No job, no money and soon nowhere to live

[Just_a_guy]

A couple of months ago I was told I was no longer needed at my job, I am 25 and rent a house. I only moved out of my parents because they didn't have the room for me ( 3 other kids and only a 2 bedroom house ). I don't have much family around and the ones I do have don't have enough money for themselves. I am a month behind on rent, I have no food left in the house, no petrol for my car (so getting to interviews or jobs is suddenly a lot harder), my phone will get cut off soon so I won't be able to apply for jobs (or even come back on here) and I have a dog who is the only thing that has kept me going this year ( it has been a tough year, already been homeless once) but I will have to give her up because I can't feed her. I have been to so many interviews and applied for government assistance, but keep getting rejected. Not sure what I am meant to do, my family has done all they can and I don't have a lot of friends (I seriously have 2, one still lives with his mum and works 10 hours a week and the other also lives with her mum but suffers from multiple disabilities and can barely afford to keep herself alive), so I really not sure what I am meant to do other then let everything fall apart around me and go back to living in my car on the side of the road. Usually I am able to keep pretty positive, but it's just been so hard this year and especially the last few months I just don't have it in me anymore. I'm not sure what I expect from coming on here and complaining, but I have tried everything I can think of and just need some advice.

[Kazzl]

Hello Just a guy, welcome to the forum. I'm glad you reached out to us. I can feel the desperation there mate, it must be awful to feel so stuck.

I'm going to suggest a couple of things, and I know you might have aleady tried them, but in case not, here they are.

I can see you need immediate help, to pay your rent, buy food and pay your phone bill. You should be able to get emergency assistance through Centrelink, but you say you've been rejected for government assistance (I'll come back to that). Your best bet then for immediate help is the charities, especially Anglicare, Salvos and St Vinnies. They can also tell you about food banks etc and probably advise you with how to negotiate with your landlord and phone company. Please don't hestitate to use the charities, it's what they are there for and your story will not be unusual to them.

There are also tenancy advisory services in many areas who can help with negotiating with your landlord.

Now, I'd like to hear more about why you've been denied government assistance. If you're unemployed you should be entitled to the New Start allowance. Centrelink, as I mentioned earlier also has support programs for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Check their website or go to a Centrelink office. You have rights and entitlements mate, don't be deterred.

I so hope you don't have to let go of your dog. They are the best people around I reckon.

I hope you'll keep talking to us Just a guy - I'm keen to know more and find out how things are going for you mate.

Kaz

[SubduedBlues]

Hi there Just-a-guy

I have been poor before, so I know the struggle you are facing at the moment. Then, I was a few months out of the military, no job, no savings and no family anywhere nearby that could help. I was in Minnesota back then, and they have terribly cold winters. And there wasn't any of the gov't programs there that are here, so being that you cannot get the gov't subsidies, maybe some of the lessons that I learnt during my hard times can help you.

It was hard, and I wasn't going to become a beggar. I still had my pride, and I was going to make something of myself. Still I had to survive, and that meant that I had to make sacrifices. Sacrifices of housing, and material items that were either too heavy/big to carry or too costly to keep.

• Work can come from temporary employment agencies, often doing hard labor jobs for a few dollars an hour and lasting only a couple weeks each. Sometimes I'd sweep out car parks and alleyways from nearby restaurants in hope that I could have a hot meal.
• When money is tight, or scarce, one needs to eat what they can afford over what they like. Rice is the least expensive food, doesn't require refrigeration to keep from spoiling, and is real easy to make: one part rice and two parts water. Sure it's better if its boiled and served warm, but even if just mixed in cold water and wait a couple hours to soak up the water, cold rice is better than starving.
• From the people on the street, I learnt that home is where you go each day to sleep in relative safety. And from this new definition, I understood that one doesn't need a house or flat to have a home. My home was a shabby tent, pitched in the undeveloped woodlands alongside the freeway.
• Camping gear makes good housing. tents and sleeping bags, where not comfortable, are better than sleeping under the bridge. At least there are no bugs and you're dry for the night.

It has been many of year since that time in my life, but I recall those lessons on a regular basis. Some of which I still practice -- for example when I am saving for something nice, I often reduce my meals to just rice for a few weeks. A 5kg bag of rice costs less than $20; and that will keep one well fed for nearly two months.

--

Do you live in a metropolitan area, or do you live rural? Survival tactics vary depending on what environment factors you need to face. Knowing this will help everyone here to provide you with the better advice specific to your situation.

Keep well and stay safe

SB

[Kazzl]

Hi again Just a guy - if you google:

Crisis and special help Australian Government Department of Human Services you will find the info on support for people at risk of homelessnes.

There is a one-off immediate payment available for peope in severe need, and then various other means of assistance.

Cheers

Kaz

[white knight]

Hi and welcome

Some kind and understanding replies above.

I want To suggest that you could ask your parents if it's OK to vamo in their back yard?. Start with a tent then later an old caravan.

When my first marriage split I purchased a 3 meter long van for $900 and lived in that. I even had my two kids sleep in it on weekends.

It gave me pride that I was starting fresh.

Be positive and smart in whatever you decide.

Tony WK

[ekatakekatakekat]

sorry no helpful faux positive advice here. just saying that im the same, except that i have cats not a dog. they were my everything too

[loouuiiee]

I am in the exact same situation as you at the moment and I am terrified.

I'm a 24year old, full time student, studying the diploma of childcare.

I have been homeless before also, and I have 2 pets; a rabbit and a turtle, I am most likely going to have to give up and a rental property I have been struggling to afford for a long, long time. I have been living out of home since I was a teenager and began to rent with my now ex-boyfriend, but he left me, moved out, and left me to deal with payment for the lease, the bills, the property maintenance and the pets all on my own.

This time of year is so hard when everyone is out buying gifts and we can barely even feed ourselves.

I don't have any words of wisdom unfortunately, but I hope it helps in someway when I say to you that you are not alone.

[Shell76]

Hey just a guy

Thanks for sharing your story. Its difficult when everything seems to be going wrong. Please recontact Centrelink. Or attend an office and apply of Newstart online. Even if your claim was rejected. You need to do this asap as Centrelink can and will review the decision if you supply more information within 13 weeks of the determination of your claim. Centrelink has wonderful social workers as well that can assist you with your claim and living arrangements. The Crisis payment Kaz was talking about may not be available to you as you need to claim it within 7 days of the event. But a social worker can assist you. Centrelink may seem overwhelming at times but there are wonderful staff there that can help. Trust me (I'm one of them).

Make a checklist and put Centrelink on top.

Thinking of you

Michelle

[Shell76]

Hey just a guy

Also if you are from NZ and this is why you are not eligible for Newstart you can still receive Newstart for 6 mths if you havent received it already.

Shell xx

[Moe-K]

@Just_a_guy
Did you finally got out of homelessness? I'm in a similar situation. Would be lovely to find out if you got out of that mess as these online posts leave no happy ending to the their stories. Are you still alive? I'm about to be evicted next week from my shared accommodation from my brothers family-in-laws because all of a sudden I was given a notice suddenly that both international work visa roommates will take over my bedroom (Damn it I hate people, they're just too greedy...) and I can't sleep in the lounge room. All I've got is a car and it'll be my first time sleeping in it until I get another accommodation. It's only been 4 months for me staying at my brothers place and previously before that I lived at my aunts (she promised me "you better not leave" blablabla, then 1 weeks notice they friggen sold the house for 800k and bought a 300k unit evicting me without notice asap). I lost trust in people and the hatred is all of now coming back yet again leaving me homeless back to square one.

Moe