Plans to leave Florida,Budgeting,Calculations

[WanderingRose]

Davsey,

In your posts here and as Davsey85 on this forum, you did live in your vehicle for a number of months before getting your Section 8 apartment, and you reported to be really, really struggling with the lifestyle.

Based on what you told us you had last fall, you also seem to have gone thru a lot of your savings in the past 6 months or so?

Once your savings are gone, you will be down to your monthly SSDI check. For everything.

As you have reported, and others have pointed out to you, living in a vehicle is in many ways more difficult, uncertain and labor intensive than in a permanent residence.

And, you have to move periodically, re-exposing yourself to all those environmental factors you report to be struggling with.

If you are living in your vehicle and run out of money, or it breaks down and you don’t have the cash for repairs, you will be stuck in place wherever you are.

If you stay in your subsidized apartment and an area you become familiar with, if you run out of money you will still have a place to live, with utilities and access to food.

You will not be stranded in a strange place and in a crisis without a support system.

There is no perfect answer for you, but my parents generation had a saying “a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush”, which I feel applies here.

You have a subsidized apartment you can afford on your SSDI alone, and were extremely fortunate to get this so quickly as most people wait years just to get on a waiting list.

Fix it up to accommodate your needs, work with your landlord to remediate any environmental issues you feel are present, learn to live more frugally and take off in your vehicle for a few days here and there to satisfy your wanderlust.

When you can transfer this certificate, and find an environment more to your liking with an apartment that will take it, consider moving.

We can become caught up in looking for a perfect work, living, friend, etc., environment, but as Bob says…wherever you go, there you are.

Your abilities and disabilities are going to continue to be present and require adjusting and accommodating. This is going to be so much more difficult living in a vehicle with a transient lifestyle.

It is my experience that continued movement can be a form of avoidance, where being still requires us to face and manage whatever it is that limits us.

I strongly urge you to reach out to whomever handles SSDI in your area and see if they can link you with an advocate to assist you in exploring your wants, needs and realistic options.

Someone familiar with disabilities, in general, and yours in specific, will be able to help you problem solve and make plans.

My two cents, Davsey, and I truly wish you well.

 

[[email protected]]

I appreciate the suggestions rose and understand the challenges of living in a vehicle.

Part of the problem is that the Immune system overeacts to chemicals and toxins more than the average person.I do have immune system dysregulation and chronic fatigue syndrome

The body seems to respond better to a vehicle parked in a quiet place with little mold and some distance from others wireless devices .

I just notice I generally feel less poisoned waking up in a vehicle more days than the current place.I understand alot of people wait years for this to find housing

And part of me feels grateful and another part is like I need to value wellbeing over what may be right for 99/100 individuals


I think feeling safe in the house is the biggest Challege and not feeling threatened by the environment.I know this may be difficult to understand for those who may not have chemical/electromagnetic sensitivities but it feels like my reality

I slept in the car near some wooden fences in residential apartments while awaiting section 8 that had mold on it outside and would mostly wake up feeling poisoned.

Kind of similar to the section 8 apartment.Finding a good environment I typically feel more refreshed sleeping in a vehicle than this current place.I probably would feel better sleeping in the apartment complex parking lot and it seems south Florida will get more hot and humid to do this and going inside just to fix meals,change clothes,shower

I was told by the property manager today that mold is everywhere in Florida and said she would have someone take a look at it but I not sure if anything can be done as she didn't didn't concerned .Handed me a new airfilter which im thankful for but I don't think will be enough

And mentioned Aci s required to be running when it's above 75.Im concerned as the air coming out may be toxic and a friend of mine in Southern California who had mold toxicity in his old home mentioned he is about 100 percent sure there is mold in there


As far as backup plan if car breaks down on this crv of 160k miles,one idea to plan on buying a used one every 3 years to sleep in and try to save the 12k i have to do this by setting aside 50-100 a month for this purpose.The logistics of doing this after the car breaks down or doing it before I haven't figured out.

I could spend 1-1.3k and try to buy an emf canopy Faraday to stay in with a carbon based purifier that filters vocs,mold and other chemicals in the living room.Hopefully it wouldn't be a wasted investment

I wish I could put that 12k into a down-payment of a tiny home somewhere on a plot of land and not have to worry

If needed maybe create a gofundme fundraiser for as an environmentally sensitive person as an idea in the future for a used vehicle

Thank you

 

[kklowell]

"buying a used one every 3 years to sleep in and try to save the 12k i have to do this by setting aside 50-100 a month"

If I read this right, I think your math is way off. $100 a month for 3 years is not close to $12,000... it is only $3600. That's not going to buy you much of a vehicle.

 

[user 423]

^Especially with the rising prices of used cars. That's not going to change anytime soon.

 

[user 22017]

... like I am sensitive to the energy fields,noise,engines revving up feeling like it penetrsting the body

Maybe it's because of my neurological condition but it feels like space is being invaded.I would probably need to wear earplugs if hanging out in town and I'm not sure who would want to live like that

Sorry if someone already mentioned it, but there is a place in West Virginia where people with your sensitivities live. No idea what the housing situation is there. It is rural, but I believe you can contact people there for answers about your condition and the housing.

Here are a couple articles (there are many more online):

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/06/us/green-bank-west-virginia-quiet-zone.html
https://www.today.com/health/town-lives-without-cell-phones-wi-fi-meet-green-bank-t69911
I only know about the people there who are sensitive to energy fields from a Netflix documentary about the town.

 

[WanderingRose]

If you found a tiny home to put the remainder of your savings down on, Davsey, the savings you are already going thru rapidly would then be gone, you would have only your SSDI check, and no means to live as well as pay off and maintain your home.

And your criteria for an acceptable living environment are pretty extreme, making options very limited for finding something you could purchase in an area you deemed environmentally safe.

I strongly encourage you, Davsey, to find an advocate who understands disabilities and your particular special needs to help you explore options.

Good luck.

 

[[email protected]]

"buying a used one every 3 years to sleep in and try to save the 12k i have to do this by setting aside 50-100 a month"

If I read this right, I think your math is way off. $100 a month for 3 years is not close to $12,000... it is only $3600. That's not going to buy you much of a vehicle.

Sorry for the confusion
I meant save the 12k in savings that I currently have and save an additional 100 month.I believe some of the older Honda's that may go in the 3-4k ballpark.Hopefully inflation won't be too bad

 

[scaredycat72]

I strongly encourage you, Davsey, to find an advocate who understands disabilities and your particular special needs to help you explore options.

I second this.

You were on the road. If that was the answer to your problems, you could have stayed on the road. You obtained emergency housing for a reason and I would take those reasons into account.

Right now, you have some money and your SSDI. There's nothing stopping you from getting into your car and going to Arizona to see if you like camping on BLM land. You don't have to give up your apartment to do that. That way you can see how you feel and still have a home base.

Your posts are concerning. You seem to need mental and emotional support that you're not getting. There are a lot of free and low cost mental health facilities in Florida where you can receive support to figure this out.

Take care of yourself.

 

[[email protected]]

I second this.

You were on the road. If that was the answer to your problems, you could have stayed on the road. You obtained emergency housing for a reason and I would take those reasons into account.

Right now, you have some money and your SSDI. There's nothing stopping you from getting into your car and going to Arizona to see if you like camping on BLM land. You don't have to give up your apartment to do that. That way you can see how you feel and still have a home base.

Your posts are concerning. You seem to need mental and emotional support that you're not getting. There are a lot of free and low cost mental health facilities in Florida where you can receive support to figure this out.

Take care of yourself.

I appreciate your perspective,

The thing is I obtained emergency housing partly because a friend suggested it as im not an indoors person.For me being on the road was never about the destination as it was about the journey

Thanks for the tip regarding the BLM land.
Possibly an avenue to revisit as I have done this in the past

I understand the association between mental health and houselessness,drug abuse,addiction as societal norms have created these generalizations that may not apply to every body.I think there are more people during these times that are living outdoors to get away from toxins created by civilization.

i think we could agree that most people want technology but want safer technology and many times big corporation,lobbyists and city planners don't value the interests of one's health and wellbeing as a result life expectancies are platueing,cancers,drug addictions are on the rise.


Nonetheless,I am grateful for the freedoms and civil liberties in this country.

The problem is that often social workers/advocates are used to helping people who are just looking for housing and may not be environmentally and electrically sensitive.

These individuals are just important and at the same time safe housing is something that is often overlooked


I think we need more environmental disability advocates/therapists who are knowledgeable in these areas

Thank You

 

[WanderingRose]

I understand the association between mental health and houselessness,drug abuse,addiction as societal norms have created these generalizations that may not apply to every body.

The problem is that often social workers/advocates are used to helping people who are just looking for housing and may not be environmentally and electrically sensitive.

These individuals are just important and at the same time safe housing is something that is often overlooked

I think we need more environmental disability advocates/therapists who are knowledgeable in these areas

In your own posts, Davsey, you have described medical disabilities that have qualified you for SSDI, neurological and cognitive impairments, anxiety, etc.

Also having great, great difficulty traveling in a vehicle more than an hour or two a day and managing environmental sensitivities on the road.

You report needing a living environment highly tailored to your specific needs.

While a social worker or other advocate for persons with disabilities may not be as knowledgeable about environmental sensitivities as you would like, it is certain they would be better qualified to help you problem solve than we here.

You are asking for help from we hodge podge assembly of varied backgrounds on this forum, but seem determined to leave your Section 8 housing in spite of all who have responded here encouraging you to maintain this as a home base.

We are not there with you, but can see your struggles thru your posts, Davsey.

You need an advocate familiar with disabilities/your specific disabilities to help you sort out realistic options and choices.

 

[[email protected]]

In your own posts, Davsey, you have described medical disabilities that have qualified you for SSDI, neurological and cognitive impairments, anxiety, etc.

Also having great, great difficulty traveling in a vehicle more than an hour or two a day and managing environmental sensitivities on the road.

You report needing a living environment highly tailored to your specific needs.

While a social worker or other advocate for persons with disabilities may not be as knowledgeable about environmental sensitivities as you would like, it is certain they would be better qualified to help you problem solve than we here.

You are asking for help from we hodge podge assembly of varied backgrounds on this forum, but seem determined to leave your Section 8 housing in spite of all who have responded here encouraging you to maintain this as a home base.

We are not there with you, but can see your struggles thru your posts, Davsey.

You need an advocate familiar with disabilities/your specific disabilities to help you sort out realistic options and choices.

Yes it can certainly be a challenge being on the road.Thank you for the suggestions guys and gals

 

[tenstiks]

If you don’t like it there, you should go and be happy traveling and camping in your car. You can get window coverings and put a tripps toilet lined with a bag and some coco pucks to absorb or use cat liter for when you have to go. You can take the seats out and have more room. I want to take my seats out. I’m in florida and I drove to the west this summer but didn’t have time to move out so I can back to try to get rid of my stuff and go back to the west. Florida has a law that you can’t sleep in your car more than 3 hours. I doubt anyone ever enforces it but they did impose this on me when I was sleeping in my car last month at the Seminole hard rock casino garage I’m Hollywood, florida.
I hate that I have to donate everything g I have to go back out west and park in the desert. But I’m like you and I am tired of this old moldy 1950 apartment.
I’m tired of the humidity down here. And like you said, the drivers here are maniac speed racing road ragers. I hate it.
I do DoorDash and Instacart so I drive all the time but I’m beginning to hate it.
Not to mention, my landlord hired a rental manager to increase my rent from $500 a month to $875 a month and me being single, I can’t afford it on DoorDash and Instacart!
So I’m trying to part with my stuff now to get out before I’m broke.
I just need my books and notebooks. And my car is a small Toyota Prius V which doesn’t have that much room for stuff.
The car is great for air climate control because it can cycle and the car turns itself off and on to charge the battery.
But it make me nervous because if there is people around they are going to be curious about the car and might try to steal it or tamper with it.
Anyway. I know you have cheap rent. I used to have cheap rent too and it was the only reason I stayed. But I never liked living here.
I love the cats I found and have been taking care of for many years. However, my neighbor said she would adopt them and has already started feeding them.
I hope you make your getaway and don’t worry about the struggles of car living.
You will be so happy to be in healthy conditions and traveling free as you should.
Like my friend told me, she values experiences more than possessions. And I can apply that to my expensive unhealthy dwelling.
I just am having a hard time parting with my books and notebooks. I need those.
Take care

 

[tx2sturgis]

I kinow this is an older thread but recently 'bumped' so I will put this here for the OP or anyone reading this thread who might be in a similar situation:

National Church Residences is a non-profit that provides housing based on your income.

We have one of these right here where I live, and I'm not actually promoting it. (I've never even been inside one of the units).... just letting you know there are options.

https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/?search=florida&care=
https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/?search=texas&care=
The NCR here is more like a small community of duplexes, all ground level, with lawns and trees and plenty of off-street parking. It is NOT a nursing home, its a retirement community.

From talking to a few of the NCR residents here, the income based rent is pretty low for someone who receives less than $1000 a month in benefits. One lady told me her rent was around $250 out of her $800 a month benefit.

But they pay all the utility bills so she still has $550 for a phone, food, and gas, plus she is on Medicare and possibly other programs (like SNAP...not sure if she is on that program, but I would assume she is)

Its not much, I know, but she is getting by, because this is a very small town, you dont have to spend much money on gas, heck you can ride a scooter or bicycle to get around in this tiny little town.

So just so the OP or anyone else is possibly needing some options, there ya go.

 

[[email protected]]

I kinow this is an older thread but recently 'bumped' so I will put this here for the OP or anyone reading this thread who might be in a similar situation:

National Church Residences is a non-profit that provides housing based on your income.

We have one of these right here where I live, and I'm not actually promoting it. (I've never even been inside one of the units).... just letting you know there are options.

https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/?search=florida&care=
https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/communities/?search=texas&care=
The NCR here is more like a small community of duplexes, all ground level, with lawns and trees and plenty of off-street parking. It is NOT a nursing home, its a retirement community.

From talking to a few of the NCR residents here, the income based rent is pretty low for someone who receives less than $1000 a month in benefits. One lady told me her rent was around $250 out of her $800 a month benefit.

But they pay all the utility bills so she still has $550 for a phone, food, and gas, plus she is on Medicare and possibly other programs (like SNAP...not sure if she is on that program, but I would assume she is)

Its not much, I know, but she is getting by, because this is a very small town, you dont have to spend much money on gas, heck you can ride a scooter or bicycle to get around in this tiny little town.

So just so the OP or anyone else is possibly needing some options, there ya go.

Im 36,

Is this just for seniors or for younger folks on disability?

Thank you

 

[[email protected]]

If you don’t like it there, you should go and be happy traveling and camping in your car. You can get window coverings and put a tripps toilet lined with a bag and some coco pucks to absorb or use cat liter for when you have to go. You can take the seats out and have more room. I want to take my seats out. I’m in florida and I drove to the west this summer but didn’t have time to move out so I can back to try to get rid of my stuff and go back to the west. Florida has a law that you can’t sleep in your car more than 3 hours. I doubt anyone ever enforces it but they did impose this on me when I was sleeping in my car last month at the Seminole hard rock casino garage I’m Hollywood, florida.
I hate that I have to donate everything g I have to go back out west and park in the desert. But I’m like you and I am tired of this old moldy 1950 apartment.
I’m tired of the humidity down here. And like you said, the drivers here are maniac speed racing road ragers. I hate it.
I do DoorDash and Instacart so I drive all the time but I’m beginning to hate it.
Not to mention, my landlord hired a rental manager to increase my rent from $500 a month to $875 a month and me being single, I can’t afford it on DoorDash and Instacart!
So I’m trying to part with my stuff now to get out before I’m broke.
I just need my books and notebooks. And my car is a small Toyota Prius V which doesn’t have that much room for stuff.
The car is great for air climate control because it can cycle and the car turns itself off and on to charge the battery.
But it make me nervous because if there is people around they are going to be curious about the car and might try to steal it or tamper with it.
Anyway. I know you have cheap rent. I used to have cheap rent too and it was the only reason I stayed. But I never liked living here.
I love the cats I found and have been taking care of for many years. However, my neighbor said she would adopt them and has already started feeding them.
I hope you make your getaway and don’t worry about the struggles of car living.
You will be so happy to be in healthy conditions and traveling free as you should.
Like my friend told me, she values experiences more than possessions. And I can apply that to my expensive unhealthy dwelling.
I just am having a hard time parting with my books and notebooks. I need those.
Take care

Thank You,

For sharing the bit about experiences being important

Seem like the only one who suggests doing this as our ancestors did before the advent of modern constructional housing with artificial ventilation systems

Perhaps doing it more primally as kind of letting go of the modern paradigm

I was able to make it to California and am in the palm desert area.I like the outdoors in Florida and yes it feels safer in the car than in a moldy building

It's probably due to mold avoidance that I ws able to make it to California

My lease in south Florida will be up in January then the voucher can be ported anywhere in the country including texas,Alabama,other parts of florFlorida.


I mention these places as I tend to feel good in the outdoor air

It's just the moment I step into housing withim a couple hours.Memories of nerve agent like effect from the mold spores in buildings

30 mins in Barnes and noble,30 min in dennys here in California is about my threshold before needing to be out as I can feel the effect

The more time I spend in nature the more Hypersensitive I am to indoor mold.The HVAC systems have destroyed me everywhere I have gone

Will it be different somewhere else than southeast Florida

Last time I was at My friends in Tallahassee I spent a few days there and did OK

We did a bit of sun gazing tho and spent quite a bit time outdoors sphinxing in the sun

Seasonal being outside feels right though with 188

I know stone,metal type constructed housing and possible eliminating the Hvac condensation system may help

I love the south but Ac/heater systems that emit these spores can't be eliminated with heat and humidity and cold winters

Along I-5 in California the entire coast seems to be polluted with smog that one can't see the skies anymore

Brown clouds.I tried san diego,santa cruz and got slammed by the outdoor particulate matter from the ozone

In certain forested areas in Bama,Oceans of Florida,small towns in Texas at least the outdoors seems to feel good

Not sure what can be done besides taking calculated guesses and assuming that probabilistically I may never tolerate indoor buildings again

Thank you

 

[[email protected]]

Just curious if anybody knows if California ebt food stamp can be used in Arizona?

Thank you

 

[JeepLiving]

Just curious if anybody knows if California ebt food stamp can be used in Arizona?

Thank you

EBT is a federal program so the answer is, Yes, you can use EBT in any state. My EBT is administered by Massachusetts and I've used the card in AZ, CA and NM.

 

[Nautithespian]

YES YOU CAN USE IT IN ANY STATE,,,,and they will cut you off if you don’t have a good excuse as to why you are ROAMING AROUND and not in your”home”state searching for employment ….thet are not fond of paying for your “vacation” walk about

 

[JeepLiving]

YES YOU CAN USE IT IN ANY STATE,,,,and they will cut you off if you don’t have a good excuse as to why you are ROAMING AROUND and not in your”home”state searching for employment ….thet are not fond of paying for your “vacation” walk about

Not sure what you're basing this on but I used mine out of state for 7 months in 3 different states and wasn't contacted to give any "excuse". It's possible, I suppose, that some states are stricter than others regarding eligibility, but I don't see how they could cut you off since it is a federal program and the federal website will tell you that you can use it anywhere in the US.

<Edit> I did search around real quick and found info (not an official program website) that indicated that some states may ask you to re-certify your state of residence if you use it out of your home state for more than 30 days, so it probably is a state-by-state issue. As I said, Massachusetts didn't give me a problem in seven months, so .....

 

[user 423]

YES YOU CAN USE IT IN ANY STATE,,,,and they will cut you off if you don’t have a good excuse as to why you are ROAMING AROUND and not in your”home”state searching for employment ….thet are not fond of paying for your “vacation” walk about

^Retired folks or those on permanent disability who get EBT benefits wouldn't be required to "search for employment".