Earlier quoted context omitted.
If he switches from contract/1099 to a wage job I wonder if child support will start garnishing the fuck out of it. This is the black hole a lot of people get sucked into and end up having to start their own business to buy some runway because the courts very much enjoy kicking non custodial parents in the teeth to the point they cannot get one foot on the ground.
Supporting their kids is one of their responsibilities. Child support is income-based. I haven’t had to navigate that system so don’t have specific advice, but I’m not going to support someone dodging child support.
Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
61–70 of 245 posts
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#62Earlier quoted context omitted.
I've got 10 years experience with laravel, lots of PHP, JavaScript, vue, react, MySQL, Python etc...i just don't have a computer unless I can find a place to set up my desktop... that's my biggest hurdle.
Archive.org has a PHP Software Engineer position they posted recently, may come in handy once you have a more stable setup with your computer https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/... Best wishes and good luck with everything
Those two people should not be in a supervisory role over any other engineer, ever.
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#63Your dreams of making it in AI sound far fetched to me. I would look for a more solid career path such as within a trade. Learn basic plumbing or electrical work. You might be able to find someplace to work as an apprentice as you learn too.
I was making 50 per hour doing freelance programming two years ago but I've had trouble finding clients and then I didn't have a place to work from, making it even harder. That's my biggest obstacle. I've got 10+years experience with PHP, JavaScript, laravel. etc...
Lots of people live in vehicles quite intentionally. It's harder and very often not ideal, but I don't think it's your biggest issue here.
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#64Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#65Earlier quoted context omitted.
Supporting their kids is one of their responsibilities. Child support is income-based. I haven’t had to navigate that system so don’t have specific advice, but I’m not going to support someone dodging child support.
Not in Texas, it’s most often ruled upon based on income expectations.
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#66Since you're in Utah, I'm going to suggest you find a bishop to ask for help. Even if you don't belong to the LDS church, I _think_ they might be able to help you out. Go to https://maps.churchofjesuschrist.org/ and find a church service to go to on a Sunday morning, and before/after the meeting, try to figure out who is the bishop/counselors and tell them your situation. It may depend on who you get, in which case you can always try other wards/buildings/areas.
Good luck!
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#67Poster who replied is right. I am out of my depths.
Homeless people usually can't benefit much from food banks, since they give out little (or no) ready to eat food. Maybe I missed it but I don't think OP mentioned having access to a kitchen or even a fridge. Cooking on a camp stove or something is possible but can be very risky depending on location and other factors. Living out of your car it's extremely important not to draw police attention to yourself, you do not…
If cooking meals in that situation, I'd suggest using a camp stove outside at parks and for lunch. The more you look like everything is under control, the less police will focus on you. Flip the norms and eat something that doesn't require cooking at night (less clean up in the dark, etc) like a sandwich.
If you're not going to be in the car long term, buy fresh to cook or stash things you can keep in a cool bag or that are shelf stable. You can't justify a 12v fridge and battery, and buying ice for a cooler is annoying and adds up. No shame in tins or whatever else if it's all short term.
Eat and do any other sleep prep in one place, then drive to your likely overnight spot and do little more than move to the back and go to sleep. Minimise your visibility in that "person about to sleep in their car" phase. Look for spots near mid-range apartment blocks where residents don't keep track of exactly which car belongs to who and won't call police because they're suspicious. The police are mostly looking for people creating visible trouble (belongings spilling out of vehicle, pissing everywhere, yelling) or because residents have called to get you moved on.
I said in another comment, but ultimately the desktop computer is the major hindrance. Get even a simple laptop and you can study/work from a library or park and improve the employment situation as a priority. Others have given tips for options there.
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#68Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#69Sounds like you know how to survive, which is perfect… here’s what you do. Ditch uber/lyft and get your CDL. They’ll pay you and train you and give you a job. Plus, you get a nice sleeper truck to sleep in that’s more spacious than your car. (If you have the cash, an RV works instead)
Take the income you make and pay off all your debts using the snowball method. If you don’t have debts, use that money for classes/school/training to get back into the field you want to be in. 6 months to a year and you’re back on your feet, apartment, furniture, money in your pocket, a future to look forward to.
Stay strong.
Re: Ask HN: How do I escape homelessness after rebuilding my mental health?
#70Earlier quoted context omitted.
Homeless people usually can't benefit much from food banks, since they give out little (or no) ready to eat food. Maybe I missed it but I don't think OP mentioned having access to a kitchen or even a fridge. Cooking on a camp stove or something is possible but can be very risky depending on location and other factors. Living out of your car it's extremely important not to draw police attention to yourself, you do not…
Updated my comment. You are very correct.
FWIW I don't usually give general "advice for the homeless" in these threads either, despite having directly experienced it myself and volunteered with homeless people for years after getting out. The choice of action depends too much on local/regional institutions and dynamics, and individual particulars.