When I lose my job, I will be unable to move back home...

[Deja Q]

Can't say why right now except it's not possible.

If you've been homeless, please tell me how you've coped.

[datasuspect]

1. living in a large city helps

you won't starve.

personal hygiene is the most difficult part.

or finding a clean place to take a crap.

[Lethe]

2. are you 100% certain you are going to lose your job?

what makes you think so?

[Deja Q]

3. 85% certain

And I can cite quite a few examples. Just how long a list would you appreciate?

But I will say these things:

1. Nothing is ever 100% certain.
2. Nobody is indispensable.

[Lethe]

4. i was just asking because sometimes situations appear different

from another perspective.

[Deja Q]

5. Quite. I can see some hope.

But time will tell.

[Lethe]

7. one thing you should definitely do

is do not quit at all no matter what. and if you are certain you are going to be fired, try to be as accomodating as possible to your superiors. that way you have a good case to collect unemployment.

you can coast on that for a while

[Deja Q]

15. Gotcha. Good to know.

I am naturally an accomodating person, and an asset. Or so they keep saying alongside their gibber in an attempt to knock me down then out; doublespeak is so cool (not).

[eyepaddle]

6. I managed by couch surfing at various friends for a few months

until I got my own place. I understand that a lot of this depends on who your friends are and how much they are willing to put with. I have balanced the Karma by allowing friends to couch surf when I was able to. My guess is this is how most people deal with homelessness, but again it all depends on who you know.

Now is a very BAD time to out on the street on MN. Check out whatever assisstance is still available from public and private charities. And if all else fails MAKE them evict you. In a large metro area where the courts are busy you could probably string them along for a few months before you get the ol' notice tacked to your door. From which time you have one month to vacate.

Don't do that unless your only choice is involuntary concrete winter camping, but that may provide some crucial plotting and planning time.

Good Luck.

[chaska]

8. Here's a site with some good info on how to be homeless.

It's not much, but it's the best I can do for you.

Goog luck, HypnoToad.

http://guide2homelessness.blogspot.com/

Edit: Here's another site that may be worth a look.

http://www.carliving.com/

[Nikia]

9. Register with all the temp agencies now

Tell them you expect to be layed off in the near future. Take all their typing and software tests. If I remember right you are in a computer field and knowing software is always considered a useful skill. Save as much money/pay off as much debt as you can. They should have a job for you within a couple weeks even if it is only temporary and they pay $8/hour. I don't know what kind of place you live in now, but look at adds for cheap apartments that you could move to if you cannot afford your current place.

[Capn Sunshine]

10. don't forget Monster.com

get your face out there NOW.

[Deja Q]

13. The resume has been out there for months.

It's not 'years' yet, but still...

[tigereye]

11. ya know

you need a major attitude adjustment, HT. All this negativity is not going to help. Try to get some folks around you to help out.

[Lethe]

12. yep. Turn that frown upside down.

stick it out. look around for other opportunities. things will work out for you if you keep at it.

:hi:

[pitohui]

14. here are a few tips that i used

the most important thing is keeping up the hygiene, as another poster said, that is the key to everything, if you look and smell like a homeless bum, you are going to have doors closed in yr face & you will have soo much more trouble getting back on yr feet

the second most important thing is to get your car serviced and all the tags, licenses, insurance, etc. up to date while you still have a job and money, being homeless with car is a thousand times better than being homeless w.out car

right now, while you still have an address, make sure you have a library card and that you know all of the nearby library branches where you can get free internet service (or wireless if you have a laptop), dress nicely whenever you're at the library, never show up there on drink or drugs, some libraries will ban bums

know where you can get a hot shower (friend's house, truckstop, public gym etc.) and also know of some quiet bathrooms where you can get away with cleaning up without being noticed, one-holers are best for this because no one walks in and sees you taking a sponge bath, however, BE QUICK, because if you hog a public restroom, you could get 86'd from the property

there are motels that have a cheap by the night rate, i didn't use them because i was scared of that crowd and the possibility of fire since crackheads might rent there, however, i think someone said minnesota so i don't think camping will be a possibility for you

if you can camp, great, however, keep in mind you should look like a tourist not a vagrant, and that you are expected to move to another campsite every 2 weeks in most cases

a tent you can erect yrself and a sleeping bag are less than $100 at KMart, get them now while you still have some cash, learn how to camp and put up the tent

frankly if you're homeless & living in a tent anyway, and you are physically strong, you might want to consider coming down to the gulf coast, lots of work in construction, restaurant, industry etc. if you look reasonably hard-working and sane a strong man should be able to get work the same day

however, if you have friends, family, and connections in yr current area, you may want to look into the couch-surfing described by others, but if you do, buy the groceries while you're staying there, get food stamps if you have to but find a way to help out the person who is housing you

[graywarrior]

16. Lessons from someone who was homeless for 4 months

If you think you are going to be homeless, you will be. I thought my way into it without realizing I had choices that would help me avoid it. Ask yourself why you want to set yourself up for failure. Will you get something out of it? What's the payoff?

Look for a job you can have fun at, even if it pays less.

ASK FOR HELP. Don't isolate in your head. Talk to your supervisors. Tell them your concerns. Ask them for letters of recommendation. Even if you get fired, if you ask certain supervisors for a recommendation, they will more than likely give one.

Plan ahead for this stuff.

If you do want to be homeless, write a book about it.