Good job breaking that down.

And let me say that I have burned myself out over the years thinking I could do this and that and got involved in rental real estate etc. Then I was in an abusive situation at the Univeristy of Washington and to make a long story short, lost everything, and I am left without really the drive and energy to fix everything. So I am plodding slowly through a horrid financial situation...and living very very simply myself. But I know you have to take your energy level into consideration when you take on these huge projects, and your body is telling you many important things right now..

Anyway, my recommendations are:

1. Take the welfare. no matter how bad it is it is a basis..it will cover your rent and phone.
2. Get the part time job..a 1/2 time receptionist in an allergy free zone hopefully.
3. That will give you say $727 per month. Remember this is only temporary..it is not a lifelong sentance to poverty.
4. Try to find a room for 400 and cut food to 200. Spend time at home doing some cooking, and invite your friends over. Get a video at thelibrary. I'd say your budget unfortunately is going to limit you to free entertainment. But that is what libraries are for.
5. Yes, you can wash clothes at home. I do. I have a sink and a clothes line and a clothes rack and it costs about $1.00 or so a month in soap. You probably have clothes that don't require dry cleaning so wear them if you can.
6. You might have to get a free internet service for now.

$500 is better than nothing. $700 is better than nothing.
Now I am going to see if you can get a reduced bus pass. If you have the bus pass, why do you worry about transportationc costs to see your friends?

Keep putting the word out that you need to rent a room in a clean house. It's out there and I bet you can get it for $350 a month, which would then leave $50 for your allergy treatment.

mg