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UPDATE: Landing a Relative Well Paying Job Soon.
TKane
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[EDIT/UPDATE] Things are starting to look up for a change. I have a good chance at landing a well paying job, and if not, I still have an EMT Exam coming up AND a friend in a Salmon Canning Company in Alaska willing to give a good word about me to the HR people. With the certificate from the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians, I have a wide open array of jobs available to me, especially if I relocate. Once again I thank everyone who's posted. Without you, I'd likely be in a darker mood now.
So, things aren't working out between my wife and I. We've gotten a divorce. The problem is, I've been unable to get a job since I left the California Conservation Corps in Early 2009. I was hoping for the U.S Forest Service or State Parks to hire me, but it's been a no go, mostly due to California's MESSED up budget.
I'm an only child, and both my parents have passed away. So I have no family to go to. I can't do the military and I'm too old to go back to the CCC. My options are slim-to-nonexistent. One of my only visible options is seeing if the tribe my mother belongs to will take me, or help me or something. But they're based in North Dakota and the only proof I have of my heritage is my Mother's Death Certificate.
I guess, what I'm asking for is.... Advice. I'm not looking forward to being homeless. I've done it once before after my last relationship went sour(I seem to be only attracted to girls who end up hurting me), and I was only able to get back on my feet because of the California Conservation Corps.
This second time.... I don't know.
Any helpful advice, well wishes, or offers of couches in states between Northern California and North Dakota would be appreciated.
So, things aren't working out between my wife and I. We've gotten a divorce. The problem is, I've been unable to get a job since I left the California Conservation Corps in Early 2009. I was hoping for the U.S Forest Service or State Parks to hire me, but it's been a no go, mostly due to California's MESSED up budget.
I'm an only child, and both my parents have passed away. So I have no family to go to. I can't do the military and I'm too old to go back to the CCC. My options are slim-to-nonexistent. One of my only visible options is seeing if the tribe my mother belongs to will take me, or help me or something. But they're based in North Dakota and the only proof I have of my heritage is my Mother's Death Certificate.
I guess, what I'm asking for is.... Advice. I'm not looking forward to being homeless. I've done it once before after my last relationship went sour(I seem to be only attracted to girls who end up hurting me), and I was only able to get back on my feet because of the California Conservation Corps.
This second time.... I don't know.
Any helpful advice, well wishes, or offers of couches in states between Northern California and North Dakota would be appreciated.
TKane on
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Truthfully? When I was a teenager, I was an attention seeking idiot who made a psychologist believe I was Bi-Polar. Thus I was diagnosed Bi-Polar Disorder at 15, thus Permanently Medically Disqualified. I'd already been on meds, being a Ward of Court it comes with the territory, but they REALLY started putting me on all sorts of stuff after that. When I turned 18 though, I cold-turkey off all that and have better for it since.
My last girl was Bi-Polar, I KNOW how Bi-Polar people are off their meds. I'm nothing like her when she runs out of pills.
So I know I'm not Bi-Polar/Manic-Depressive, and when I told my recruiter this, he had said that Bi-Polar symptoms can hide for ten years. I'm not sure if he wants me to wait until I'm 28 to prove that, but the only way to get the diagnosis over-turned is to find the doctor who gave it and get him to re-evaluate me and then say he was wrong. But I'm having a bitch of a time getting my medical records, so that route's more or less closed until I find the right person who's willing to release my own damn medical records to me.
I wish I had a van. Right now my only vehicle is actually owned by my mother-in-law. I'm sure if I asked, she's sign it over to me... But she doesn't know we've separated yet, and I already feel like shit leaving because she's done so much for me and I feel I've not done enough for her.
I'm 26 now, and reasonably in shape. For the CCC we did a lot of hard labor, trail building and so forth, so hard work isn't a problem for me. The CCC motto is "Hard Work, Low Pay, Miserable Conditions.... And More!" It's a motto I've adopted.
I have a Class A Certification to operate Chainsaws, I have a Professional Rescuer's First Aid and CPR/AED certificate. And if I can pass that damn EMT exam I'll be a registered EMT-1 too. I've done two Semesters in a Diesel Heavy Equipment Technology Class at my local college. It's not like I DON'T have desirable skills, I just can't seem to find anyone wanting to hire.
Carnival worker? I always thought you had to be born into that kinda job. Oil Rigs is entirely outside my current work experience, so that might be worth looking into. And I remember my mother-in-law telling me about a cruiseliner job opportunity, but at the time I was holding out for an U.S. Forest Service position.
One of the girls I was in the Corps with is currently in AmeriCorps. STEP is the program she's in, I think. I tried to get into their Watershed Steward's Project job, since I've done a lot of work for them (400+ hours) with the CCC, but I can't find any information on applying and STEP isn't taking people until like November.
The same is probably true of some churches and other temple-like places.
Do you remember the company they represented? BP is the only Off-Shore Oil Drilling company I know of, and I don't think they're hiring, for good reason.
I would imagine being homeless in the Dakotas is infinitely worse than that (I used to live in Minot)...so be absolutely sure that you already have somewhere to stay if you move there.
Food: I used to steal food by eating at grocery stores while pretending to shop, running out restaurant checks, etc (obviously I can't recommend breaking the law, just saying how I did it.) If you keep yourself clean, shaven, etc you can easily get free food, at least for breakfast. Most hotels offer some kind of continental, help-yourself buffet breakfast in the lobby...waffles, cereal, oatmeal, whatever. The hotel I based myself out of (a Mariott) also offered free apples all day long. At night, I would sit by the fireplace in the lobby, eat an apple or two, reading a book...until I absolutely couldn't sleep anymore, at which point I would get into my car with a blanket and try to fall asleep as fast as possible.
Which brings me to...
Parking: If you're sleeping in your car, you have to find a good place to park where you won't be bothered. Hotel parking lots are good, since they're 24 hours, near a bathroom, etc. Truck stops, if nearby, are good too. You want to park somewhere where nobody's really going to see you.
After about four months of doing this, I actually got pretty good at it...which scared me. So I ended up going into the military, but I understand that's not the likely path for you.
I didn't see it mentioned...but do you have any friends? Like...ANY. If you can get to this Dakota reservation, then I imagine you can get to other states, so a friend in any part of the country will work. At bare minimum, any friend worthy of the name can put you up on a couch and feed you from time to time. They can't do it forever, but don't let pride get in the way. Hell, you sound like a hard worker...help out around their house and you'll lengthen your welcome. Maybe they'll even recommend you for a job.
Keep your head high, yourself clean, and your mind open. I made it out, you will too.
All my good friends were in the CCC. I'm not sure where they are now though, I didn't really keep in contact with them after I left, which is probably a major mistake on my behalf. I have a good friend from Hawaii I meet online years ago who's moving to Utah or Ohio. I'd feel horrible barging in on her though as she too is leaving a bad relationship. Another friend I know from online is currently doing missionary work for her church, so that's a no go until she gets back.
The dudes in my class were all staying in the dorms, so that's not likely to work for me either.
When I was homeless the first time, I was lucky in that I had managed to find homeless shelters relatively quickly. I'm just hoping that luck hasn't run out.
I hope you don't have to use this information but I get the feeling almost everyone has a stint like this. This guide saved my life for the brief stint I spent in my car. I printed it out when I had the opportunity and I'm glad I did. During my car stint I read this guide over and over and over. I now know what its like to go four days without eating and it is pretty terrible.
I wish you the best of luck and if you can try and get that vehicle. You're going to need it.
Shogun Streams Vidya
The biggest problem with the vehicle will be Insurance. Without insurance any possible problem I'd with with police will almost always immediately involve impounding the vehicle, which is no bueno. And without a job, I'd be unable to keep up on the payments.
I'll tell you right now that if you do end up being homeless the worst thing you can do to yourself is start reasoning as to why you can't do this or that. Homelessness carries risks. Some of this risks can and will include behavior that would be considered unlawful. As it is there are laws specifically against being homeless. There are laws against you sleeping which is an involuntary action.
How do you plan to get to North Dakota without that vehicle? It is not as though insurance physically prohibits you from driving the car or stops the car from starting. You have to stop thinking about what you don't have and start thinking about what you do have/what you can get.
Shogun Streams Vidya
Alright, let me say this in a way that will make sense. A car isn't the be-all end-all. I've done fine for over 22 years without a car. I can surely last another 22 if I put my mind to it. I've put thought into it, and a vehicle when used as a mode of transportation AND a home is a waste of resources. Pure and simple. Having no insurance won't physically stop it from running, but having no gas will. And with the price of gas on this rollercoaster I have no doubts that my funds will run dry sooner rather then later.
There is always more then one way to get to a location. I could pawn my stuff until I have enough to buy a bus ticket there. Five years ago I had this same idea when I was homeless last time, and Grayhound would have charged me $277 for the trip. I have that in my bank account, I could do it right now. I could buy a bike for a fraction of the price of a bus ticket and bike there. It's not unheard of. People have biked across America before. I could make a website and WALK there. I'm sure something similar has been done before.
And I've been reading that website you linked. one of the commenters had mentioned that when he had Biked up the West Coast of America, he could camp in State Parks for between $3 and $8, so long as he had entered the Park on foot or on bike. This is the page it's on. Towards the middle of the list of comments, by commenter Beau. Just hit Ctrl+F and type in Beau.
And since I'm a CCC worker, I'm sure there are more then a few California State Parks I could camp at for free simply by saying "I used to work for the CCC" and showing them my old CCC Hat. Sinkyone Wilderness Sate Park, for example. I did work for them building a trail, and the State Parks Ranger said that any corpsmember could camp for free anytime at that park.
I can't imagine being homeless without my car. I just don't see how you'd get anywhere or get anything done. Where will you sleep? Where will you store your stuff? That bus ticket to ND is probably twice as expensive as it would cost in gas to drive there, but I'm assuming you're getting this car from your mother-in-law at little or no cost to you. I'm also assuming it gets good mileage and isn't like V8 or something.
edit: I guess my main reasoning here is that you have enough challenges. I don't see why you would willingly take on another or not attempt to lighten your load. You're only going to be able to carry so much on your back.
Shogun Streams Vidya
87' Toyota Camry. Has a new Air filter, bought it the last week of Spring Semester. Other then that.... Not the greatest millage, actually. I drove fifteen miles twice a day for five days a week, and had to refuel at least every other week. I think the gastank is like 15 gallons or so.
And it's not like I'm lugging around a computer, a TV, gaming consoles, a month's worth of clothes, raw food, piles of DVDs, anything like that. I don't own much. I have a fairly hefty backpack from the CCC. Three days change of clothes, maybe two weeks worth of socks and underwear to be changed daily, a sleeping bag and pad, maybe a tent or a tarp with some rope. Some cheap Baking Soda for quick-bathing. Cheap deodorant. Travel Sized soap for bathroom bathing. Gallon of water. Water filter, emergency water purifier tablets, maybe a little travel sized bottle of bleach for extra emergency. That's all stuff I could fit into my backpack, or even into one of those bicycle tow-behinds.
Anyways, I'm gonna try my luck at landing a job with an oceanliner. Even at $500 a month, if I deposited it all into my bank account, once my stint is done I'd have a nice little nestegg to try and get back on my feet with.
There are plenty of shipping companies that operate out of California. For instance Horizon Lines.
Hmmm. Thanks for poiting this out to me.
It sounds like you have skills that might be useful as a firefighter or logger.
Look up Boise-Cascade - see what jobs they might have available.
Look into getting into a fire crew for the summer forest-fire season. Best guess is that those would be listed on the Forest Service website.
Wii U NNID: MegaSpooky
The thing is, due to my previous diagnose, I can't legally own or use a firearm.
I'll google KBR and see what they do.
[EDIT[Urgh. I need to work on my resume. It hasn't been updated in seven years.
http://jobsearch.about.com/od/internationaljobs/a/iraqjobs.htm
(Contains information and links to a few companies)
There are a few dangers involved (you'd be working in a war zone), but if I wasn't already in the military, I'd definitely go for it. If nothing else, I'd do it for a year just to give myself a buffer in case of economic failure or lack of work opportunities.
Wii U NNID: MegaSpooky
Get a job anywhere. Why not fast food? Why not cleaning on a midnight shift? Why not washing dishes? People live on minimum wage.
I don't have any legal troubles. Thanks again for that link. I'm applying towards as many places as I can.
What do you think I'm trying to do? If I can land a job I won't go homeless as I can easily roomie up with a co-worker. If I can't then I have no where to stay. And it's not like I can just walk into a place and say "Yo. Need a job here." There's competition, and everywhere I turn it seems I'm getting passed-over.
I'm not trying to be a dick here, but unless you've been working at getting a job as your full-time job, you're just giving up at this point. You're not going to face much competition applying as a dish washer at a busy restaurant. No one wants to do that job, and most managers will jump at the chance to hire someone who can work any time in the dish pit.
Even still, instead of thinking of excuses why you're going to fail, why not just try your best to succeed? I can't believe I'm the only person in this thread so far that has said any of this. It's like people read what you've written and think, "Yep, you're gonna be on the street, here are some tips!"
You are not on the street. You don't need to be on the street. You have options.
If you don't have a decent resume, visit the job centre in your town for free help on getting one together. They've usually got interview tips and what not as well.
And:
You don't have much in the way of resources, it sounds like, are currently unemployed with no income.
Apply for aid.
Srsly. This is exactly what aid is for. An unexpected rough spot.
Now, as a single adult, what cash aid you can get, if any, will vary from county to county. But Food Stamps might just be the big difference here, right? And if you're lucky you'll get a good office with a good worker who can point you to a whole bunch of job & other resources.
Apply for aid now, before you're down to absolutely nothing. At worst you've wasted a day or two days. At best you get hooked up with at least temporary employment thru a job fair or other job-hunting resources thru the social services department. And inbetween, maybe you at least get some Food Stamps to get you through to when you *do* get hired.
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/default.htm
Also - what about jobs in/for apartment complexes? Don't those usually come with some sort of break on the housing?
Also also - how are you applying *everywhere* but don't have an updated resume?
Go to Alaska.
Your chainsaw cert will get your foot into the door for work up there. Its long hours, gruelling work, and if you hang out long enough you can claim residency - Alaska is still the State where they pay residence to live there (Yay Oil) via a state tax refund check.
You can actually make bank up there, but you'll work like you've never worked before and the male to female ratio is like 4 to 1, sooo even the supremely ugly chicks act like they're Beyonce.
Its a great way to stay single, save cash, and reboot your life.
http://www.couchsurfing.org/
Good luck, dude.
Check out my art! Buy some prints!
I believe there are also always jobs to be had in the Alberta oil-patch.
Hmmmm. I remember hearing about Fishing and Canning Industries always looking for people in Alaska. I used to build trails, so hard work isn't scary for me.
I'll probably end up regretting this, but this is the resume I made in the CCC.
My Resume
This hasn't been updated since my time in the Corps. What's not included are the various certificates and awards I got in the Corps, including a Safety Award for six months with no injuries, A Community Excellence Award for doing over 50 hours of volunteer work, A Service Excellence Award I was awarded by an Incident Commander for work on a Fire Camp during the 2008 Lightning Series of Fires in NorCal. Also doesn't include my college classes, two Semesters of Diesel Heavy Equipment Technology and my EMT-Basic class.
However, IF in your current area you don't have a single friend that would suffer you on their couch, I have to ask, What's holding you there? Open up your job search, I live in Chicago (for example) and while the job market is worse than it used to be, it's a lot better than a lot of places. Look around, every state has parks, every state has different situations economically, most likely you'll find something in the least expected place.
How much experience do you have with Diesel? I wish I had more, there are a ton of shops up here looking for journeymen.
Well, I'll just list the classes I completed. "Diesel Engine Theory, Power-Assisted Brakes, Truck Maintenance and Compliance, Gear Theory and Rear Differentials, Truck and Equipment Maintenance." I'd stay and finish out an AS Degree in Diesel Tech, but the college I'm attending canceled their Diesel Classes for the next semesters. Don't know if they're getting rid of the Diesel classes forever, or if it's just a one-off thing
Basically, I've taken apart and put back together a Detriot Series 60 Diesel engine, a whole slew of Rear Differentials, Fifth Wheels, Spring and Air Suspension Systems, Jacobs Engine Brakes, Fan Clutches, Drum Brakes and Air Compressor Systems. And before you ask, yes I've already applied to be an Oiler at all the local Truck Stops in my area. Haven't gotten a single call back.
Diesel mechanic is one of the only subsets of the mechanic field that will actually make you real money. Economy blah blah blah, there are a million guys out there looking for the same stuff. If you have a set of tools, and feel confidant enough to service airbrakes, then apply for that, along with suspension stuff. Get into a shop like that (even a regular automotive shop) and you'll have all sorts of work thrown at you. The most important thing though, goto the shop and fill out the App. attach your resume, and then hunt down whoever does the hiring, hand it directly to him, try to engage him in conversation. Talk about whatever, seem enthusiastic. This goes a really long way for most shops, as their mechanics are what make the money.
Oh, you'll be required to have a class A CDL to work in a shop like that. Some will help you get them, but you'd probably have to start off as a porter.