Navigating Homelessness: Real People, Real Money, Real Stories

Chelsea Fagan, CEO of The Financial Diet, discusses the realities of being unhoused, sharing insights on safety, planning, and maintaining relationships while living out of a vehicle.

### The Financial Diet: Understanding and Navigating Homelessness and Financial Stability
* 🏠 " Being unhoused is a much more common and diverse issue than many people realize, and it is often an **invisible problem in society**.
* 💸  Mitz, a guest on The Financial Confessions, shared their story of becoming homeless after a chronic illness forced them to **drop out of college** and they couldn't find an **apartment**.
* 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦  Mitz comes from a lower to middle-class family with a unique background, and they are **fortunate to have family members who can support them**.
* 💼  Mitz currently earns between **$1,000 and $1,500 per month** from various digital gig work and is looking for an **in-person job**.
* 🚗 " I think the most pragmatic thing to do to prepare for homelessness is to **do some kind of trial run**.
* 💰  Mitz's main financial goal is to save a **$10,000 emergency fund** to have a **safety net** in case of unexpected expenses.
* 🧠 " Living in nature for weeks at a time has made it much easier for me to **not spend money**.
* 🚐  Mitz shared their perspective on the popularity of "van life" content and emphasized the importance of **understanding the practical day-to-day routines and needs** when living out of a vehicle.

### Homelessness Survival Tips: Planning, Safety, and Community
* 📝 " The mindset to adopt as quickly as possible is the pace planning style, which is you have **four plans: primary, alternate, contingency, emergency**.
* 🚗  Get something to **jump-start your car** with in case you ever need a jump start. There are **self jump-start machines** that are essential.
* 📱 " Your phone is not an emergency. Your plan is your phone. It is not even an **alternate plan**.
* 🏠  Setting up things as easy as possible is crucial. For example, **stack your clothes in a way that makes them easy to access**.
* 🏞️ " Avoid driving on **soft sand** at all costs.
* 👥  The most valuable long-term goal is to have **good friends and a strong community**.
* 🛌  Pace planning involves having **primary, alternate, contingency, and emergency plans**.
* 🌍 " The most relevant and pressing issue at this time is the **issue in Gaza**. If you have extra means, there are many families who have different GoFundMes verified who are either **very close to their goal** or **very far from it**.

What It's Really Like Living Out Of Your Car

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Many people have a narrow understanding of houselessness, but it is more common than perceived, often affecting those with full-time jobs and seemingly normal lives.

The issue of houselessness can happen to anyone, regardless of their background or family resources, as it is often just a few missed paychecks away.

Mitz, a guest on The Financial Confessions, shared her personal story of becoming unhoused after a sudden illness derailed her college plans, despite having a family and a job.

Managing Finances and Stability While Homeless

Living in a polyamorous household as a child, the speaker now relies on a support network from both sides of the family for stability.

They currently live cheaply, earning $1,000 to $1,500 a month from various digital gig work and are working on getting an in-person job.

The speaker is focused on building a $10,000 emergency fund and prioritizes saving money for future stability, even while facing current challenges.

Living without stable housing makes it easier to save money due to reduced exposure to advertising and luxury temptations.

The lack of financial education and stability can significantly impact a person's ability to make sound financial decisions, regardless of their housing situation.

Transitioning from a period of stability to unstable housing can lead to a struggle in prioritizing expenses and falling into the trap of unnecessary consumerism.

Practical Considerations for Living in a Van

- Daily van life routines vary for each person, so it's important to assess individual needs for things like showering, toiletry, and power requirements.

- Waste management is a significant consideration, including the storage of trash and minimizing single-use plastic waste to protect the environment.

- Investing in a power bank is crucial for meeting energy needs, and understanding wattage and amp hours is essential for effectively powering devices in a van.

Challenges of Navigating Homelessness and Chronic Illness

Navigating the process of getting food stamps while homeless is extremely difficult, as revealing homelessness can lead to being removed from the system.

Chronic illness can greatly impact housing stability, making it challenging to access necessary healthcare and juggle work in different states.

Staying safe while living in a car involves using safety features like window covers, finding multiple spots to sleep, and being prepared to move if confronted, but generally, the car is not disturbed.

Navigating Relationships and Housing Instability

Living in a car strained some relationships, but strengthened the friendship with the person I became homeless with.

The unconventional lifestyle caused a rift with family members who couldn't understand my choices, leading to a loss of connections.

Living in my car provided more comfort and flexibility for my chronic illness compared to living with family, outweighing the benefits of staying with them.

The ability to have a safe space and take care of myself outweighed the costs of living in the car.

The instability forced me to drop out of college, but returning to school is still something I would like to pursue in the future.

The Importance of Long-Term Planning and Community in Life

Returning to college is not a priority due to a focus on family, community, and long-term relationships.

The main goal is to build a strong foundation with family and friends, prioritizing personal connections over academic achievements.

The key mindset is to have multiple plans in place, from primary to emergency, and to simplify daily life for easier navigation of unexpected situations.

The Importance of Being Prepared for Emergencies

Relying on a phone in emergencies is not reliable, as experienced in the desert situation.

Learning basic skills like using a shovel and handsaw can be crucial in unexpected circumstances.

Depending on strangers for help in hostile environments can be risky, but it can also be a crucial lifeline.