During my personal youthful 'great depression' of joblessness, I found having a few useful skills to trade helped. I painted signs for money, food, clothing, and sessions in an isolation tank (don't knock it 'til you've tried it). I cooked meals for a working friend, and ate with him. I traded light maintenance jobs (painting, cleaning halls, tightening screws on loose cupboard doors, etc.) for rent reductions.