BS: Strategies when facing homelessness

Subject: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 02:27 PM

After posting about my dau. back East, being evicted at the end of the month, I've received a few PMs from other members who have either been homeless in the past or are possibly facing it in the near future. Not a one of them deserves such lack.herap

I thought it might be helpful if we had a thread which could help on what might be done AFTER the gov. funding is used up, i.e. food stamps, health care, public housing etc.

Her mediator in court thinks he can buy her 2-3 more weeks to live there but that will be it. Her therapist has found one more place to try , but she has to jump through hoops and it can time.

One think I've learned is to get a friend to help her fill out papers. She is too depressed to stay on top of them.

Though I would be sorry for the circumstances, if you have experience etc, I;d love to hear of tips, etc,

Thanks, kat

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: Ebbie
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 03:31 PM

I don't have personal experience with that, kat, but being too depressed to take necessary steps could mean that a mental health agency would help. We have an agency in Juneau that helps out with housing and counseling in such a case and I'm sure we are not alone.

I volunteer with homeless - it ain't pretty. Thank goodness for our local services but it is never optimum.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 04:09 PM

Good idea, Ebbie. Certainly worth a shot at least.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 04:20 PM

Thanks, Ebbie, that's the last resort thing her therapist finally came up with, yesterday; prelim papers to be filled out and signed on Monday when she has gas in the car.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: mg
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 05:58 PM

I would say the first step is to do what pioneers had to do..jettison anything that is not necessary or extremely valuable...make yourself as mobile as possible. You might have to live in a shelter, a tent, with friends or family. Your stuff will be a great burden to you and them. Stuff that could be replaced at a garage sale probably should be relinquished. Moving will be so much easier.

Next step I think would be to call on family if there are children involved. Perhaps there is someone who could take you in. Next friends. If you are physically capable, let them know you would do their housekeeping, shopping, etc.

If young children are not involved, say a solo person, I would be looking around for working situations that gave free rent..especially elder care situations, unless person was unsuited for such work.

Fortunately it is summer now. A healthy young or any age person could live in a tent in someone's backyard in many parts of US, if emergency shelter was available for storms etc. We should be raising all our children to see this as a possibility in life..we might have to do this someday and for healthy people, both mentally and physically, this could be an option, especially if living with relatives..remove some of the overcrowding from house. Prepare to do as much outside as possible.

Of course, all bets are off in cases of mental or physical illness or disability...they need more support than is often available.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 08:14 PM

Though your daughter may have used up her eligibility for various programs she still is "income eligible" for adult social services... This only means that she will be assigned a case worker who may have some group home situations for which to refer your daughter...

Since she suffers from "depression", for instance, might qualify her for state mental health assistance, as well...

BTW, I was a case worker (social worker) in adult services in Richmond, Va. for many years so, whereas I might not know about other states, I do know a few things about the system...

Good luck...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jun 13 - 10:54 PM

Ask your dau to come see her mom.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: LadyJean
Date: 22 Jun 13 - 10:33 PM

I acquired Donald in the spring of 1993. I broke my arm, and was, slowly but surely being buried under my trash, which I could not take out. He needed a place to live. His wife had kicked him out. He was out of work. So, in lieu of rent, he took out my trash and cleaned my kitchen to within an inch of it's life every few weeks. Look around. There may be someone who needs a little, or a lot, of help around the house, and would trade a room for cleaning and other assistance.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: ChanteyLass
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 02:21 AM

Kat, I read this when you started the thread but could think of nothing practical to post. Now, though, I want to say that I am so sorry that your daughter is going through this and wish I had practical suggestions. It is often said that most of us are 6 months away from being homeless. I hope your daughter's situation improves soon.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: open mike
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 12:33 PM

perhaps there is someone or several some ones who need house sitter while they are away....i know of folks who often find shelter in that way. or someone who has multiple houses...a vacation home, for instance which is often vacant....

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 23 Jun 13 - 03:00 PM

I echo Chanteylass's comments kat. You must be so worried about your daughter. Hope a solution can be found as soon as possible. Eliza x

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: GUEST,VaTam on her Tab
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 01:17 AM

This is a mother's nightmare. I have no advice Kat. Only here to offer moral support, whatever that is. Is there anyway you can ensure that whatever happens she has mobile phone and all paid up so she can reach you?

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: katlaughing
Date: 24 Jun 13 - 03:40 PM

thank you all. She will keep her cellphone even if I have to pay it. I can't live without contqact with my kidds.

Subject: RE: BS: Strategies when facing homelessness
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Jun 13 - 01:31 PM

Truck driving? Trucker forums have many threads about people who have lost everything and start over in the trucking industry. One guy lived in a tent in someone's back yard while he went to school for his commercial driver's license. Having literally no resources, he qualified for a jobs/workfare program which covered his tuition and a basic stipend. He finished school and got a job with a carrier.

This works on several levels.

1)He learned a skill (at taxpayers' expense, but hey, better than becoming a ward of the state - in one form or other - at taxpayers' expense. Besides, he's 'paying it back' in the form of taxes they take out of his check every week)-

2)he provided a service (moving freight from places where there was product to places where there wasn't ... he was 'productive') -

3)he became self-supporting (he earned a paycheck) - and when he wasn't driving he at least could live out of the truck (not the most luxurious, but he had a bed and a roof over his head, and access to food and showers at truck stops)-

4) he was able to save some money for something better (a deposit on an apartment, or a down payment on a house, if and/or when he got tired of living out of the truck).