....to consider living in my car for a bit?

[RebeccaBunchLawyer]

Hello,

I’m in not the best situation, living-wise, and to cut a long story short, am considering living in my car for a few weeks, hopefully I will sort something out after a bit.

I will be opening out the seats and sleeping (or trying to!), in residential areas. I will be travelling light, only bedding, toiletries, paperwork put in storage etc. Blackout blinds on windows, showers and phone recharge at work.

The things that worry me most are obviously safety: someone trying to hurt me or steal the car/from the car whilst I’m in it, someone bumping/banging into car whilst I’m in it etc. Also, privacy, people possibly knowing I’m there etc etc.

Re ventilation, I will have all windows open the tiniest crack.

Basically I need to know whether or not this is feasible. I don’t really have any other options, so I just want to know if there’s anything else I need to consider.

Please, if there’s anything I really need to know/consider, let me know. If it’s illegal in any way, if there are any other potential dangers etc.

Thanks.

Could you get a job as a live in carer? I think that people advertise in The Lady.

Hang on, you’re a carer who goes to clients houses? And you’ll be using their showers and electric for phone charging? Not sure you’ll get away with that for very long.

www.jobs.lady.co.uk/jobs/category/carer-job-vacancies

Honestly Op, if you find a decent campsite you should be pretty safe, I sometimes camp alone & there is safety in numbers. The campsite will have showers & often have laundry facilities as well as electric hook up up for heating or hairdryer etc. I also think the suggestion of housesitting is a good idea.

What about using this site Campinmygarden.com to camp somewhere close to your work & might feel more secure.

If you are a carer, can you look for a live-in carer position?

england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

Call Shelter. If you are immediately homeless the council have an obligation to assist you.

Most people you see sleeping rough have drug/mental health/ alcohol problems/not British which make them not engage with or be able to use help. There is no reason if you are a British Citizen to sleep in your car or the street.

Can you tell us why? (because then it would be easier for people to signpost you to better support.

Are you escaping a relationship? Is your home situation untenable? Is it for financial reasons/ debt?

Practical things to consider:

• Do you have a care of address where post can go? if you are homeless it's really difficult to apply for benefits or get a job.(Good idea to get live in care work.)
• Where will you shower and was your clothes etc? You are working in a job where excellent personal hygiene is essential.
• remember it's illegal to sleep/ be in your car if you are under the influence of alcohol or drugs even if you are not driving anywhere so whatever you do don't be tempted to stay in the car after having a drink.

Good luck OP. I can't help feeling there must be a better way.

I did it (personal reasons) for about 6 weeks in my mid twenties. It wasn't great but was doable. Food was an issue because I didn't have a fridge or cooking facilities and cash was tight. My daily diet tended to a good quality loaf, tuna or other tinned fish and cold tinned veg. I got a shower in the local sports centre. Parking was rather funny. The first night i parked up in a quiet, middle-class residential area. In the morning i got woken up by a middle-aged man chapping on the window. Assuming he was moving me on, I appologised profusely, explained my circumstances and assured him I'd be moving on soon as I started work at 9. I also assured him it was a one-off and I would find somewhere else. He told me he was checking I was alright and I was more than welcome to come back. That sweet gent checked up on me each morning and always with a smile and cheery good morning. It was a much welcome reminder of human goodness at a time when so much else in my life was shit.

The OP has already said she will shower at work.

I would also look at youth hostels (you don't have to be young!) where you might be able to do a deal with the manager for a long stay. You would have a warm bed, sheets provided, access to showers and to a fully equipped kitchen. Even if you only do it for the odd night. How will you shower and charge your phone if you aren't working?

If you are a carer/companion are your clients happy for you to use their showers/ bathrooms for your personal care? If they object to you parking on their driveway they don't sound like the sort of people who would be happy with you using their facilities.

Yes it is absolutely doable.
Lifeofclimb gives v good advice

Where are you? Around here you can lodge in someone's house for around £100 per week including bills and use of kitchen. Appreciate that might be cheaper, I have never looked anywhere else.
I would also look at long term Airbnb lets. Then campsites. House share is obviously cheaper than living alone too, but that's more likely to be a long term commitment.
There will be some costs to living in a car (eg not being able to cook or store food, having to pay to use showers in leisure centre, having to use cafes for WiFi) that would be higher than in one of those other places.

I think its ok in principle to sleep in your car for a bit. I know its more common in the states.
I am concerned that you will feel vulnerable (you said you would if you were camping) and wont be able to sleep well enough to perform well at work.
Can you indicate whereabouts in the country you are and then maybe people can help you find a better solution?
Have you tried putting out an appeal for cheap temporary accommodation on a local fb group? or asking on spare room.com?

'I know its more common in the states.'

It is. Some motorways have huge 'truck stops' off them, too, where you can shower and charge up.

Personally, I'd rather take my chances sleeping in my car than kipping in a stranger's house.

Hi Rebecca.
I know a bit about this via a friend who did it. The problem you will have is being in a car tbh. If you sleep in some sort of van its a lot easier to be discreet with curtains. Plus you are slightly higher up so its slightly harder to be nosy.
Without curtains anyone can see in and they will do. You will get people knocking on the windows being annoying and people knocking asking you to move on. And the police will bug you. A lot.

Its more discreet if you can park in a car park but then you will get noticed by the police more as they tour round (when bored) looking for drug deals about to happen. Plus you will encounter "liasons" and dogging (more than you might think)

In a van its more discreet to park in a residential street, with curtains closed.

Hope that helps a bit and I hope you can work something out that works for you. Good Luck! xxx

My friend got moved on by the police about 3-4 times a night. He didnt mind sleeping in his car at all. In fact he rather liked it but not being left alone was a real problem.

Sleeping in a car for a few weeks is not that big a deal. Have done it myself (when I was younger) and much preferred it to a tent. Saved up the money for a deposit and moved on.

Id be the same expat. I dont want the complication of asking a favour,being as little trouble as possible, being grateful/beholden. Im pretty hardy. Sleeping bag in the car avoids that. I can get through anything if it's not forever and I would see this ad far less bad than tolerating an awful horrible job for example.

Would police really bug you. If you move your car to the end of a cul de sac at 23.15 and you've moved by 7.15, i find it hard to believe that the problem of police moving you on would be that relentless.

Yes, The police love to stick their oar in. I became a person of interest for so many things.

Just having a quick look at my responses- between job visits- and can’t believe how many replies there are.

Thank you, and I am 100% genuine, but can confirm that I am okay, thanks and still have a roof over my head atm. Am looking at this as an option, but who knows, the situation could change.

Thanks so much for any kind, helpful replies which I will read through when I get to WiFi later. And sorry if I’ve worried anyone.