To add some cheap or free suggestions, mostly common sense:

1. A two dollar set of coloring book and crayons can work wonders…Yes I’m silly, buy it indulges the inner child and is oddly calming.

2. Come to think of it…many kids toys available at the dollar store can help “indulge” your inner child, if you have a dollar extra (I know, believe me…harder to come by than some people think.) For a buck, though, my fiance and I came up with a made-up game with toy soldiers, a piece of paper and some bottle caps…and had more fun than if we’d paid $20+ for a board game.

3. Free readings by authors and other local free events…Usually at a library but bookstores do these too. Our local smoke shop runs free poetry readings, drum circles, hikes, and hip hop improv nights.

4. Dance in the rain…and don’t give a crap who’s lookin’

5. A good conversation with someone you know or someone you meet…Whether it be to complain, to laugh, to share joy or sorry…nothing can beat that human connection.

Mucho good luck to you at the new internship…and sending wishes for your dream home!

First, go have fun! It is more important to be happy and have a great time than it is to worry about what others think…and you definitely seem to have that down.

Second, thank you for the suggestions. I am not homeless, but definitely struggling financially and am glad to see that you have fun things posted that are free/cheap. :] Thank you thank you thank you!

I, too, am in the same spectrum of homelessness in which you find yourself, among the “precariously housed.” Full-time employment may not be enough when trying to get out of motels and into an apartment. Due to the nature of my employment as a college-educated professional, I find that a lot of the part-time, evening opportunities will not consider me, probably because of an erroneous belief that I woud quit the extra job as soon as possible. So not true!

You have impressed me with what you have been able to accomplish in these few short months. I stumbled upon your blog in February, right after you started publishing. In my opinion, the willingness to be publicly identified as being in your circumstances, and the many connections you have made, are something you should be proud of and always treasure. Many people would rather be invisible, and you have taken the opposite position, to great reward.

Coincidentally, my parents were JWs up until my early childhood, and my Mom would try to get re-involved time and again over the years. I never had a birthday party, even though my parents were “worldly” and not in “the Truth,” our parents gave us presents at Christmas but we couldn’t have a tree/lights on the house, etc. I know many readers would probably think “Oh, waaah!” not realizing how these ordinary events, or lack of them, affect one’s feelings of belonging.

Congratulations on pulling victory from the jaws of defeat. You rock!

I view your situation more in terms of how to live cheaply than classic homelessness. You have HOPE (see all the things you still have above – most importantly, you still have your drive and your intellect- which means you will be out of your situation soon – all you need is a job).

Classic homelessness shares very little in common with you – other than the obvious geography (or lack of). These people normally have given up – have no hope – have lost their drive – a lot are unemployable – and havent worked in years, usually suffer from alcoholism or drug addiction, etcetc.

While I get your “homelessness” – yours is geography – the others have difficulties so deep – it takes years to get them stabilized.

Again, your blog is a cute spin – maybe spend some of your time giving back to the chronically homeless – if you are interested in “helping” the homeless – you have to know them.

I would know – I was homeless once and now work for one.

Karen

I’m also in California. My hubby is employed by the State. Three people within his dept. will be laid-off shortly. If that happens to him, now five years from retirement, we’ll have to leave our home of 18 years (and newly remodeled after living with major builder-caused issues all that time) and become full-timers in our motorhome! We’re grateful, now, that we have it to fall back on. We were wanting to try full-timing in five years – never would have considered the possibility of *having to* just a year ago.

I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and thank you for all that you’ve shared with your readers. Good luck to you and Matt in all that you do.

Deb

Well, I have survived and done well for myself after being homeless so a little touchy on the subject. But, I will choose to trust and give you the benefit of the doubt. I don’t however, agree with the government’s description of homelessness. A trailer IS suitable for long term living. Believe me, I was in heaven when I finally got to live in a trailer instead of under an overpass. I am now the owner of a successful business and a nice house. If you are truly in the dire straights you say you are, I wish you good luck and hope you can help a few along the way. drop me a line if I can help in anyway.

Lance

Thank you for your comment on my blog.

The federal definition of homelessness does indeed cover those living out of trailers and other habitats unsuitable for long-term living. You can read more about the federal definition of homelessness here. http://www.hud.gov/homeless/definition.cfm. Clearly, living out of a trailer with no utilities, facilities, or stability is not suitable as a permanent and sustainable lifestyle. You might ask if the thousands of individuals staying in homeless shelters are truly homeless – after all, they too have a roof over their head and a basic form of shelter, do they not? Also, as has been pointed out, for 6 months I have not (and still am not) staying in a legal, up-to-code domicile. This means that my situation is tenuous and precarious at best.

I am only one aspect of homelessness. Clearly, as I have always maintained, there are those who are in more dire circumstances than me and are in need of proper assistance and treatment. I share my experiences with homelessness to help bring awareness to ALL homeless individuals of various backgrounds, and that includes those struggling with drug abuse and mental illness, as well as those living in shelters and rough sleeping. ALL homeless individuals should have access to the help that they need, and should be regarded as people, rather than as “bums”. The fact that there are varying degrees of struggles and resources that different individuals have access to, however, does not make any one more or less homeless than the other.

Studies estimate that around 60% or more of the homeless population is in my circumstances, living out of a shelter or car, and continuing either to work or search for work. The “real” homeless people to whom you refer have been nothing but kind and supportive to me on my journey. This includes current and former substance abusers, prostitutes, those struggling with mental illness, shelter residents, and rough sleepers, as well as former blue-collar and white-collar workers. I’m afraid that they don’t seem to feel that I owe them an apology for having the nerve to lose nearly everything, and reversing my own situation while continuing to try and call attention to their plight, which has always been my goal. I do not elevate myself above those with different circumstances, nor feel that I am more deserving of help than they. If anything, I wish to help instigate change in America’s policies towards the homeless, which are dismal. Waiting lists for transitional housing have been closed, shelters are overflowing, and there are less options to suit more homeless people by the day. As you are in Canada, perhaps you are aware that your country, as well as the UK, is far more effective at handling homelessness than the United States.

I do agree with you that Walmart has the right to ask anyone to leave that they like. However, towing a homeless woman without warning after giving her verbal, in-person permission to stay as long as she needs to… is clearly not right.

I also do not apologize for utilizing resources I came by pre-homelessness (i.e., laptop, phone) to reverse my situation. Countless homeless individuals were smart enough to hold onto these very resources when they became homelessness, and use them intelligently.

Best Regards,
~Bri

Homeless? You don’t know the meaning of the word and yet you are offering tips to the homeless?

BTW…Although I don’t like Walmart any more than you do…they have every right to tow your truck and trailer off their property and yet you use this incident to further your new found online stardom.

Give me a break.