Have you ever been homeless/live in your car?

I lived in my car for about a year when I was 25. I had a job, thankfully, but not enough money to put down a deposit on an apartment. I only ate one meal a day, which was a grilled cheese sandwich that I was allowed to eat for free at my job. I had to shower at my co-worker's house (she was kind enough to allow me).

Finally another coworker offered to let me stay in her spare room until I could get a place, and I took her up on that. We remained great friends for years and I am forever grateful she took a chance on me and gave me the opportunity to get on my feet.

Yes and wasnt a pleasant experience . I was with a pregnant girlfriend with no help from anyone . After a week staying at night stops and wandering the streets during the day we finally got put in a guest house which was only slightly better . It was nearly 2 years before we got a home . Now we have split and I am back living in one room in a guest house with little prospect of ever having a home off my own again even though my health is failing and I am disabled .

Yes I do live in one right now first of all try to get a flat white van that will keep it slightly cooler in the heat it reflects the light of the Sun.

Then what you really want is a cargo van if you have to get a passenger van then pull out all the seats. Look into flexible solar panels batteries that can be recharged and a converter to help with power distribution.

Realize that if you can afford it getting a 12 volt refrigerator and 12 volt freezer really helps a lot, but be aware they're over $1300 or $1400 a piece.

Get the longest van that you can afford to believe it or not I've got the Chevy Express 12 passenger and I would have killed for a 15 passenger and that extra 20 in makes a lot of room.

Buy propane in a refillable 4.5 gallon container (known as a 20 pounder) also get a 12 ft hose and then get a Buddy heater believe it or not that's how you stay warm through the nights if you're in cold climate.

For showers planet fitness can't be beat if you're traveling get the black card cuz then you can use it anywhere but if you're in one location then go cheap and get the minimum $10 monthly charge that way you have good showers.

Then what you want to do is also locate a laundromat that you can hit early in the morning like 6:00 or 7:00 in the morning lot of people don't want to be up at that time and if you get the right one they usually have a discount if you come in real early.

lived out of my car about ten years ago after me and my ex split. i had a place to go...... but, there was pride involved. 🙄

Make use of local homeless resources for food and hygiene. Find safe, legal place to park. Don’t keep your money or anything valuable in your car.

I lived in my car for a few months about 3 years ago. I still had a job, so I was okay. I had a gym membership, and would go late at night to take a shower and change.
Don’t park in the same places too often. Someone [i]will[/i] notice.
There wasn’t much room, so I couldn’t stretch out my legs while I slept. It resulted in them swelling up.

I followed a lady on YouTube that lived permanently in her car. She made a YouTube channel about it. She gave tons of tips. She even made a living with people supporting her channel. She bought a membership to Planet Fitness, $10 a month. That was how she showered and cleaned up.

Thankfully, no. I've lived out of my car during trips when I was a young adult and didn't have money for hotels. I did once for some weeks during a move and was waiting for the dude in the apartment I was going to rent to leave. It was an adventure and worked fine when you could always stop at a YMCA or gym where you have a membership at or something for a shower. Sometimes I liked it and was perfectly comfortable and sometimes I was really nervous about it and would stay up all night, espeically if a random car/people or cops keep circling around or pulling up to check you out. None of them ever made me move on, but sometimes I moved because I felt nervous about it. But I always parked in legal places, so idk what the duck was up with them.

I'm glad I never had to do so for any extended period of time.

I have to add that I hate seeing so many people have been homeless and/ or living in a vehicle. What is wrong in this world? People should be able to afford basic needs like housing, food, health care. The poor are becoming more poor. It is beyond words.

No. Came close to it when I lived in Texas. The ex-spouse got arrested twice. My work VISA got lost. I still worry about being homeless way back in my mind.

Can you couch surf? Go to a shelter? Be safe.

By the grace of God, not yet.
But it's become more common in this economy.

A lot of youtube channels dedicated to it, and how to survive; and successfully park & "stealth camp " without being run off by patrols.

Yes many years ago my wife, myself and our kids loved and slept in our van for a week or two until we found emergency accommodations after we were evicted from the house we were renting.

Notice how most who have lived in their cars are Americans. I never had to end up living in a car thankfully. When I needed to get away from home social service paid for my apartment.

Sure. It's pleasant if you make it that way and have decent luck. It's important to sleep in nice, quiet safe places with good air.
It's important to enjoy your day and have a park or two you can truly relax in.
I like my truck with a camper, and I like my tent in Hawaii. The street is way too hot in Hawaii for sitting, so lucky for me I'm happy in the jungle. Wild boars are a real danger, but you can learn ways of protecting yourself. A small solar panel and a battery that runs a USB fan is nice to have. A spray bottle helps cool the camp.

Not in a car. Luckily there was a drug dealer I knew who had a flat he didn’t use. When he was sent to jail I squatted in the flat

Depending on where you are... Urban camping might be marginally better.

Here it's illegal to live out of the car - and the police will wake you. Sleeping in a low profile tent is a better option because you can bunk down behind bushes and trees without the risk of the Bill waking you up at some point.

Having the car is a bonus because you have somewhere safe and lockable to keep the bulk of your belongings.

Get a membership with Planet Fitness for showers, get the Panera "unlimited sip" membership for $13 per month to charge electronics and stay cool/warm during the day (7am to 8 pm usually about) as well as stay hydrated (don't buy food there, it's expensive)

Get groceries that won't go bad that you can keep in your trunk to eat, look for deals on this at discount places, whether beef jerky or dried fruit etc

No, but I lived on a friend's couch for a year

Yes in a 72' Matador 4dr I loved that car

Briefly as a teen, but I didn’t have a car at the time. If you can afford a gym membership, though, then you have access to restrooms/showers, and some air conditioning, and potentially like cold filtered water or some other stuff . My membership is about $40 a month.

kinda, [i]I travel on the cheap a lot. [/i]
in the states? if you park near a Walmart many are open 24 7 and you can slip in to use a bathroom

Beach towns often have showers, that you can purchase for not so much

if you can, be someplace warmer,,,,
if you can, the west coast has more assets for the unhoused

and now,, I am kind of concerned on your behalf, and that of your Bun
tell me you are okay, or
let me send you some better hints

I was briefly homeless a few years ago, where I slept in my car in the back of a Walmart parking lot about 5 minutes from where I go to school.

I don't even have a car 😐

I was homeless as a teen. I've never owned a car. I slept in doorways and communal hallways when i could.

Sure have. My recommendation: get a tent.

I've lived out of my car several times. It wasn't so bad. Homeless without it once. Never again.

wouldnt be doing it in the city or a high crime area...

[c=003BB2][i]i was homeless and was living at a salvation army hostel for months, they were very good people and helped me a lot, as for living in a car, no, i don't drive so that's never happened to me fortunately.[/i][/c]

I’ve slept in my car several times, but not because I was homeless. Sorry to hear if that’s your current situation.

No good riddance but I wouldn't judge those that did.

No never have. Never will either

Never, are you about to be homeless?

No thank goodness God bless God

lived in my car for a winter in my sophomore year

advice: horde fresh water and non perishable snacks

Yes i have. I parked at work and would get a motel every payday for one day to clean up until I could afford a motel weekly