So I just recently moved to the East side of the continent, and things haven’t worked out as well as I’d hoped. I’m in northern NJ, and about to be homeless.
I’ll spare you the details, what I want to know is how to survive being homeless. I’ve never done it before, and I’m sure it will be interesting, to say the least. Any advice would be helpful. Also, I have a cat, and am thinking it might be less cruel to take her to a no kill shelter than try to make her live the homeless life with me. Opinions are appreciated.
No car. I have a backpack, a cat, and some clothes. Also, all appropriate ID that should be required for anything contained in a falling apart, 9yr old leather Punisher wallet.
The details would be very useful here. Where in northern Jersey are you? The urban areas in the east or the suburban to rural areas west of there? Are you eligible for public assistance? Do you have disabilities of any kind? Are you able to work? Do you intend to stay homeless?
I don’t intend to stay homeless at all, and I want to work very badly. I recently failed at owning my own business, which is why I’m where I am. Bloomingdale, NJ to be precise about the location. I do have severe spinal arthritis, but I’m able to work through that as long as I don’t have to lift 50lbs 10hrs a day.
I have job interviews in the area, but my friend who invited me to stay with her has decided she would rather not have a roommate again after a week.
Here’s a website you should visit. In order to get a job that isn’t simple physical labor you’ll need to keep yourself together, stay clean and fed. Do you have any valuable skills?
I’m not sure. I think one of the biggest problems we have is her cats not adapting well to mine. Of course, there are other reasons, but our cats not getting along well are a big catalyst. So probably not. I’d hate to have to give her to a shelter, though. She’s 10, so she’s no spring chicken.
Here is your essential checklist.Start calling to find out which ones have room, which ones might be willing to take a cat, and where you might find lodging for your cat if the shelters can’t help you with that. Nail down where you are going to sleep first, then find out which places are serving meals. Find out where you can get bus tickets. Find out which shelters will allow you to use their address on job application forms(no address-no job in most places). If someone offers you socks, take them. If you can make yourself useful at a particular shelter you might be able to snag a semi-permanent spot and decent references jobwise.
I’m skilled in SixSigma, Lean, Toyota Production and all of that stuff if it’s still a fad. I have almost 20yrs of management experience, including restaurant, warehouse and promotional. I also make some really good curry.
Joking aside, though, yes, I’m skilled, and no, I really don’t mind taking a job that’s considered under my skill level if it pays the bills. As long as I can smile and the kitty and I can eat, I’m a happy man.
[ol]
[li]Get in contact with the Salvation Army in your area immediately - They have all of the contact information for the agencies and private groups which assist the homeless in your area.[/li][li]Reach out to your “network” - Friends,family, whoever and see if they’ll assist you in either getting enough money to go back home or to an area with a lower rate of unemployment. I worked in NJ for a little over two years about 5 years ago and I have family in the area. The cost of living is too high to live there unless you are able to find solid full-time employment.[/li][li]Contact Social Security and file a claim for SSDI - You cannot work a normal schedule and they can assist you in filing a disability claim. You won’t hear anything for six months to one year but it’s better to have that going now as a year will pass before you know it.[/li][li]If you have ANY money at all , find a short-term place to stay before the time limit given to you by your “roommate" - Things are obviously not going well and the sooner that you leave the better that things will be. Not to lecture (he said, lecturing) but it would be advisable for you to determine in advance whether or not you can live with someone before you commit to move in with them.[/li][li]Unless you are looking for a job or housing,spend as little time as possible online - While I enjoy forums and the various sundry web sites around, it’s a huge waste of time. You need to concentrate on getting yourself shelter ASAP. Everything else is secondary or tertiary.[/li][li]Consider placing your cat in a good home - Seriously, you will be unable to locate housing with a pet and if you are broke or close to it, you can’t care for an animal. While your cat may seem to be a family member it’s really an animal which depeds upon you for food and shelter. In fairness to it, you really need to put its needs for stability ahead of your need for companionship.[/li][li]Take a hard and introspective look at yourself - Ask yourself why this situation failed and how could you have planned for things to go better. The only way that you’ll prevent a reoccurence of this is to learn your lessons and try something different next time.[/li][/ol]
[li]Reach out to your “network” - Friends,family, whoever and see if they’ll assist you in either getting enough money to go back home or to an area with a lower rate of unemployment. I worked in NJ for a little over two years about 5 years ago and I have family in the area. The cost of living is too high to live there unless you are able to find solid full-time employment.[/li][/QUOTE]
I’ve considered going back to the West coast, which is where I’m from. It seems like it might be ideal, but I’ve never hitchhiked before and can’t afford a bus ticket at this time.
I’m from the West Coast (hence the name) and while I would enjoy returning to it, the employment situation in most areas is middling to exceptionally poor, Nevada being the worst of the bunch. Unless you have a specific destination in mind, you should probably stay in place until you are able to travel.
Also, I wouldn’t advise hitchhiking. It’s illegal in many states and it’s often unwise. If you are arrested, your cat while be sent to a shelter and then be euthanized if you are unable to post bail or be released on your own recognizance. You’ll also incur a citation and a fine which will cost your additional money that you don’t seem to have.
You should stabilize your situation first and then decide on a fixed place to go. You should then reach out to your network and ask for assistance. Hopefully you haven’t burned all of your bridges and there’s someone who will help you.
I’d be leery of depending upon this site and I would suggest checking the state’s web site containing its municipal code. The regulations on here for Nevada,Illinois and Indiana all seem to need updating.