I Hate My Life

FREE AND CHEAP PLACES TO LIVE

When I was homeless I slept in my car for a year, however, I do not recommend that for two reasons.

1. You could get robbed or assaulted.

2. You could get arrested. Yes, its actually illegal to sleep in your car in many parts of the country, including areas of Los Angeles County.

Of course you want to do everything you can NOT to become homeless, because it's long way back once you hit the streets. If you are facing eviction, then you need to know your legal rights.

For legal help please CLICK HERE.

If you exhaust your legal options and do become homeless, then you need to find shelter:

For nationwide shelters please click here.

For nationwide listings of Gospel Rescue Missions click here.

For listings of shelters in California, please click here.

For listings of hostels click here and click here and click here.

If you live in Los Angeles, here are some shelters:

PATH (People Assisting The Homeless)
2346 Cotner Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90004
310-996-0034
(They have other locations as well. If they are full when you call, check back often.)

Downtown Women's Center
325 South Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-680-0600(Day Hours)
213-680-1226 (Evenings & weekends)

Bible Tabernacle
1761 Washington Way
Venice, CA 90291
310-821-6116

Sunlight Mission
1754 14^th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310-450-8802

Union Rescue Mission
545 S. San Pedro
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-628-6103
(You must arrive before 8pm)

Henderson Community Center
Harmony House
911 East 25^th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90011

Los Angeles Mission
303 East 5^th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-629-1227

L.A. Men's Place (LAMP)
526 San Pedro (between 5th and 6th)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-488-9559
(Men)

Good Shepherd Center
267 N. Belmont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-250-5241 or 323-469-6540
(Women and children)

Good Shepherd Center
1640 Rockwood Street
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-482-0281
(Women)

Midnight Mission
396 S. Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-624-9258

L.A. Family Housing Corp.
207 N. Breed Street
Los Angeles, CA 90033
323-264-1114
323-260-7524

The Dream Center
2301 Bellevue Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-273-7000

You can also get listings of shelters by going to the:

LA Free Clinic
8405 Beverly Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90048
(323) 653-8622

Housing Alternatives
937 N. Fairfax
West Hollywood, CA 90046
323-650-7988

West Angeles Community Development Corporation
(also emergency rental and utility assistance)
3045 S. Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
323-732-4333

LOW COST HOUSING

Beyond Shelter
520 South Virgil Avenue, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90020
(213) 252-0772

Hollywood Community Housing Corporation
Affordable housing in the Hollywood area for low and moderate income seniors, families and persons living with AIDS/HIV.
323-469-0710

Santa Monica Community Housing Corporation
Affordable housing in Santa Monica for low and moderate income households. Units include 1,2, & 3 bedrooms.
310-394-8487

West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation
Housing for low income families, seniors, amd persons living with disabilities including AIDS in the City of West Hollywood.
323-650-8771

West Hollywood Community Inclusionary Housing
Newly constructed apartments that are available to low and moderate income households. There are 73 units.
323-848-6851

Project New Hope
Affordable housing as well as vocational services to low and moderate individuals and families living with AIDS/HIV.
213-251-8474

AID for AIDS
Move in grants and rental assistance form persons living with HIV/AIDS.
323-656-1107

Conventional Housing
64 buidings in Los Angeles County. Applicants are offered housing when vacancies occur - location preferences are not considered. Applicants may tirn down two offers, if a third offer is turned down, applicants are returned to the bottom of the waiting list.
800-731-4663 x8025 or x8027

Alternative Living for the Aging
Roommate matching service and living facilities for low income seniors Five buildings in the west Hollywood/Los Angeles Area.
323-650-7988

Menorah Housing
Subsidized by HUD 12. properties in Los Angeles County. You must be over 65 with a low income or over 55 with physical disability.
310-477-4942

A Community of Friends
Provides permanent, affordable housing to mentally ill individuals and families. Housing throughout LA County.
3345 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 1000
Los Angeles, CA 90010
213-480-0809

Faith Housing Corporation
Homeless assistance to individuals and families and housing for low income persons.
1713 W. 108th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90047
323-754-1528

Design Center Housing Services
Develops affordable housing and accepts Section 8 (see below) for single family and senior units.
315 W. 9th Street, Suite 410
Los Angeles, CA 90015
213-629-2702

SECTION 8 HOUSING

When some people hear "Section 8" they may think of Corporal Klinger on the TV show M*A*S*H dressing up like a woman to get a "Section 8" so he can get out of the army; this is not that kind of Section 8.

This Section 8 is a federally funded rental assistance program that helps low income people pay rent. If you want to apply for Section 8, but you do not live in Los Angeles then click here and find your state agency. If you live in Los Angeles, keep on reading.

For people in Los Angeles, the federal government gives money to the Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles which pays your landlord directly for a portion (usually 70 percent) of your monthly rent.

To get Section 8, your income must be equal or less than the income limits set by the government. Families and single people can get Section 8.

In Los Angeles, you can apply for Section 8 by calling these numbers or if you want to apply for Section 8 online just click right here.

Don't expect any overnight miracles. In Los Angeles County there are a lot of people on the waiting list. Why? The federal government has cut funding for the program.

Once your name rises to the top of the waiting list to receive a Section 8 voucher, then you have to find a landlord who will accept Section 8 and charge a reasonable rent for the area.

For more housing programs in Los Angeles click here.

If you have HIV/AIDS, there are special housing programs in Los Angeles you can find by clicking here.

IF YOU DO HAVE TO LIVE IN YOUR CAR

There are not nearly enough shelters for all the homeless people in Los Angeles. Our government always has money for another war in a foreign land, but for some odd reason funding is always "tight" when it comes to providing basic shelter for Americans; or as Neil Young once sang:

     We got a thousand points of light
     For the homeless man
     We got a kinder, gentler,
     Machine gun hand…Keep on rockin' in the free world

But if you have to live in your car, I suggest the following:

Park in safe neighborhoods.

Always bathe. If you look like a homeless person, then people will treat you like dirt. When I was homeless I bathed at the LA Free Clinic, the West Hollywood Pool and I took a lot of sponge bathes at places where I could lock the bathroom door such as Coffee Bean. I am also told that many community colleges have showers/locker facilities where people can bathe.

You can also bathe at:

OPCC
1515 7^th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-450-4050

Swashlock
505 Olympic Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA
310-450-6380

Memorial Park
Corner of 14^th st. and Olympic
Santa Monica, CA 90404
310450-4939

St. Joseph's Homeless Center
371-373 Rose Ave.
Venice, CA 90291
310-399-6878

Temporary Aid Center
1541 Wilshire Blvd.
Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90001
213-846-2330
Mon-Fri 9am-12:30pm

Union Rescue Mission
1212 E. Colorado Blvd.
Pasadena, CA
626-347-6300
Mon-Fri 8am-4pm

Missionary Brothers of Charity Nuestro Hogar
1345 Alvarado Terrace
Los Angeles, CA 90006
213-251-9707
Mon, Wed & Fri 9:30am-3pm

Blessed Sacrament
6636 Selma Ave.
Hollywood, CA
323-871-8042
Mon, Tue, Thurs 9:30am-2pm
Fri & Sat 9:30am-1pm

L.A. Men's Place (LAMP)
526 San Pedro (between 5th and 6th)
Los Angeles, CA 90014
213-488-9559
Service charge of 35 cents
Mon-Fri 7:30am-5:30pm
Sat-Sun 7:30am-3:30pm

Midnight Mission
396 S. Los Angeles St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-624-9258
(Men 18+ only)
3 showers per day, last line at 1:50pm

Good Shepherd Center
267 N. Belmont Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
213-250-5241
(Women Only)
If you come around lunchtime, free meal.

Sepulveda United Methodist Church
15435 Rayen St.
Sepulveda, CA 91306
818-892-1164 or 818-830-4036
Only when gym is open

Beacon Light Mission
525 N. Broad Ave.
Wilmington, CA 90744
Showers Monday 8am-9am

Salvation Army Harbor Light Center
721 E. 5th St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-622-5253
Mon-Fri 9am-4pm

Los Angeles Mission
303 East 5th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-629-1227
Mon-Fri 8:30am-10:30am

LA Free Clinic
8405 Beverly Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90048

You must get a mailing address.

The welfare office will allow you to use their address and they even have a make-shift post office, but you have to ask, they will not volunteer this helpful information. You can also rent a cheap private mailbox. Forget the U.S. Post Office; they will not rent you a box without proof of residence such as bills to an address; that is clear discrimination against the homeless.

Get a cell phone or at least a voice mail.

My credit was shot so I had to get a voice mail, I signed up with:

VMI Economy
1335 N. La Brea #2
Hollywood, CA 90028
323-850-1414

You can also check the LA Weekly for other voice mail services.

The reason for a mailing address and a phone number is to look "normal." Remember, it is the unforgivable sin in this country to be homeless or poor, so no one can know your situation. If you fill out a job application or send someone a resume, you must have an address and phone number on there so that you appear "normal."

Speaking of resumes I am told you can use fax machines at One Stop Work Force Locations for Free and I'm also told you can use fax machines at EDD office locations.

You can also fax you resume online as an e-mail, a good service is Faxaway.

You can use computers for free at the Public Libraries and at One Stop Work Force Locations.

DESPERATE MEASURES

One way to get money to get off the streets is getting a student loan. If you enroll for at least 6 hours of classes at a college, you can apply for grants and loans and receive thousands. There's a lot of paperwork, but it's worth it. It will get you off the streets. Go to your local college financial aid office for more info.

I'm told that if you declare bankruptcy it will ruin your credit for 7 to 11 years, but you will be flooded with credit cards because the credit card companies know you won't be able to declare bankruptcy again. You could use those credit cards to get off the streets.

If you don't mind a lot of rules and having to go to church several times a week, you can try the Dreamcenter . It is a Christian ministry in downtown L.A.

Finally, do not lose hope! A lot of people have been homeless too: Jim Carrey, David Letterman, Colonel Sanders, William Shatner, ME, and many more…

Many intelligent hard-working people become homeless through different circumstances. Many more are just one paycheck away, like I was, from losing everything. But the good news is people CAN and DO work their way out of homelessness and find great success!

Disclaimer: The Ihatemylife web site is not a guide to scam money out of the government or advice to commit any illegal act and/or fraud. I do not advocate the breaking of any local or state or federal laws. While I try to keep the info as current as possible, some of the information may have changed since this info has been posted. I am not responsible for any misinformation.

If you have any questions or need help, e-mail me at: Thanksforsavingmyass@yahoo.com

If you need more local and national listings of agencies that can help you Click Here

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