Living in My Car | 6 Ways to Survive Homelessness

I Made a Vow!

I would be lying if I said no one prepared me for the day I would be living out of my car. To some, I am homeless, but to me, I have shelter (my car). Still, it's not how I planned or thought my life would be at 37 years young. Let me first say that God has a sense of humor. I am not the first to say this. The guy truly is hilarious! When I lived in LA, I would go and feed the homeless on the walk of Hollywood fame since it was literally a few streets from where I lived (off Gower St and North Beachwood). During one of my visits I stumbled upon a gentleman living on the streets. I'd bypassed him but noticed he was keeping up speed with me. Quite naturally, I looked to my side to acknowledge I saw him, and he complimented my smile. He said, "Man, you have a beautiful smile and your teeth are white!" I politely thanked him, at which time I took a closer look at him. I knew he was living on the streets but for the most part he looked like he had some dignity about him. He wasn't reeking of alcohol, nor did he have a bad odor. He just looked like something happened and he was just passing through this phase. Honestly, he was handsome with light eyes and a nice complexion. Needless to say, at that point I was interested. I wanted to know his story. So I asked, where are you from? He did not sound like a California native. It was cool to hear he was from Texas, Beaumont to be exact. As we bonded over our home state, the conversation began to flow. I would learn he was once in ministry but due to corruption in the church and his own personal relationships he was bitter towards God. As we walked the strip sharing testimonies, he asked me, "so would you do anything for God?" Of course, I answered. He said, "even be homeless?" I said yes instantly. But on the inside, I felt a conviction in my spirit. Like, really, would I? I'd spent a night or two in my car before but never considered spending more time than that. You could say, in that moment I made a vow. Fast forward to today. One year since that encounter, I am homeless and in the will and obedience of God.

But GOD Would Never!

How many times have you experienced something in life not so pleasant and someone said it could be the will of God teaching you something? Be honest, your first thought could be, but God would never! We like to think God is only about love and light. If that is your theory, you do not know GOD. The One True God, is a God of correction, self-control and discipline. Our purpose on earth is to worship, which is why we have to be careful what we idolize because it is in our nature to do so. This could explain why God drills us about being obedient. It is only when you are in alignment to His will that you can experience divine protection from dark powers and false gods. While you could be thinking God is punishing you, he is pruning to bring you back to a pure state. Your pain is rarely ever about you. It is always for the glory of God. It is called a testimony for a reason. So let us get into how to maintain in an uncomfortable state such as homelessness. Because let's be clear, you never know if it could be you one day.

How to Survive Homelessness | No Shame

Do not, and I repeat DO NOT, be ashamed of your circumstances. Everyone in their life has experienced some form of trial and tribulation. The fact that there are billionaires and homelessness in the same realm explains the greed of society. STAND ON PURPOSE. You must remember, David was in a cave before he received his kingdom and Joseph was in a pit before the palace. If God called you to this position, he has a purpose for it. OBEY! Where He guides, He provides.

Hygiene & Showers

If you can afford a gym, planet fitness has a ten dollar a month membership. You can use their showers. While in this situation, if you are not careful, your self-esteem can be impacted and you could fall into a depression. The gym is the perfect place to release the frustration, tension and overwhelm. Exercise is a well-known anti-depressant. If your circumstance doesn't allow a gym, a great alternative is Starbucks for wipe offs and refreshing. The restrooms are designed for single use. I purchased liquid soap and I keep a towel in my bag along with a kit which includes my toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, facial cleanser kit, and lip balm. If there is one thing my encounter with the guy in LA taught me, it's that you don't have to look like you live on the streets. You want to keep up with your appearance regardless of circumstances because you never know who is watching or when an opportunity may arise. Do not lose yourself, learn to separate your emotions from the crisis.

Speak Life!

Keep your self talk optimal! Speak life no matter what you see. Keep your goals at the forefront of your mind. Work on them daily. I have my vision board in my truck so it’s in my face. Whatever God has purposed in your heart to do, DO IT! He has removed all distraction, so you have no excuse as to why you do not have tunnel vision. Focus on how to get out of the situation, not what you do not have. This is a temporary stop, not the final destination. Do not get comfortable with the idea that this is your forever. It is not!I have learned to see this as an opportunity to do what I said I was going to do. I proclaimed to be the generational curse breaker in my family lineage, and two of the patters I am breaking is codependency and poverty.

Wifi!

If you are without service for your phone and or laptop, you can always use wifi. (This works for iPhones, I am not sure about androids.) How else are you going to get your work done?! This is not the time to get down on yourself, but a time to WORK! Starbucks and Planet Fitness both have wifi, but so does McDonald's and many other cafe's. I prefer Starbucks because of the ambiance and the many other perks. We'll get into those next.

Let's Talk Food!

If you are anything like me, you own a nutribullet. If it gets down to the wire, you can make fruit smoothies. This is what I call portable healthy fast food. Although milk could be a luxury at this point, water works too. The thing is we must consider what does not require a refrigerator after the seal has been broken. Bananas, peanut butter, and avocado make for great proteins and fats to appease your appetite and keep you full for two to three hours. You can add a lil honey to make it sweet. But do not forget the ice! You can get ice from any cafe or fast food restaurant. Starbucks anyone! All these ingredients can be stored at room temperature. Below are other noteworthy meals sufficient for a low budget.

* Peanut butter sandwich

* Ramen (get the four pack, you can get steaming water from Starbucks)

* Avocado tuna sandwich, add apples and chips for a complete meal.

Also, you should get familiar with fasting. It’ll save you when and if you have to go days without food. You can get free cups of water at Starbucks while you're working.

Get a Job?

Ha! If only it was that simple. On my walk, God has forbidden me from getting a job. I am the type of person who pours my all into all that I do. In this season, God requires that I only pour my gold into His kingdom. It is always best to consult God before making any decision, big or small. If the goal is to unplug from the matrix (government system), God could require that you focus solely on your purpose and in His time, He will exalt you.

Final Thoughts | You Can Do It!

When you walk with God, there will be times you are called to do the unthinkable. In fact, you could question if you have the capacity to do what God is calling you to do. Your fear could cripple you and stop you from moving forward altogether. But YOU CAN DO IT! I never thought I would be writing this blog post about how I am learning to survive homelessness, at least not from my own perspective. But God continues to assure me, I can do all things through Christ whom strengthens me. Philippians 4:13. This experience serves a bigger purpose and I am humbled to be a part of God's grand divine plan. We must expand our limitations and that process starts with breaking past limiting beliefs.

"Stagnancy is a sign of control and a lack of self-worth. We can't give enough, do enough, or have enough because we aren't enough. We hold tight to what we do have in hopes it validates we are. When we cling so firmly to beliefs, it conveys, "I won't let you go until you validate me."

- Ground Up Self-Love Workbook

For more information about aligning to the word of God and breaking past generational curses by way of spiritual fitness (healing the chakras), check out my Ground Up Self-Love Workbook and ReAlign Masterclass & workshop below. For more tips, holistic coaching and so much more, please be sure to subscribe to my email list and share with a friend.

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La'Tara Jackson is Author/Owner of Ground Up Self-Love Workbook and .com, and Holistic Coach both certified in personal training and yoga. She has over eight years experience in nutrition and wellness and it all began with being a single mom desiring a better life for herself and children by starting a woman's community bootcamp that would go on to change the lives of many. And that was just the beginning.

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