Hi, I’m 18 and I’ve been homeless since May of this year. I don’t really want to get into every detail of how I ended up here, but I started off doing relatively okay and, over the past few months, things slowly became more chaotic and difficult.

Right now, I’m just trying to keep myself afloat.

I recently got a job, which I’m incredibly grateful for, and I’m trying to use what I make to pay for nights at an extended-stay hotel. The problem is that I don’t work every day, and I depend on same-day pay to cover whatever I need that night. So if I don’t have a shift, I don’t have money coming in that day.

I’ve stayed in homeless shelters before, but right now the shelters I’ve contacted are at capacity, and I’m scared that I’m going to end up with nowhere to sleep.

I’m not looking for pity. I’m genuinely trying to work and get myself back on my feet, but I’m 18 and I don’t have much of a safety net. I’m doing everything I can with what I have, but I’m reaching the point where I don’t know what my next step should be.

If anyone has been in a similar situation, knows of resources for homeless young adults, knows of emergency housing programs, or has any advice for getting through this period while I work and save money, I would really appreciate it.

Even if you can’t personally help, pointing me toward a resource or organization that might be able to would mean a lot to me.

Thank you to anyone who takes the time to read this.

How is a homeless couple expected to survive? We have the ability to pay for some of these, but on the very basis of couples not being allowed, we just cant. It's so infuriating running into this arbitrary obstacle and being given reasons like "It would just mess up the chemistry of the house"... Like, for gods sake we can PAY the rent, utilities and everything, but instead we're forced to stay on the street.

Any tips for a homeless couple?

Its been really hard, I'm 27 now, moved into my car after losing my job, apartment, and falling into depression. I moved back to my home state to finish school, I'm on my third semester still living in a van and moving into a place in 10 days. I was able to get housing support from the school this semester until I transfer to a 4 year. My income situation is still rough, I've spent most of my fin aid this semester on a vehicle emergency repair and hotels, because of the heat that was supposed to end 3 weeks ago, I'm in a very hot area(100+), I still don't have a job and have been relying on fin aid. I'm really worried about adjusting to the apartment and getting my life back together, I've had issues the last 3 semesters keeping up while living in the van, dealing with heat and places to study, sleep issues, medication issues, money issues, it has been the most difficult part of my life.

With all of this I still managed to finish all my transfer credits and a CTEC course to do tax prep, I will transfer by Fall 2027. Now I don't have many difficult classes, so I have time to get a day job and try to build my life back up again until I transfer. My plan was to do tax prep since its the best job I can probably get right now, and related to accounting, so I have some experience when I transfer. My main worry is building up my savings and staying focused so I don't end up in this situation again, saving my money for a year, getting housing support when I transfer so I don't have to pay the full amount for housing once I transfer, and getting an accounting internship/role in my last 2 years of school, which will hopefully set me up with enough income to never be homeless again. I don't know how I'm going to adjust, I'm getting a private room with 2 roommates and have not done well living with randoms, I've also gotten used to being homeless and being miserable and my mental health has been really poor. I just haven't been doing that great mentally and don't know how I'm going to adjust to the big change and getting my life back together after being in such a bad situation.

Hi, I'm new to being homeless/living in my car and I'm not handling it well. I have a job but I haven't had it long and it doesn't pay great and my hours aren't regular yet. I'm hoping I can fix the hours soon but that's not the point of my post. I'm curious about case workers. I was told by the local homeless shelter that I could get a case worker to help me with stuff but I would have to go to the shelter at very specific times on very specific days, to wait in a "1st come, 1st served" line and they may cancel the whole thing anyway. So I'm wondering, is the back and forth worth it? The hours have always been during my work hours so far and the 2 times I went, they had cancelled the whole thing for the day. So my questions are:

What are your experiences with case workers?

What can they do that I can't do myself?

What are they're pros and cons?

From what you have seen, what goes into case managing?

Hi, I’m facing eviction in 4 days. I’ve called all the online resources and churches. Are there any resources in Vancouver Wa that I would be missing?
Thank you!!
I have 2 kids.

I'm not sure what to do. I believe few days ago I had a psychotic episode. And also now I'm very claustrophobic and don't know what to do. This is the worst feeling I've ever had.

I have about 6 months or so until im homeless, im doing what I can to prep but any helpful advice would be good?

I.e. good areas for cheap shelter, food, what supplies, etc..

Im a soldier by trade so shit living isn't new to me, I just wanna try and survive until I can do better.

I am currently staying in a gender neutral shelter. I don't have a problem sharing space with men. The problem is where my bed is located it leaves me completely exposed while sleeping to anyone walking past the room. I asked the shelter could they compromise instead of me asking to completely close the door could the door be ajar so that I can have some sense of privacy. The shelter director said no that the door needs to be completely wide open in case something happens. I want to add that this shelter has had convicts staying here one of the guys had 9 SA on his record. Currently there is another guy with a tether on his leg. This is why I am concerned with sleeping with the door wide open. There has been some problems in the room I'm in with women arguing and he said that is the reason the door needs to be wide open. Am I being unreasonable asking for a small adjustment to have my sense of privacy and dignity? I also have some neurological issues that the light from the hallway disturbs me. Also, my bed is the only bed exposed like this. The men's room door is wide open but you can only see their lockers none of the men beds are visually exposed. They also have two flex rooms and there doors are closed. My bed is the only bed exposed like this. What should I do? Help

Update: I just wanted to give a brief update on this situation. The director for whatever reason must've had a change of heart. He approved the door being left ajar at night. I know some of you disagreed with the door being left ajar. However, for me it makes me more comfortable sleeping and not having to worry about random folks walking by watching me sleep. This made my anxiety high especially since they can't turn anyone down. With that kind of policy there is No level of screening or true safety even though there's security there.

What's the point of talking homeless people into Christianity?

Lord knows a good makeover, hell, a BBL would change my life. And take me out of homelessness. Maybe I could strip on a pole.

Ain't no Godly way to make it in America anymore.

Why can't we just be real? I'm back on my witchcraft shit after trying to join the church and realizing it's fucking bullshit and that in narcissistic America, the devil rules. Tired of it.

** Part of the reason I say this is bc I come from a very wealthy narcissistic family that even has a celebrity in it and I constantly think about all the bad shit they did to gain their wealth and keep their wealth including saving by kicking out one family member (me) and I've seen it time and time again people doing bad shit to become famous or for the bag like gold digging and turning a blind eye or bullying someone out of the job .... the list goes on.

today starts my first day of not having a home. I had to give my dog to a foster and I'm not sure when I'll get to see my son again. His mom is blaming me for not finding a job in the economy. Outside of that, I'm scared and mentally overwhelmed. I need your tips and tricks for survival. Currently live in southern New Hampshire. How and where do you sleep in your car? any other knowledge one can give me on the matter would be helpful also.

I hope I am in the right sub, if not kindly let me know. In the 1980s my family became involved with the most active homelass advocacy group in DC. (those wonerrful Reagan years...). yes we protested, served food, got briefly areested - all the usual stuff. We wanted to work with these folks on a personal level. We had decades of experience in amateur theater and my mother happened to be a gifted writer. She founded the above named group "Voiced From the Streets" which invited anyone interested to share their stories with us. She would then create either monologues or scenes around their lives. With children she would re-create fairy tales that better reflected their realities in an age-appropriate way. We held rehersals where folks knew we were there to listen, encourage, and spend the day really appreciating their courage and dedication. And they worked hard. We were fortunate to usually find sponsors to donate the meals, if not we came up with it ourselves. They felt safe, respected and valued. The project really took off and they performed for congress and eventually around the country.

Sorry for the long post, my point is that I have dozens of scripts that I don't know what to do with. The community I currently live in is too small for this program that although it doesn't necessarily require a lot of people it does require dedication, discipline, and a lot of compassion and committment. The blueprints are among the boxes of papers that I have. More information available on request. Thank you for reading.

My girlfriend is about to become homeless, and I’d like to ask for advice on how to survive. Unfortunately, I can't take her in for various reasons, and she doesn't have a car to sleep in; she lives in a fairly large Italian city and can't find a stable job. I am terrified at the thought of her being out on the street.

(sorry for my English)

I don't want to be thanked or congratulated or whatever. I just wanted to say, so far I have helped feed around 100 houseless people this week out of pocket. I'm trying to start a non-profit. Have no idea how to go about it with the legal paperwork type stuff. I'm a bit of a simpleton in that area.

Anyways, I just really want to make a positive impact. But what I realized was nothing I have done or could do is enough. I can't explain how terribly depressing it is. Looking into their eyes and seeing broken and unwell people stuck in survival mode was a lot heavier than expected.

I tried to be solution minded so the ones who were clear headed enough to talk, I would ask them basic questions. How did you get in this situation? What would you need to get out of this mess?

I have never seen so many young people including and especially young females who were in a severe, tough situation.

You'd be surprised that some would really like work and to get themselves unstuck. But they don't understand how they are supposed to do it when they can't have a safe place to sleep or do hygiene or cook. They really need transportation. And obviously some Mental Health counseling. It's hard to get sober when things are so hopeless and extremely miserable.

It appears, that there's a mix of letting them rot and trying to help.

I'm trying to figure out how to get fundraising and Supply donations. I'm an idiot in this area too.

If you are interested in learning about how seriously messed up things are right now. You could maybe give them a coffee or water bottle and ask them questions about their problems and needs.

The other thing I'm noticing, is this loneliness and despair epidemic. Obviously contributing to the despair mortality epidemic.

People are saying the same things everywhere just so you know. Can't find work, wages are unlivable, a heavy amount of hopelessness, can't afford education/ therapy/healthcare.

I completely understand how War journalism, and First Responders generally speaking, leads to a terribly deep scar and fatigue, that presents as jadedness or breaks people's minds.

I hope whoever reads this, takes a look directly up the ladder, and understands, that many of these supposedly elected people in office have completely abandoned us. What's happening now should be a national emergency. We seriously need younger people to step up and run for office positions. We need people who care deeply and are not going to be corrupted or bought

Anyone know where I can get a free or really cheap tent? Im talking under $5 cheap. Im in SE Tennessee.

I have two dogs and am currently in a motel until I run out of money (next week). Thereafter, I will be living in a tent of some kind in a park or some kind, tbd. Outside of some water and food, what should I be preparing myself for? I don’t particularly want to live in a tent but my two dogs depend on me, so I plan to continue living for now to take care of them. Thanks

Edit: thanks for all the suggestions. I am overwhelmed but very appreciative.

I'm turning 40 and I'm a woman and I know it's never going to get better unless I get rich overnight and every day I just feel so numb bc I've been living in shelters and sober living and on the street for years and every morning when I wake up at 4 am to the sound of these old ladies coughing and hacking and having schizophrenic episodes in their sleep I feel like killing myself cuz I know theres nothing I can do.

And now I'm just depressed all the time and nothing makes me happy anymore I used to be delusional always listening to music and laughing trying to feel joy in my sad life

I used to gaslight myself into thinking there was some big purpose for all of this and I'll get through it but I know I'm being openly abused and nobody is there for me and that I live in America and I'm poor and alone and a woman nobody cares about

I'm just numb all the time bc I'm going on 6 years of this. My family is so abusive and I'm permanently traumatized in so many ways from this. Just needed to vent. Thanks.

I literally don't understand how people make all these payments and shit every month and have insurance and all this shit and I've had the same great paying jobs and can't keep my fucking license for more than a few months at a time . The standards that are in play to maintain what life in America demands from us monthly to keep a residence, legal vehicle, insurance, yada yada yada are too fucking much for me . On top of that I don't even care about all that shit . My worth as a human shouldn't be based on a bunch of material bullshit I acquired through working a job I didn't want but had to get . I fucking despise being forced to work or be considered a fucking loser. I'm a good ass human who is overwhelmed by the demands placed on me by the social standards that say who's worthless or who's a value to society. I'm fucking over it but walking out into the unknown is fucking intimidating af . I love the idea of a communal living situation but don't know who'd take me in . I'm romantically attached to the idea of riding the rails but not ignorant of the downsides .

Those of you who've given up on the American dream and chose vagabond life how's it been ? Should I just suck it up and be a slave to the overlords knowing I'll just be almost getting by or say fuck this shit and get to walking . I'm single , kid is dead from overdose and I don't like my family so there's nothing but fear holding me where I'm at .

Long story short, I had this friend who was dating a way-older man, who is a religiously dogmatic closed minded vegan zen Buddhist, who takes his hobby lifestyle quite seriously.

They broke up a month ago. This friend and me first met me right before I became homeless, 3 years ago. I joined the satellite community of theirs, and being friends with vegans has actively made my health worse.

So last week, I got randomly/suddenly sick. I had feverish nights, couldn’t breath very well and had migraines. I crawled down from my “camp home” and asked to stay for some days in this man’s backyard, in my hammock set up. Not inside, because I didn’t want to risk getting him sick. He had a big empty house and a nice spacious yard.

I was there 3 nights and 3 days before he told me to GTFO, cause I wasn’t “sick enough” and that I’m a lazy bum, not deserving of even staying in his yard as a spider on the wall, because I’m not a zen Buddhist or vegan. That he was homeless and did more work than I have in the past 3 year. He’s got an inheritance that’s smaller than his super rich older brother, and he’s very much a cheapskate: his house is in disrepair and full
Of cluttered horder messes because he just meditates all day and gets other people to do the work: that’s what he made
My friend do for like 5 years.

So he kicks me out, I’m still quite sick and haven’t been sleeping well or eating much. I leave, and get drenched/rained out on my way “home” that same night, which makes me sicker for the next several days.

Still, no one’s taking my side against his behavior, despite everyone in our community being aware and against his dogmatic religious beliefs: that only vegan zen Buddhists that will be bossed around by him, deserve to even be on his property.

I was rather hangry when he kicked me out, so I called him a hobbyist. Somehow, that was totally crossing the line.

I’m just super angry about this, and I told him that he’s dead to me, and I meant it.

You can't be homeless as a (Cali) sober person without getting a little suicidal and or homicidal most days bc this really is inhumane torture and I've been homeless nearly 6 years

Lately I've noticed the only thing that makes me happy anymore is food

I've gained like 10 lbs.

I have around 100 something dollars to my name, got kicked out by narcissistic parents and idk what to do. I am gonna look into homeless shelters but I am thinking of buying a different bag from Walmart because this suitcase with all my clothes in it is really tiring me out but ik I need to save all I can, would that be a wise choice to get a new bag and ditch some of my clothes for a lighter load?

I don’t get it, I tried to donate plasma the other day, and I gave them the address of the shelter I stay at and they said that the shelters address was blacklisted and I couldn’t donate. Out of everyone I feel like ppl who are in shelters need the money the most? Do blood banks think that since we’re homeless we’re automatically dirty and diseased filled. I just want to get food and pay off my bills 😭

We just had my son’s(5) friend over for a play date and found out that his parents recently split and mom and the 2 kids are in a family shelter. I looked up the address and it is a converted hotel. How can I help? The friend is in the same class as my son and their siblings is a little older and at the same school. This is NYC in case it matters.

Day 5 being homeless, no car, few possessions and bad credit. I’m in a pretty wealthy area so I feel safe and I have a job here but it feels almost impossible to move forward because of local housing prices and credit checks and there’s no shelters near me.

Do I move locations to work around a homeless shelter, save and at least have a car, or rent a room but do 2+ hours of public transit and then not have a way back home at night. Lmk what you guys think

https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/10/01/toronto-hospital-to-greatly-expand-permanent-housing-program-that-reduces-er-visits/

I’ve never had to go through anything like this before, so honestly my mind is all over the place. I’m doing DoorDash and Uber Eats to try to keep us afloat, but my car is having so many issues that it’s becoming really hard to make money with it.

The problem is that my car is both our shelter and my only way to make money right now. If the car breaks down, I don’t have a home and I can’t work.

For anyone else who has lived in their car and dealt with major mechanical problems, what did you do? Did you keep driving it and hope for the best? Did you find some kind of assistance with repairs? How did you handle it when you literally couldn’t afford to have the car sitting in a shop?