....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.

Why the heck not? It’s totally legal to car camp, and dare I say quite fun. We used to do it pre-kids!

If OP is having to sleep in a car I strongly doubt she has money to have her windows tinted or to just. 'buy a van'

Contact your local authority, recently the Homelessness reduction act has came into effect and they must carry out an assessment of your situation and provide assistance. Contact local churches for food parcels. And if the temperature drops keep away of the Severe weather emergency protocol for your local authority as they have to provide a bed for the night in these cases. I work in social housing and I understand how tough times can get. Sending you lots of luck.

OP please speak to your local council if you haven’t already, if you’re saying this is your only option they have a duty to help you. Even if you’re not homeless yet.

My friend did this and was told as they had a car they werent technically homeless as they could sleep in their car.

@RebeccaBunchLawyer are you coming back?

Wow, have finally got through all of these replies.

So many kind and helpful people. I can be very cynical about life in general and other people, but I am so grateful to all. I now have a couple of options coming up, and am also looking at getting a live-in job, which I feel is realistically the best option for me. I’ve been a live-in carer before, and whilst this is not the dream, the clients are normally lovely and the job has many pros to it.

As a single person without kids, I am not priority to the council and this wouldn’t be for me anyway. I hope to privately rent when possible.

For those who were worried about me using the clients’ facilities, I would never use their showers as yes, this is not appropriate or professional; I would use the showers at the gym (I think I deleted a chunk of my post in order to reduce its size!). They have however, all said to recharge my phone whenever necessary since I need to be contactable by the agencies whilst there (all the carers I know have been permitted to do this).

Again, really sorry if I’ve worried anyone; I am not a poor, unfortunate person who would literally be on the streets with nothing (I know a lovely older lady like this, she is amazing, and literally lives in a tent, relying on food from passers by), but I suppose would be doing this (if I did it) as a sort of temporary lifestyle choice to save some dosh!

Thanks again.

@RebeccaBunchLawyer hi, I was just wondering how living in your car went? I may have to look at this as an option

Op, I think I remember your name. Did you do this a few months ago?