I've never before been so scared for my life

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Okay, this is a major situation and I can't explain everything all at once, but I'll try and get most of it here. Things seem hopeless and getting worse by the minute, but maybe I'm not looking at it from all perspectives. Maybe someone has advice for me, and it can't hurt to ask.

I was living with a roommate this year but despite working my ass off at a minimum wage job, I wasn't making enough to survive off and pay the bills. I looked for months to get that job and couldn't find anything else. So I had to move back with family. One of my family members gave me an extra house to live in for free and a job, and things were wonderful. Then my dream started turning into a nightmare.

I have been working freelance for a family member's business, but things have been slow and I haven't gotten much work from it lately. Basically, I can't afford to eat properly, am hungry all the time, and am starting to have signs of malnutrition. It's really starting to scare me.

Thanks to my having to work full time minimum wage s**t jobs las year, I had to drop out of school because there was no time to take classes, and I don't know if I'll ever finish now.

Here's where it gets really bad. The family members I work for and have a place to stay from have become abusive and are threatening to kick me out and stop talking to me. I have no money, nowhere to go, and I'm really scared. I thought about going back to school and living on campus, but they don't accept animals and I have a cat and giving her up is NOT an option.

I have no friends to stay with, no other family members, and I live in the most expensive state (California) as if everything else weren't bad enough. I'm terrified of having to go to a homeless shelter and probably couldn't bring my cat either. And I'm afreaid of religious groups too because I don't believe in religion. I've thought of moving to another place that's more affordable like Nevada, but I don't know anyone there either and it would be at best, the same dead end life.

All I want to do is finish school and do something with my life, but I feel like I'm in a dead end and don't know how to get out of the cracks. I just feel like giving up. I'm getting more and more scared and hopeless by the day. Is there any advice at all?

If you moved here to Vegas you could get to know me!

Just FYI though... if you plan on getting any sort of disablility, GET IT NOW. Before you leave Cali. That is THE easiest state to get benifits in. Once you have it there, you'll be able to transfer.

And I know the feeling, being trapped by my family and everything.

alien842,
that sounds like a nightmare situation.
it isnt good at all just thinking about the possibility that may be kicked out,they shouldnt be threatening such a thing.

is there no way,can heal any argument or problem with them,just to get some stability against kicked out threats until can live elsewhere?

if they did end up kicking self out,could a friend not look after the pets at least,until get a place?


also,what about disability housing,would that be possible?

You should plan to move to a cheaper state.

You should try applying for food stamps. At least you will have some food.

Are those states cheap too?

1. get a job. temp service. packaging. whatever. it is what it is.
2. check out rooms for rent or roommates wanted-I knew someone (In cal) who had something like 4 people splitting the rent and another at least 6 people. Your bound to find an elderly having it rough on social security or someone with a basement.

You'd could make tips in family dining-but I don't reccomend the toll on the mind of a spectrum individual.

Also-check into social services, you may likely qualify for food stamps and they will as well have the information as to where the food banks are.

I wouldn't reccomend the shelter system in california for women (if your female). I don't know why just a bad gut feeling.

Craigs list.
Title "Help!" I need to move. See what happens.

I hope any of this is the slightest bit hopefull for your bag of life tools.

I just looked at Milwaukee, WI and the rent there looked cheaper than Portland. But who knows what their minimum wage is and how good the puplic transportation is. I looked at Minneapolis (sp) and it looked more expensive than the other.

Get a minimum wage job. At least you'll have money to buy food.

If you can talk on the phone, try telemarketing. It's vile, but they'll hire anyone, and it will pay the bills.

The Salvation Army and other charities will feed you. You may have to listen to some preaching, but you don't have to believe anything.

Arizona is cheaper than California. Phoenix and Tucson are the biggest job markets.

You didn't say whether you're trying to finish high school or college. Arizona has free online high schools for Arizona residents. You can study after work.

Good luck.

Thanks for the concern and advice. I talked to them today and decided to leave, even though I'm not sure about where to go. They're planning a trip out of state next month and said I have until then to get out.

Right now, college is most important to me, and so I looked at colleges that allow animals and found that Caltech and UCLA both do, so I might consider staying in California but moving to the Los Angeles area and living on campus. I'm looking into admissions and course plans right now. I can always put it on loans and just go into debt if I f*****g have to, but it'll be worth it to have a chance at a decent life.

Kip, I've been seriously thinking about moving to Vegas for a long time; the cost of living is a lot better there and it's a city I'm familiar with enough so that I wouldn't be scared moving there. I would have to find a roommate and live off campus in an apartment if I wanted to bring my cat, but it's another option.

I think everything's going to be okay as long as I don't panic and line my options up so something opens. I'll keep everyone updated.

Here's a new update. I looked at the California schools and they aren't accepting for the Spring, so I'm going to apply for Fall anyway.

Until then, I'm checking out extended stay hotels and roommate oppurtunities in the Las Vegas area. I think Nevada will be my best option right now, and it's one of the few affordable cities I'm familiar with. As long as I find a roommate and affordable apartment that accepts pets, I could get a job that pays enough for the next year or until I figure out what else to do.

I'll keep everyone updated.

alien842 - good you'll go to college, stick with that plan no matter what! I did. There is suffering associated with the poverty, I promise, but Aspies are resourceful. But check out food banks. Food banks do not ask questions, no forms to fill out. This can really help! If you're brave I think some churches might give you food. You need the basics first so you can do well in school.

About a place to stay? I'm with you; my cat, Tesla, stays - no questions. I don't know about the states but I bet you could find something low-income. In AK often families will rent-out their heated garage or shed - why not? You'll have you're own little space for privacy and your cat. You just need a mini-bath, or use the laudromat for daily showers.

I know it's scary being poor. Actually, I don't mind being poor. I'm really good at being really poor. But poverty is different since then your basic health and lifestyle suffers. Can you get an academic internship? A college-job is always better than an outside job since it gives you academic experience - you'll be poor anyway, might as well make the most of it. If you do well in school you could check. Good luck! And do well in school.

My cat, Tesla, says hi to your cat.

Yeah, being young and poor is sort of normal. It's old and poor you really don't want to experience, which is why you need a job/qualification. I lived in a squat for a while, you tend to need contacts though, for advice and tips.