot faster than you had anticipated.

Originally posted by RiotComing
Amaterasu, you're one of my favourite posters here and I wish you all the best. What I don't understand though (and I'm sure other American ATS members will put me in the picture), is the lack of government support. Here in New Zealand, if you are out of work, you go on the dole (Unemployment Benefit). They don't leave you out in the cold. The only homeless people we have in New Zealand are the ones who really are chronic substance abusers.. if your circumstances have taken a turn for the worst through no fault of your own, our government will support you every step of the way, via our welfare state.

How come it's so different in America?

This is actually a HUGE issue in America, and one of the many things our government doesn't like to talk about.



Now, your situation. It sucks, but if anything I'd do my best to be completely optimistic and not get dragged down into a rut. Think of it as sort of an adventure or a learning experience. I've never been homeless myself, I got close to it when I was young with my mom though. Repeat to yourself that things will get better, make it your mantra. Go out and find work, old people will gladly let you help them do yard work, most realty offices will let you do meanial chores for them. If you are still in the same situation come next spring GET A LAWN MOWER. Damn good money in that, do it better and cheaper and realty companies will gobble you up like apple pie. Even if you're not making money just try to help out wherever you can and get your name and reputation spread around.

Anything you can do just do it.

Best of luck hun, I hope your hubbys invention works out.

Awfully romantic, but it's real.

reply to post by Amaterasu


I'm so sorry for you, my heart goes out to you.

I’d like to let you know:

I was in the same boat years ago when my parent became mentally ill. I ended up finding a few places to stay, however they were never home to me. I have a home now, and in it I care for that parent when they have a “mental struggle”. When you find home again it might never be the same as when you left it but I guarantee you will find “home” again. Keep your chin up, and may whatever God that possibly exist bless you. From what I know of you from your post I doubt if any such God exist they’ll continue to let you suffer. Be patient and do not lose your dignity or compassion, and try not to become too cynical because of this experience, it may be important for you to experience this now so you appreciate all that will come to you in the future.

WOW sorry to hear: ( damn...
woudl be cool if some or all of us form here on atf cna help em out somehow.. pass ome money or thigns we dont need to them..at least.
yuor out int he woods? personally, ide try n build a log cabin or place outta the local wood...think about it, no one knows=yuo live tax free! as lng as roofing is sound n structure, i dont see why not!
Then form thier, wrok at doing antying yuo can to score a higher at a job.
Hope everyting works out for you!
and yes, from time to time, go to a ibrary, and try n get on aol, so yu can visit ATS

Here are some easy survival tips. 1 KOA has 24 hour bathrooms...Unlocked, go late at night. If you need to steal food, do so from a food bank. Soda machines are not alarmed. Big hotels have many easy scams. Walk the halls and people have bread, crackers, soda all kinds of stuff they push out the door. If it were me, and is was once long ago...I got a quick couple jobs at a 7-11 and a Burger King. Stayed in a crappy motel with 1 small bag og clothing and my Glock 19. We made it. Just dont give up. Keep your head up. We are all one bad month or less away from your shoes. Trust me.