Becoming homeless for my dream job

[ForTidyFinch]

I've been offered and ideal job in the town where I currently live but my short term tenancy is due to end in a couple of weeks. I have tried everything to find a new place to live. There is nothing available in this small town and I have no friends or family living close enough to help. I have decided to start the job and then live in my car. I've reached a desperate point now where I think there is little chance of me being able to rent privately even if something does become available. A run of bad luck has drained my finances and a CCJ was taken out against me without my knowledge (for overstaying in a service station when my car was broken down!) This was taken out while I was living abroad and I have only just found out. So there goes the chance of renting privately. So the choice I see it is being homeless and destitute staying with relatives or living in my car and starting this interesting job opportunity. I think I will live in my car. WWYD

I believe you. You’re in a very difficult position. I still think your car is going to be a risky option for you. Please go back to your local council one more time and explain you will be street homeless. You have nothing to lose by asking. Take care.

Perhaps if you could put roughly the area you are in, people might have local knowledge to be able to help you. I very much doubt it would be more outing than what you have said so far and also less outing than sleeping in your car in a fixed place where you will undoubtedly be clocked by locals in a matter of days.

Yes I think giving the job and location as some have been asking me to do along with the details that have already given on this thread will be very outing so I won't be doing that. It's a rural area and only a few small towns. I'm sure somebody could work it out from the details I have given if I give the area

I believe you OP but I wish you'd give more information because you would get more useful suggestions.

As I say, I've been in your situation and it was just lucky for me that I knew people and there were friends of friends who helped. I cannot think of anything less safe or comfortable or viable than sleeping in a broken down car while trying to make a good impression in a new job and hide your homelessness from your employer.

There are loads of suggestions from pp but if those are no good then I think you have no choice but to forget the job for now. But again - tell us about the job, because that may change the advice you get. People really want to help.

Could you do homeshare? homeshareuk.org/

I'm not trying to be cryptic but it's not a usual job in a small town area so don't want to give any more details. Others on the thread have threatened that what I am doing is illegal and if I get found out I will be dismissed from my job, also saying they wouldn't want to employ me and that it implies I am 'chaotic'. Or that people won't want me in a 'nice' area and I will be moved on. I don't believe it is illegal to be homeless and employed and I have more faith in the locals of this area. But the thread has revealed that there are some rather small minded and judgemental people out there. It's these sort of people I need to be wary of and so won't be giving any further details. Unfortunately reaching out for help does make you more vulnerable as there are people willing to use your circumstances against you. I feel it has confirmed further for me that I need to prepare to be self reliant and only reach out to trusted people

and again, you are ignoring the financials questions - how can people help when you can’t say what disposable income you will have each month?!

i understand wanting privacy but you could give rough info

i can only assume that you are massively in debt and/or you literally have no grip on your finances due to your chaotic life

or this is a massive windup

Thanks I'll try this too

It’s not outing to say salary, so I suspect it is either so low, that you know people will say why would you do this for nmw, or it is high so again people will quesfiin what you’re doing, I’m guesssing it’s the former, sorry

Do you absolutely have to start your new job during the summer? Can you ask/negociate with your new employer starting a bit later when the peak holiday season will be over or less intense so that you could find a place more easily? In the meantime you could stay with friends or family.

Hi OP. I'm so sorry that you are having such a horrible time. May I suggest that you contact every church in the area? They may either have a member who might be able to help, or may allow you to sleep in the building. Our church has helped at least one homeless family in this way.

No I think you are a massive windup. I am ignoring your financial questions because you have made nasty comments before and I don't think giving you that information will be of benefit to anyone. Knowing my wage or savings is irrelevant if you don't know the housing costs of the area. Yes I know my wage, yes I know my budget. No I don't think you can help me in any way. You obviously come here to kick people when they are down and pour scorn. I don't need financial advice from you but thanks.

It wouldn't need electricity - those pitches are for caravans. It would just be a tent pitch. You also wouldn't want to search for 2 people, as campsites often charge you a certain amount for the pitch and then a fee per person on top of that. Filtering on public transport does cut down the options a lot, but I can still see numerous options for Cornwall in August. Probably doesn't help OP though!

Yes, I had a thought about churches. There might be a chance to store possessions more safely than in a car that might get noticed and towed.

There might even be a secluded spot for a future van to park up, if they are very nice…

👆

well you obviously have it all under control then! My mistake!

good luck with the dream job!

Have you checked out local pubs? In rural areas some have fields attached for camping.

Good heavens, @TheShiningCarpet, try a little empathy.

👋

You don't need to give the job details if they are so rare as to be outing, but giving the county or even town would not be very outing. There are probably hundreds of people looking for a place to rent / moving jobs in the area you are in. The chances of someone you know working out who you are on here, are much, much, much less compared to someone you know seeing you sleeping in your car and word getting to your new employer that way. Surely getting some help from someone on here and risking someone gussing it might be you is preferential and much less likely than being seen living in your car by someone you know?

Stop being so horrible!

OP, I have a friend whose mum moved hundreds of miles away leaving her living in a hostel at 16.

That’s why I suggested an anonymous Facebook post, because there are kind people in the world who would offer someone a room temporarily, even if they aren’t advertising.

It is something that I plan on doing once my DC leaves home. I wouldn’t do it while they are here for personal reasons, even though I have a room. There’s a scheme near me where you can register with the county council as someone who will help a person in need with a room for the sum of £20 a night.

My motivation is to help someone like my friend who is a hard working decent woman who found herself in a terrible situation.

Worth a go, sorry people are not being terribly kind.

You have registered that you’re facing homelessness with the council, so that’s good.

You have a good job starting soon and you have a car. You’ll have access to water, showers and food at work and a gym to go to after work. Your life isn’t a huge mess like some posters are trying to make out.

I think the posters saying a woman in a tent is safer than in a car are wrong. A flimsy bit of canvas is safer against dangerous people than a locked car?! Come on now.

I would overstay in the short-term let, being honest with the landlord and liaising with the council. I think starting the job from a place of honesty - where you say to your employer that you are desperately looking for accommodation and at risk of becoming homeless - rather than actually being homeless already, will work out a lot better for you. Fingers crossed someone in the company is looking for a lodger or knows someone that does.

An employer looking up “what to do if an employee is homeless” will find advice telling them to get in touch with the council, homeless services and to keep the person employed. This should go in your favour and help move things along.

Long shot, but https://champing.co.uk/

The vast majority of posts have been people making suggestions and trying to help.

People saying you are likely to get moved on are not being horrible, ffs. Just realistic.

People saying your employer will find out are responding to your posts about wanting to keep your homelessness secret.

People asking about your job are trying to see if there would be other options or organisations which could help.

People asking about your budget and salary are trying to figure out what the most viable options would be.

You asked WWYD but unless the answer is "sleep in my broken down car regardless of safety, legality, or ability to do my job" we are being told we're horrible people who just want you to suffer.

You do sound naive, OP. And vulnerable. Why post for advice if you already have all the answers?