that the only thing you ate for dinner was crackers with ketchup? That's what I had to resort to with my family. All of my family members are unemployed...And only one of us is eligible for unemployment. We save and scrimp to pay off our necessities and rent...As for the internet, well even that e had to cut, but the library gives free access to the net so coming here and applying for jobs is a breeze.

I gave up going to grad school so I could help bring some money back into our household but that's only pocket change when all your money goes to paying utilities, rent and other bills.

So I am basically reaching out to others on here....Ever got kicked out and had to leave for a week in your car? Ever had to bumb a couch to sleep on at your friend's or relatives place cuz you got evicted? Ever had to sell or pawn of your car or any valuables just so to pay off your rent? Please I can't be the only one on here feeling like a pauper who lives in a bedazzled cardboard box.

Hey sorry to hear.

The worst i've experienced was moving into an apartment and having to sleep on the floor for 2 years. I was trying to save up for a bed but then was like, screw this, and finally bought a $60 air mattress instead. I had practically no furniture for a total of 3 years. Still, nothing like you're experiencing.

It's rough times out there these days. Hope things pick up for you and your family. Looking at your info. i guess you're from Vegas and i hear they're hit particularly hard due to significant drop in tourism. Maybe considering moving?

my friend is in that situation right now, her and her family are pretty much homeless right now

her mom's friend let her family stay with them for the time being while they try to get back on their feet again..

and is borrowing someone else's yard to sell off the stuff they don't need before they get kicked out of their current place

sorry to hear, certainly you aren't alone :\

Sorry to hear you and your family are going through rough times. But you are not alone, some of my friends are doing it tough and those of us who are lucky can only help.

Hang in there.

I'm so sorry to hear that you're going through such hard times. I'm sure things will get better.

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing when I saw she was from Vegas. I do have a friend living in Vegas and does pretty well atm. He is a dealer at a casino so yeah. He seems to be doing okay but yeah. Maybe moving wouldn't be such a bad idea.

Wahhh I wish I could help you in some way. ><

yep. been homeless.
used to eat fruits and popcorn for lunch and dinner.
moved out of our basement home to live at a homeless shelter leaving everything behind.
no furniture no nothing. just the close behind our backs. lived in a room with bunkbed.. the size of the room was smaller than a dorm room.
the room was probably smaller than michael jacksons closet.

etc etc.

pretty much it was ridiculously hard. but we managed. just find work.. even if it's minimum wage.
if finding a job is impossible. go apply for homeless shelter. just swallow your pride and go if it's that hard.

ALL my life i've been financial ruins. even now.
i dropped out of college even when i get full financial aid coverage. even 2000$ for books and etc.

now i'm going to work at a minimum wage job to pay for rent, food, etc.

if you want to talk more about it, since i have experience. just message me.

This may help you, i used to do this.
it's called section 8, it helps pay for your rent.
http://www.fhasecure.gov/progdesc/voucher.cfm
also food stamps are available, i'm not sure where you are located. but all you need to do is work around 20+ hours to receive food stamp. so no more ketchup and crackers.
financial assistance is also avaliable. not sure how much..this is all government assisted programs. probably from tax payers money.

ALL in ALL. don't worry, you'll get through it.

i just recently won my legal battle with 7-Eleven for wrongful termination so now they MUST pay me unemployment.

You should look in to see if any of your family members have been wrongful terminated and discharge from a medical precondition or validation of worker's right laws. If there is a breach in contract between employer and employment that is bias. If you made your employer aware of a situation upon hiring that involves hour availability , change in wadges or false accusation of misconduct and theft etc.... You can fight that in court and be eligible for unemployment. By this the company can owe more money to the former employee . Unless you left the company by choice then you are unable to collect unemployment.

If no misconduct is found then may only receive less than 50% or weekly payments base on W2 form and hourly wadges. So if you work at a job were you earn 1,000 bi weekly most likely on unemployment only earn $500.

If there is some children in your family or those under the age of 18 you can earn food stamps along with filing under Sec.8 or collect SSI and Medica.

Medica
http://www.medica.com/default.aspx

SSI
http://www.ssa.gov/

You can also seek out for unemployment grants from the government.
http://www.federalgrantswire.com/unemploym...ral-grants.html
http://www.dol.gov/Recovery/

You can also find local job training skill programs or try to return to school were you can earn student grants. Jobetc.. is one of many you can aslo earn them if your a minority (Asian,Black,Hispanic, Pacific Islander,Middle Eastern, Native American,Indian,etc..)
http://www.jobsetc.org/

I understand what you are going through I lost my job and car in the same day. So its pretty hard right now and money is tight in my family. That's why I'm going back to school for Criminal Justice at MCC now SOF.

That's something you gotta think about if you don't have job skills and only have a GED or High School Diploma. Think about going to Trade School, Community colleges or even a university. The more you have an education in a skill that is in job demand the more chances you have to make it.

Ah thanks guys...Well my mom and pop are thinking of getting a job at Alaska (it's so hard to get a job here in Vegas that alot of people especially us asains are getting recruited to find work in Alaska) Leaving me and my bro to take care of the mortgage and bills hwne they send money back to us.

And thank you to whoever posted the homeless shelter hotline...We already filed to get foodstamps so hopefully when we get approved no ketchup food for us lol.

oh this may also help you. http://www.haclv.org/ or .. http://www.haccnv.org/

it's Nevada's housing authority for the low income.

I am currently living in a housing authority in NYC. i pay around 400-500$ for rent, 2 bedrooms. (I've lived here for around 10 years)
the downside is.. the neighborhood isn't so great. it can or cannot be a violent area, depends where they locate you.

The way New york city system works is that. after you apply for homeless shelter. you live with in a pretty cramped place. shared bathroom with other homeless people.
Most of the people in my shelter wasn't so pleasant.

I lived in the homeless shelter for around 3-5 months. then they located us to the Housing authority.(nyc)

Oh no! I am so sorry to hear that. I am sure that things will start picking up for you all; for sure, you are not alone.

I remember my parents also thought about moving to Alaska a while back when we were having financial problems. I hear it's a good idea, and that sometimes the government pays you a bit to move there (though that could easily be just a rumor). Whether or not the government pays you, I'm sure job prospects there would be better than in Vegas.

Anyway, hang in there. Things will get better.

I feel you. My family went through rough times before too. Well, our situation wasn't exactly like yours, but basically, we were homeless living in motels.
We've even slept on the street on top of cardboard boxes. Basically, my dad had problems with drugs, but he straightened up now.

Have you guys started selling your stuff yet? I know I'm about to start doing just that. Books, furniture. I'm not dead broke but just for the extra income.

There have been times that I've had no gas in the car, no food in the house and $-3 in the bank. Rough times.

Why is everyone unemployed?

Good luck though.

Sorry to hear that. I hope things get better soon.

I've experienced similar circumstances but not a similar situation if that makes sense, since I've lived off things like crackers and microwaved ramen noodles (gross) while living on a couch in a friend's dorm -- which was actually my salvation since I was thinking I'd have to live partially in a library or something -- BUT always with the option of going home. I kind of made myself homeless so I could make some extra money for my family, since I had jobs in a town away from "home," so it's not really the same thing but I know what it feels like to look at a dollar and try to figure out how to make it until payday.

I'm sure you've considered many options and I don't really have detailed advice like many of the people here seem to have, but if you can, keep an eye out for waitressing jobs because most decent managers will feed you for free :-) also, if you have time on your hands, and if there's one nearby, fill out an online application for a job at Wal-mart because the economy hasn't hit them very much at all and if the area I live in isn't abnormal, they're always hiring. Plus a lot of really great people work there, or at least some of whom will be able to relate to your situation. Selling things online can get you a bit of extra spending money, which we know goes a long way. Focus on things that matter that don't require much $$ because skimping becomes easier that way though I'm sure you know that already.

I know I don't really know your situation at all and I'm really sorry for the hardships you're experiencing and are probably expecting for a while longer. Keep your chin up though because letting it down will only make it harder for things to start looking up. Good luck and if you ever need a random stranger to rant to or anything, I don't count for much but I know how to read and how to write an answer Take care.

*sigh* I'm sorry to hear the situation you're in, buddy. I feel your words inspire me to keep my heads up and do whatever in my strength to keep facing the right direction. I wish for you and your family to find peace and security.

sorry to hear that things are so tough for you, I really feel for you. I understand that finding a job now is ridiculously hard, even for minimum wage. Best wishes to you and your family, hope things get better soon!

I'm really sorry for you, I hope you pull though. My family used to be like that, some of my earliest memories are when I was standing in line at the social security office with my mom and I remember we had to use food stamps at one point. Thankfully life isn't like that right now, but it's not like we live in a mansion or anything.

G'luck to you

Yeah it got so bad for us at one point that my mom and bro had to pawn their cars and title for rent.Those were the only cars we had in family household so for about three months we had to walk and take public transportation like the bus here in Vegas...Having no car here is really dangerous and hella hazerdous to your health...One time me and my mom thought we could walk up to a local grocery store that was 20 minutes away by foot. When we got back my mom waas wobbling and about to faint from heat stroke. As for the bus well it stops at every block so if you have to go to work, you'll have to leave like 2 hours early cuz you'll spend the most of your ride on the bus stopping at every block Fortunately my dad has a friend that has loaned/rented a car to us (only $10 dollars a day) But it's not like I can just go out a drive over my friend's houes or anything cuz we are living tightly. Even gas for our car we have to monitor.

Yep. Getting kicked out of your own damn house and being forced to figure out a way quickly to survive.

Definitely puts everything in perspective. A point in which you appreciate every opportunity you got and strive to make a difference in your life.

Keep on... seriously. Don't give up.

wow, you reached the bottom but now you can only go UP. it's okay a lot of the well off people started at where you are once... i hope you will end up better in the future.

i have never been in your situation and can't imagine myself like that but i did owe quite a sum of money and that was the worst days of my live as i was jobless at that time and had to come up with the money quicktime well 2 weeks time.

Sorry to hear about your problems. I've had to live lean before, but nothing like what you're having to go through.

I wish the best of luck to you and your family. Hang in there, things will get better.