Tips for living in a car

[u/Ancient_Bee_2730]

As the title suggest I need tips for living in a car, I’m a 25f and I lost my job a few weeks ago and have had no luck getting a new job lately because of my criminal record, I was released 8 months ago and everything was going alright until I lost my job then on December 7th I got into a car accident and my car was totaled. So I’ve been renting a car and doing DoorDash from a friends account to earn money for the rental car and for gas and food and for rent, but my landlord is evicting me because he found someone else who is willing to pay more than I am for the room I rent. He gave me a 3 day notice and said he doesn’t owe me an eviction notice or 30 days because we have no lease. He also told me if I don’t leave by tomorrow that he’ll call the cops and charge me for trespassing knowing that I have a record and that I’m on probation it won’t end well for me. So I’m currently packing my things and I don’t know what to do or where to go. I applied for public housing and low income based apartments in my area but the waiting lists are long and they told me it can take anywhere between 6 months to a year to hear from PHA or the low income apartments. I don’t know what to do or how to live in a car. Any tips would help… where I could shower, where to sleep, etc… I don’t have any family or friends I could stay with so that’s out of the question.

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[u/Middle-Bridge1600]

Look at r/urbancarliving that's what their sub's supposed to be about. Can only say, damn that sucks and hope good things come your way.

[u/Content_Shoe6040]

If you can afford a cheap gym membership, get one for showering. If not, in most places, the YMCA will let shower for free if you’re homeless. If not, some community support will provide shower services. Go to the best soup kitchen in your area, and they usually have workers that can connect you to other resources.

There are many places to sleep: churches, 24hr gym parking lots, hospitals, hotels, blm land, industrial areas, truck stops, etc. Some places are better than others, but the differences are mostly local, so you will have to check it out yourself.

YouTube is a great resource for car living. Cheap RV Living is a good channel, and it has a playlist for getting started in van life.

Take care of your mental health and lots of the rest will fall into place. Good luck! And hang in there! 🍀🍀🍀🍀

[u/DirectionAble3201]

If you haven’t left the spot yet, check with an attorney , but I’m pretty sure if there’s no lease it becomes a month to month and his required to give you 30 days and up to 60 depending where you live. If i was you. I would just stay cause what his doing is utterly fucked up. And also you can tell him , if he wants you gone, he can give you a month or two worth of rent back. Trust me evicting people is costly and a hassle. He will rather pay you.  The cops won’t do shit for him unless he gets a court order to have a sheriff come serve you eviction papers. I’ve had to evict people before and it took over 3 months. Lost 10k in rent and damages too. So if he doesn’t want to pay you and insist you need to leave. I’d just stay and at the last day. Fuck all his shit up. Like what my tenant did. Nothing happened to them for vandalizing my house too.  It’s actually harder to evict month to month. If he had a lease on you and you broke it. Then he can give you a 3 day. Also it’s winter so evicting you will take even longer. So asking for two month rent vs him evicting you and you staying for months.

——- If you have rest areas around you, you can sleep there for the night, then drive around to a diff one, camp grounds if you can afford it where you can also shower at some campgrounds, otherwise gym membership, or going to truck stops that have the shower amenities.  

[u/LondonHomelessInfo]

You can get free meals from homeless day centres and soup kitchens, and free food from foodbanks, food pantries and community fridges.

Get a £15 a month Planet Fitness membership to shower at the gym.

Wash your clothes for free at a homeless day centre.

Buy a good quality battery pack and charge your phone and battery pack at the library, either on a computer while you use it, or on the sockets by the study tables.

Homeless survival guide for beginners: londonhomelessinfo.wordpress.com/homeless-survival-guide-how-to-find-homeless-resources

[u/PhysicalMap3351]

Buy a tent, cot, sleeping bag and check out www.freecampsites.net and www.freeroam.app

As well, the iOverlander app has some good spots too.

BLM land and Dept of Forestry allows up to 14 days of camping.