I don’t know if this has been posted yet, but you can get free food aid before/without qualifying for food stamps. This is a search tool for Feeding America, just put in your zip code and see what’s available: http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx
Their tagline is, “If you need food, we can help you locate emergency food assistance services in your community. Every food recipient is treated with dignity and respect. The call is free. The food is free.”
Definitely take advantage of the services available to you. I’m glad my tax dollars will go to help someone like you get a good meal and back on your feet. That’s really the point. Right now you’re spending all your time just trying to survive. But if you had help with food and shelter, you would actually have the time and effort to find and keep a job.
Hope you have some successes, SurrenderDorothy. Have a good weekend!
Post when you can SR. We care.
I’ve been thinking about you every day and hoping to hear something positive. Mine that information that’s been linked, and please get safe soon.
Off to go join the melee in the pit and maybe get in a hard kick to an idiot’s face.
Also take a look at Unitarian Universalist churches and fellowships - the first principal of UU is “we are a diverse and non-creedal faith which supports the inherent worth and dignity of every human being.” We absolutely do not care what your religion, if any is.
Ask if there is any room in the minister’s discretionary fund to help you, and ask for a specific thing (a deposit on an apartment, money for prescription medications, groceries for a week, a coat for winter) and a specific amount. That’s what that fund is there for. My church, for instance, has four offerings a year to put money in this fund, and it’s up to the minister to find people to spend it on.
And I back the others: you are exactly the person for whom food stamps and other welfare are intended.
Go fuck yourself you cunt.
You’ve been around long enough to know that this is completely out of line in MPSIMS. If you’ve got something to say to this person, go say it in the Pit.
Warning issued for personal insults.
twickster, MPSIMS moderator
Hang in there Dorothy!
I went through a period of time when I was unemployed. If it hadn’t been for my mother, I would have been homeless, particularly after I ran out of unemployment compensation (yes, that happens; my state was not one of the ones that extended it over 46 weeks). We went to food banks, church pantries, etc. I also was able to get food stamps which SERIOUSLY helped.
Now things are more stable. Both Mom and I bring in income, I can buy my meds, heck, I even have Netflix! 
You will get there. Take advantage of whatever resources you can in the meantime. That’s what they’re there for. Don’t feel guilty. You just hit a bump in the road. You need help.
Try to maintain a good/pleasant attitude as much as you can. Some people think that being mean and nasty gets you help faster - But I know from my own experience that people prefer to help people who are nice and easy to work with.
Good luck to you and keep us posted. 
Never been homeless I could only imagine how hard that would be especially in my city. Hang in there Dorothy, seek out the resources available to you move ahead, and hopefully out of your situation soon.
Don’t surrender btw.
I’m indoors tonight, which is nice :). Went to the adoption event today to see my darling dog, who had to go to another foster when I no longer had a place to put him. He’s been back and forth several times now- stays with me when I can take him, stays with her when I can’t. I miss him terribly. One of the other fosters said I could crash in her guest room tonight, so here I am. On a real computer, even :).
My best friend called earlier and said I can stay with her and her friend in Ohio if I want. I’m seriously considering it. I’d have to find a job there before I’d move, though.
Oh, a question along those lines. I know when getting an apartment, a lot of them want you to have been at your job for a certain amount of time. How do people do this when they move? Like, obviously if I move to a different city, I’ll have to quit my job and get a different one. I might be able to stay technically employed there (lots of people do that- move away and come work a few shifts when they’re in town). Would the Ohio (or wherever, really) apartments not be cool with the fact that the job I’ve worked for three years is obviously not the job that would be bringing home the bacon? Or do they just want to know that I’m capable of staying employed for more than six months at a time? Am I way overthinking this? Anyway, I’m going to apply for jobs out there, too. I actually just looked at Craigslist briefly and the first three restaurants I looked at pay like $10 an hour minimum, which is more than I make now.
I’ve applied for food stamps. Haven’t been to a food pantry yet- I didn’t realize they have kitchen-free foods. Canned goods and such, I knew about, but I don’t have a can opener or utensils or, like, a place to make Macaroni & Cheese or whatever. I’ll certainly hit one up, probably tomorrow. There’s one I worked at for a few days that, as I recall, is close to PetCo. I remember them having a sort of membership requirement, but I assume I meet the criteria at this point. Have called around to some shelters, but haven’t found a spot yet that has open spaces. I’ll keep calling, though, and will hopefully find a place in the next few days.
Phouka, I didn’t know churches had things like that. I’ll ask around, particularly with religious friends. Prescription meds are a big concern- I’ve been sort of rationing mine so I don’t run out. Which I know is not smart or good.
Thank you for the update, Dorothy. I’m glad to hear you’re indoors tonight. I’m glad you’ve found a foster for your dog. That must be a comfort for you in all of this. Our pets are so much a part of our lives.
I’m sorry I don’t have answers to your apartment questions, but I am sure someone will be on soon who will know. Continued prayers and good wishes for you.
Where in Ohio? I may be able to get more specific answers if it’s an area I’m close to.
Why?
Question - are you actually employed right now? If not, and a friend will take you in in Ohio, then make the move and look for a job there.
If you are employed… well, you need to decide if staying or going is best.
Yes, you are WAY overthinking this.
Landlords don’t care about your employment what they care about is that you can reliably pay the rent. Asking how long you’ve had a job is one way to determine this, but it’s not the only way. Lots of people move cross country to get a new job and manage to get an apartment just fine. Don’t defeat yourself before you even talk to a landlord!
She mentioned it in this thread - IIRC she either has a part-time job or a full-ish time job that doesn’t pay a ton.
Apartments- you will be much better off renting a room off someone than getting your own apartment right now. If you have a couple of references and a job, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a furnished room with utilities included, in their name, in the rent.
Temporary shelter while you consider the move- the Salvation Army has Operation Deep Freeze, where any night that it’s forecasted to get below freezing, they take anybody in. If their shelter gets full, they transport people to participating churches for the night. Look to see if your area is doing this.
I’d say take your friend up on her offer. There is a chance that it’ll turn out bad and she’ll no longer be your friend, but really it can’t get much worse than it is right now, can it?
Dorthy,
So glad you commented. This is the first opportunity I’ve had to feel he wrath of the expected bashing in store for me.
You see, the devil is in the details. Now that you have provided details of your particular situation I very humbly retract my comments towards you and apologize if I sounded so heartless. You are not the type of person I assumed (the Internet is so easily “assumable”) and are obviously a conscientious, hard working person who has had a period of hard luck. Things will change and things will get better. I’ve been there, done that. Just don’t let comments from people like me get you down.
Now I’d like to make another comment toward all those who hate me. First, the timing of Dorthy’s original post was bad only because it was at the same time as the storm and was assumed to be on the East Coast. And as we all know, scammers are at their best when disaster strikes. I still stand by my comments because its all so true. It might not be the rule but it sure is a large number of exceptions. Second, with all due respect to Dorthy’s plight, if you’re going to make a comment on a forum of this nature (especially this forum) then be prepared give all details of your situation. And be prepared to take on all kinds of flack. Third, a defense of my perceived character as being selfish and heartless. If I could I would gladly pit my charity and ability to help others against anyone else in this forum. I’m not very rich (in fact I have little or no retirement to fall back on) but I’ve given more than my fair share of charity and physical help when needed. I’ve also taken as much when needed. Among those those who know me, I’m considered a well balanced and well liked person willing to give a hand when necessarily. But I don’t tolerate fools. I also don’t give blind trust just because somebody says they need it. Demonstrate it and I’ll sympathize and give my trust. I’m not looking for any response, good or bad. Just setting the record straight.
OK, let the bashing begin again.
PS…Dorthy, good luck, it will get better.
Bot, it was nice of you to apologize. You seem sincere and I have no objections to what you said. I also understand being skeptical on the Internet.
You have addressed the main problem with your original comment. You have overlooked, however, the second issue, this comment:
Here you have insulted not just Dorothy, but 50% of our country and 90% of the SDMB that thought Obama was a better choice for our nation because of his temperament and his policies, not because we want “free stuff.”. No big deal, we can take it..it’s just a bit maddening to keep seeing this crap.
Go away, bot3. When you feel the urge to post, there is a pit thread set aside for you.
I’m not a mod, but I don’t think it’s going to be helpful for this thread to be cluttered up with all of the political bashing or discussions of bot’s personal character or whatever. Maybe people could do that in the Pit thread if they want.