Living in My car In a Church Parking Lot...

[Little lunch]

Asking strangers online for money could just be last resort also.
It's easy to get defensive when offered advice whilst being looked down upon.
At least, it would be easy to take it that way even if wasn't intentional, especially if your looking up from the inside of a hole.
No offence to anyone at all. I know this could be a scam, but if not, sympathy costs nothing and the opposite could cause real damage.
On the other hand, perhaps being stern is needed to dissuade people from asking for money here, which is ultimately undesirable.
If Ami521 is real, I'd prefer she didn't end up feeling worse then if she'd never come here, that's all. :-)

[Ami529]

Here's a thought...

What do you love doing most?

What brings you deep inner joy as you work?

Do that!

______________________________________________________

I once had great financial worth, and I traded it for weakness and addiction.

I then had sadness, and a great loss of things.

Next, I traded those fears for a positive attitude.

Now, I have real wealth.

My college major is math. I was hoping to be able to teach it.

[Mystical]

I am not eligible for social security, but I would have been eligible for SSI. Most of the work I've ever been paid has been under the table. The jobs I've had that actually took out taxes do not total up to a whole lot. SSI is based on how much you pay into it and because of that, I don't qualify. I did have income-based housing, but I lost it last year under re-evaluation and was evicted in February 2013. They changed some of the guidelines for being eligible. One of the things they had a problem with is my car which was considered an asset. I do not qualify for cash assistance, but I do get a little money for food stamps. There is no battered women's shelter, but there are shelters in Chattanooga. Unfortunately, I do not have a place I can park my anywhere near them and the few times I've stayed at a shelter before my battery died was more scary than being alone in my car. They only let you stay the night and it's mostly just to get you out of the cold. Sometimes they have sandwiches. But in the winter, the days can be just as cold as the nights, and once you got a couple good blankets, it can be just as warm in your car as it is in the homeless shelter.

And with electricity and rent, the lowest costs I've found are $500-600 per month. Electricity is required or you can be evicted. And that's not including my inability to even get approved for an apartment because of the credit check, nor the security deposit or first and last month's rent. If my fundraiser had a few thousand extra dollars left over, I would use it to pay for a 6 month lease up front to bypass the credit check.

I really would encourage you to find homeless people where you live and talk to them. It is not as easy as you make it sound.

Yeah uh I have been homeless several times (pretty sure I said that). No one knew I was, because I took a shower every day and gave out an old address. Couldn't even get a few miles to the store to get my food stamps so I was hungry too, and lost my baby. Still I worked until I couldn't lift myself off the floor. I was on the verge of being homeless this month, if it weren't for the kindness of my mum.
Autism IS on the list of disabilities and since you can't seem to take care of yourself you DO qualify so don't give me that crock. I know when you're depressed everything seems like a mountain so I suggest you just push on through and do....something. I can't believe its beenhow long and you don't have a car battery?????????? I mean, what is it exactly that you would say you do do, each day?
According to your picture you look like a young woman. You're lucky. People are more apt to allow young women into their homes as opposed to scruffy men.
I find it oh so hard to believe people when they say they can't find work. Work is out there, you just have to be willing to work (1) , and ask for work (2).

All I hear is 'Yeah I'm not doin that, I want free money.'
Craigslist is free. Post your willingness to work there. If you need an address in order to get a job, ask the church or homeless shelters for an address you can use or give out a fake one fgs. The mere fact that you are here with your well spoken spiel is proof enough to me that you DO have the wherewithal to get a job

I'm fucking done hearing about how you want money support from our members and your guilt trip bullshit can just stop too.

I'm not asking for free money. I just want to re-qualify for financial aid and get back into school and get my car going so I can fix my living situation and get back and forth to class.

Yeah why can't you get financial aid for school then? Asking strangers online for money IS asking for free money. You even complained that the church received tithe on your behalf (free money) but you never saw a cent.

ETA: renting a room is cheaper than having your own place. Its appx $250

[ShaMan]

My college major is math. I was hoping to be able to teach it.

My final advice is that you never give up on your dream. Wisdom is all I have to offer you - fortunately for you, my wisdom is worth more than my money.

[Ami529]

I am not eligible for social security, but I would have been eligible for SSI. Most of the work I've ever been paid has been under the table. The jobs I've had that actually took out taxes do not total up to a whole lot. SSI is based on how much you pay into it and because of that, I don't qualify. I did have income-based housing, but I lost it last year under re-evaluation and was evicted in February 2013. They changed some of the guidelines for being eligible. One of the things they had a problem with is my car which was considered an asset. I do not qualify for cash assistance, but I do get a little money for food stamps. There is no battered women's shelter, but there are shelters in Chattanooga. Unfortunately, I do not have a place I can park my anywhere near them and the few times I've stayed at a shelter before my battery died was more scary than being alone in my car. They only let you stay the night and it's mostly just to get you out of the cold. Sometimes they have sandwiches. But in the winter, the days can be just as cold as the nights, and once you got a couple good blankets, it can be just as warm in your car as it is in the homeless shelter.

And with electricity and rent, the lowest costs I've found are $500-600 per month. Electricity is required or you can be evicted. And that's not including my inability to even get approved for an apartment because of the credit check, nor the security deposit or first and last month's rent. If my fundraiser had a few thousand extra dollars left over, I would use it to pay for a 6 month lease up front to bypass the credit check.

I really would encourage you to find homeless people where you live and talk to them. It is not as easy as you make it sound.

Yeah uh I have been homeless several times (pretty sure I said that). No one knew I was, because I took a shower every day and gave out an old address. Couldn't even get a few miles to the store to get my food stamps so I was hungry too, and lost my baby. Still I worked until I couldn't lift myself off the floor. I was on the verge of being homeless this month, if it weren't for the kindness of my mum.
Autism IS on the list of disabilities and since you can't seem to take care of yourself you DO qualify so don't give me that crock. I know when you're depressed everything seems like a mountain so I suggest you just push on through and do....something. I can't believe its beenhow long and you don't have a car battery?????????? I mean, what is it exactly that you would say you do do, each day?
According to your picture you look like a young woman. You're lucky. People are more apt to allow young women into their homes as opposed to scruffy men.
I find it oh so hard to believe people when they say they can't find work. Work is out there, you just have to be willing to work (1) , and ask for work (2).

All I hear is 'Yeah I'm not doin that, I want free money.'
Craigslist is free. Post your willingness to work there. If you need an address in order to get a job, ask the church or homeless shelters for an address you can use or give out a fake one fgs. The mere fact that you are here with your well spoken spiel is proof enough to me that you DO have the wherewithal to get a job

I'm fucking done hearing about how you want money support from our members and your guilt trip bullshit can just stop too.

I'm not asking for free money. I just want to re-qualify for financial aid and get back into school and get my car going so I can fix my living situation and get back and forth to class.

Yeah why can't you get financial aid for school then? Asking strangers online for money IS asking for free money. You even complained that the church received tithe on your behalf (free money) but you never saw a cent.

I lost my financial aid. One of the reasons I need so much is so I can get it back and get back in school. When I applied for SSI I had to visit their doctor. Although I had a lifelong medical history of my autism, they still have their doctor test your functionality. I was told because of my level of functionality and my lack of history of paying into SSI with taxes, that I did not qualify for assistance.

[Mystical]

Sounds like you had it set and you fucked it up. Sometimes in this life we are only given one chance (if you're lucky). Then you gotta work hard for another.

I suggest you sell the car and get a bus ticket to somewhere with more chances.

[Marsellus Wallace]

Here is a nice motivational vid to keep you up ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlUMrzwmbyo

I hope you make it .

[Ami529]

They made changes that made me ineligible for section 8 and I was paying my electric bill, and partial-rent (I had to $210 a month and they paid the rest) with student loans. I focused on school and I was doing great and now I'm just trying to get back in. If you have a finite period to complete the requirements for your degree. I tried to contact one of those lawyers about social security but they told me that they only deal with social security and not SSI stuff.

And I'm 34. I'm not THAT young. And I have had offers from people to stay with them, and there were a few times I did stay the night with "strangers" to get out of the cold, but unfortunately those people expect you to be "grateful" in a way that you don't want to, so I won't even stay with strangers at all anymore. I'd consider a female stranger, but it's just men that offer me a "place to stay."

[Mystical]

Asking strangers online for money could just be last resort also.
It's easy to get defensive when offered advice whilst being looked down upon.
At least, it would be easy to take it that way even if wasn't intentional, especially if your looking up from the inside of a hole.
No offence to anyone at all. I know this could be a scam, but if not, sympathy costs nothing and the opposite could cause real damage.
On the other hand, perhaps being stern is needed to dissuade people from asking for money here, which is ultimately undesirable.
If Ami521 is real, I'd prefer she didn't end up feeling worse then if she'd never come here, that's all. :-)

I have no sympathy for apathy. Its the reason they are where they are. But I do care or I wouldn't say anything. I told her I had been where she was, she should listen. You treat the cause not the symptom. Self defeatests need someone to piss them off enough to do something for themselves.

[Marsellus Wallace]

Asking strangers online for money could just be last resort also.
It's easy to get defensive when offered advice whilst being looked down upon.
At least, it would be easy to take it that way even if wasn't intentional, especially if your looking up from the inside of a hole.
No offence to anyone at all. I know this could be a scam, but if not, sympathy costs nothing and the opposite could cause real damage.
On the other hand, perhaps being stern is needed to dissuade people from asking for money here, which is ultimately undesirable.
If Ami521 is real, I'd prefer she didn't end up feeling worse then if she'd never come here, that's all. :-)

I have no sympathy for apathy. Its the reason they are where they are. But I do care or I wouldn't say anything. I told her I had been where she was, she should listen. You treat the cause not the symptom. Self defeatests need someone to piss them off enough to do something for themselves.

Even if you have been where she was, you shouldn't be mean to her .
If she is for real, then she's in tough times . Be nice .

@OP, try harder to survive and never give up . My words won't help you financially, but I hope they are making you feel better .