r/MadeMeSmile • u/Nothingsomething7 • 28d ago
After about 9 months living in my car and most of my life with unstable housing, I finally have a home to call my own! Personal Win
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u/According-Weekend-64 28d ago
I'm in the same boat!! After 4 years, I have my own place as well! Congrats!!
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u/Miserablecollegekid 28d ago
Congratulations on your home!
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u/Killerina 28d ago
I love this subreddit. It's so kind. I hope you're not super miserable, college kid!
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u/MomNumber2 28d ago
Currently living in a tent/car and I’m tearing up, so happy for you! I can’t wait for this day for myself
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
It's so hard but it's not impossible, keep pushing forward and you'll get there, I know you will! Sending good vibes ♡
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u/bro2017 28d ago
Wow…I can’t even imagine actually living in a car. Even after seeing Nomadland (2021). I’m so happy that you are in a better place now.
I wish all the best to you 🙂
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
It's just as bad as you'd think.
The worst part in my opinion is waking up having to pee so bad and still having to get up and drive somewhere.
Now I can just walk to my bathroom 🥺
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u/hotsy-totsy-flopsie 28d ago
Yup. And constant access to running water for cooking and cleaning also taken for granted until they gone.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
Oh and power! My car ran just fine but sadly the charger port was broken. I have diabetes and have an insulin pump that needed to be charged.
Many a time was spent in my boyfriend's work charging my pancreas lol.
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u/YellowDefiant520 28d ago
Was your boyfriend also living in his car? Not trying to be a dick. Real question.
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u/im_hunting_reddits 28d ago
Also a diabetic. Cant imagine living like that even with my battery powered pump, worrying about gettinf my insulin is hard enough. You're tough!
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u/AntiFame 28d ago
9 months! I did 33 days in a car back in 2008 and thought I was gonna die. And I was in sunny California.
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u/goaskalice3 28d ago
After living in a van for about 5 years.. Having a toilet and a fridge are still crazy to me. Get ready to be very appreciative of things people take for granted
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u/deadlyjessypoo 28d ago
My husband lived in his car off and on for about 4 years. He made sure his daughter had everything she needed (him and his wife split) and after that, he just didn’t have enough money to live on his own. It’s amazing how many people refuse to even go on a date with someone homeless, even knowing that it’s because he’s providing for his child. I thought it was super admirable.
Anyhoo, we got married in March. He’s had several promotions since and life is good.
All the best to you.
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u/GammaGargoyle 28d ago
I don’t think it’s unusual to avoid going on dates with homeless people.
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u/deadlyjessypoo 28d ago
Fair, I should have clarified. To me, judging someone for being homeless without actually getting to know them and why they’re in that position is what is cruddy to me. I’m not going to look down on someone who’s ensuring that their child has everything they need, and because of it, doesn’t have enough after to afford a place on their own.
I didn’t. I asked him to move in after a month. And a few months later, he changed jobs and made double what he was making.
Sometimes people just need a hand.
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u/Capt_Hawkeye_Pierce 28d ago
Speaking as a formerly homeless person and someone who's struggled with mental health, while I agree with the sentiment of what you're saying I wouldn't expect a lady to look past all that long enough to find out why I'm homeless.
It's not a good look for very good reasons.
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u/MeowNugget 28d ago
Ugh, it's tough. I lived in my car just over 1.5 years. I've never "looked" homeless and was putting myself through college while working. The hardest part for me was the people who caught wind of you possibly living in your car and treating you like vermin. It's like you're not human anymore. Less than. At college or work, I'm a pretty young women with freedom and rights. Wait, you live in your car? Gross, go away or I'm calling the police on you.
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u/Teleporter55 28d ago
We have a broken society. It's nice to smile for this person but really we should be getting our pitchforks and demanding the system built around concentrating wealth to the few starts taking care of those that fall into the cracks of that system. Not just congratulating this guy but asking why the fuck was he in his car in the first place. Something is wrong
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u/relaci 28d ago
Depends on the type of car and the type of town. I lived in my small SUV for a month and a half and it was almost long enough to stretch out all the way. Also, I was crashing near a wilderness recreation hub, so nature was a readily accessible #1 potty.
But I agree that living in a sedan-car sounds uncomfortable. Gotta be able to stretch out every now and again. Sleeping sitting up sounds terrible.
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u/wasilaodua 28d ago
Hi OP, congratulations on your new home. I hope the keys you posted here won't be the actual keys you will be using for your new home. If it is, please change them asap. There have been reports that people have been able to make working keys out of pictures like these. Please keep yourself and your property safe. Thanks!
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u/ksheep 28d ago
Obligatory keynote about why not to post key pictures.
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u/Lekrayte 28d ago
Saw the pic and immediately came to check if anyone else mentioned. You even got a direct clip to the story for reference. For those wondering, this applies to pretty much anything that can be used as a key. Meaning no high res photos of your fingerprints or eyeballs. The tech might not be 100% there yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be in the future.
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u/musicosity 28d ago
It's a Schlage lock...top 3 easiest locks to pick in under 30 seconds. Anyone who can eyeball pin depths, and cut a key...can pick it.
Side note. Are they just gonna go door to door checking this key across the world?
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u/Sheecuri 28d ago
Well there might be people that know the place (Old residents or friends/family of those) but considering this person lived in a car for 9 months, there's likely not enough to get here for the risk.
Additionally, there is a green tag in the picture, which I'm assuming is an US phone number?
If so, you could probably find out which company owns the property and find out which properties are owned by them.
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u/7hrowawaydild0 28d ago
Wow! Thank you for sharing! Did not know hack fest existed. I want to go. What amazing ideas for cloning, origining, and coding keys. Might be a new hobby.
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u/ksheep 28d ago
Check out both the Wild West Hackin' Fest and the Defcon videos on YouTube. Quite a few interesting talks on both, ranging from simple lockpicking and non-destructive entry to things like social engineering to gain entry and "Oh hey, this particular lock is extremely common and they all use the same exact key. Here's 6 other examples of similar locks."
EDIT: Also Shakacon. Probably a few others, but those are the three that I've seen on YouTube, binged a bunch of them a few years back and they occasionally pop up in my recommended feed.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
I've heard others warnings and I actually believe that is the mail key. But also the building requires you to go through 2 key fob locked doors so I'm safe, thank you for your concern though!
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u/ztherion 28d ago
Always change the locks and garage code. The previous homeowners might be cool but you never know who they gave the keys to.
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u/7hrowawaydild0 28d ago
On this note, i have moved a lot, almost every year this decade. I still have my keys to all my last places. Knowing my old landlords they definitely havent changed the locks bc they were tight asses.
so in summary, i have keys to about 5 properties just in my current city.
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u/pumaturtle 28d ago
But
Why do you still have them
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u/CHI3F117 28d ago
He probably made duplicates for visitors, etc and didn’t feel the need to give the owner extra keys for free.
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u/dontpostkeys 28d ago edited 27d ago
I'd just be concerned about your neighbors finding your account. That's your front door key pictured, with the mailbox key behind it. Perfect picture to make a key from honestly
Edit: 38585
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u/Robertbnyc 28d ago
You’re right, all you need is a key app and they’ll mail the key to you. Scary.
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u/John147GHN 28d ago
OP is in denial. He doesn't seem to take seriously this kind of danger.
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u/AppleDashPoni 28d ago
Because there isn't any danger. Anyone who wants to break into your house can get into it easily without keys unless it's a high-security lock, which generally can't be duplicated from a photo anyways - and breaking the window next to the door is always an easy way in no matter how secure the lock is anyways :)
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u/cym13 28d ago
Sure, it's possible, but it would be false to say there isn't any danger. There are advantages to using a key since you're notably less suspicious and can come and leave multiple times without anyone noticing. It's particularly relevant in targetted break-ins (by opposition to someone just looking for a quick and easy hit; a stalker for example). Another point is that you risk much more in these break-ins because the insurance company rarely pays as it is very difficult to show that a break-in did happen and that it's not someone you gave the key to.
So, yeah, there's definitely no more reason to panic but there is a new risk present which has a lower probability of occurence but also a higher cost if it does happen.
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u/pinkpooj 28d ago
If you have the skill to duplicate the key you probably have the skill to just pick it, or bypass some other way.
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u/Hewlett-PackHard 28d ago
The key shown is a door key, looks like your average Schlage 5 pin. The one behind it looks vaguely like a mailbox key from the profile of the head.
Always change (or rekey) locks when you move in to a new place, you have no idea who's got a copy of the current key, including other people with access to the building.
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u/dirmer3 28d ago
It would be quicker and easier to just pick his lock. Lock picks are cheap and super easy to use. My step dad taught me how to pick locks (he worked at an apartment complex and they had to sometimes) and he use to say, "locks only keep honest people honest. Any lock can be bypassed."
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u/blimeyfool 28d ago edited 28d ago
This advice is posted constantly but like... If someone really wanted to break into your place, why would they go through the effort of creating an exact duplicate when they could just use a bump key? Are there any real reports of this actually happening? I've never seen any, just the scary warnings.
ETA: a lot of responses about the persona that might be more inclined to copy a key than use a more obvious method, but not a single report of this having occurred. Are there any reports of this ever having happened to someone?
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u/ShazbotSimulator2012 28d ago
Clips from infosec conferences about theoretical methods get upvoted here because they're neat, then people assume that common criminals are actually investing in 3D printers instead of just kicking in your door while you're at work.
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u/tuga2 28d ago edited 28d ago
It's not so much about OP who is probably some random Joe it's about training everyone else or not make the same mistake. I do agree that sometimes people take it too far and make others paranoid about how vulnerable they are but in this case it costs nothing to not post a key.
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u/Straight_Cry_1260 28d ago
Yup. This paranoia is reminding me of the dumb shit LockPickingLawyer says.
'Well this lock took only 12 seconds for me, an undisputed expert, to pick. Not worth it for protecting your $500 bicycle.'
Please...
If your bike costs $4,000 worry plenty about which lock you get. But even then worry 100 times more about how easy it is to quickly and/or quietly destroy, not how easy it is to pick. Or better yet, just do not fucking leave your bike outside ever. Don't commute on your $4,000 bike, idiot.
For the other 99% of us...virtually any product that costs $30 or more from an actual lock company is more than good enough.
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u/nmj95123 28d ago
You don't need a 3D printer. You can determine the bitting by measuring the distance from the cut to the bottom of the key, and take it to a locksmith and have them cut a key by code. No investment in tools is necessary.
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u/tillgorekrout 28d ago
No ones gonna do that. Anyone into locks enough as much as we are do it as a weird puzzle hobby, not crime.
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u/BarracudaBig7010 28d ago
CONGRATULATIONS! I don’t even know you, yet I am genuinely happy for you. Be well.
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u/Uncannysexman21 28d ago
Congrats my friend! I remember accepting the key to my current place after being homeless for a over a year (lived in my car too), then spending 6 months in rehab. It's a great feeling and you should feel goddamn proud.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
It was amazing, I just got the keys yesterday and it doesn't even feel real yet! Haha :')
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u/Illustrious-Move-649 28d ago
Total stranger here, but I love to see others succeed. Congratulations to you! May you have only good, happy days ahead! 💖
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u/Suspicious_Ad9428 28d ago
Well tell us the story...
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
Well it is a pretty long one but I'll try and summarize,
My dad has anger issues so I never stayed in his home longer than 6 months at a time before he got violent and kicked my sister and I out.
After I turned 18 I was able to stay there for a while but alas he kicked me out again and my step siblings moved into my room and my dad built them an additional room, which was the living room, so there was no going back.
I had been on housing lists since I was 18 (I'm now 20) and I was finally brought to the top if the list!
I definitely think I would have been in my car much longer if it wasn't for housing, since every place I did apply to needed credit and rental history, which I sadly didn't have (until now!!)
My house is better than my dad's trailer anyway, take that dad! Lol
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u/dildobagginss 28d ago
You're renting the house then right? Housing lists meaning section 8 or rental assistance of some sort?
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u/orpcexplore 28d ago
Living from a vehicle makes you so thankful for the little things. Hot water to clean your dishes, a bathroom nearby, a shower whenever you want or however many times a day you please!!!! Ugh. The best.
I have been effectively homeless since April 2020 so I very much look forward to being in your shoes sometime soon! (I have been able to bounce around and have made myself comfortable. Just need to secure a job to get into an apartment again when I get to my new area)
May you rest easy with your new home and comforts 🥰
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u/tferransrobinson 28d ago
Congratulations! I am so proud of you and you should be so proud of you too! This is amazing!
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u/Iamyes_ok 28d ago
Genuine question: How/what did you eat? Did you buy regular groceries and if so how did you cook them? Did you just have to eat takeout? Which i assume would either be very expensive itself, or very unhealthy.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
I got food stamps during the last couple of months and we'd just buy gas station snacks and food (Not pre warmed).
Before then, we'd eat fast food or my boyfriend would make me food since thankfully he works at a restaurant. Definitely not ideal, I'm so ready to eat home-cooked meals again!
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u/PainfulTickling 28d ago
My mom is living out of her car and I’m kinda homeless at the moment, and seeing this is real motivational. Amazing work gurl! There ain’t nothing us toughass humans can’t turn around!
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u/Embarrassed-Dingo-53 28d ago
Damn. Major, major props. For whatever that means. Been in the car for a few months now...if you haven’t been here you don’t know how hard it is to get out. Whoever you are, you have true grit.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
So true, a lot of people who haven't dealt with this can easily think "well why don't they stop being lazy, apply for places and have a job, it's that easy!!1!"
It's not, not anywhere near that easy. And if you know, you know.
Best of luck man, don't give up ♡
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u/Calure1212 28d ago
You're making me happy. Congratulations. It's lovely how another person's good fortune can please someone who means nothing to them isn't it. I bet your even happier than I am. Enjoy.
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
My heart is over filled with excitement, it really is surreal :')
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u/BobbysueWho 28d ago
Yay! I feel you! I lived in my car most of my adult life. I upgraded to a camp trailer a few years ago then moved into a rental house with my partner. We just became homeowners a few months ago! I don’t even know how we did it. Things get better!!! Congratulations! I hope your home keeps you safe and cozy!
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u/TheSilverFoxwins 28d ago
Congratulations! Plant a tree , donate and give thanks everyday for your new place.
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u/Elisabeth-B 28d ago
Congratulations!
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
Thanks so much! I For the first time in forever, things are looking up ♡
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u/SnooPeppers6850 28d ago
That’s not a house, that’s a key
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u/etslaoga 28d ago
Congrats! Now rekey and don't post pictures of your home keys. They can be duplicated from a photograph.
https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/duplicating-keys-from-a-photograph/
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u/ruinmathilda 28d ago
you’re making the internet smile! (p.s. those air conditioners are evil and frustrating)
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
You're probably right, but sadly that's what the property management provides and I don't believe they allow window ACs because it's a multi level apartment :/
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u/ruinmathilda 28d ago
no worries! i think there are creative tutorials online to get the best use of them.
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u/cantthinklikecat 28d ago
This. This is what I want to read when I open any social media. Congratulations, bud. You made it.
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u/DyscoStick 28d ago
Oh man. I know these feelings. My Honda Insight has seen me through some rough times, but that first night with a roof over my head was incomprehensible. So quite, no rocking from cars driving by, but I did jolt awake at every little sound from neighbors thinking someone is messing with my car.
Congratulations from the bottom of my heart.
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u/calsey16 28d ago
Congratulations! Look up some guides or ask around on how to make sure you keep it nice, it is surprising how quickly housekeeping can get out of hand and starting from the beginning with great habits to keep it nice will be such a gift to your future self!
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u/isthisapersonalattac 28d ago
Congratulations OP onwards and upwards wish life gives you the best of everything .
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u/lookingforkindness 28d ago
I’m so incredibly proud of you. I can’t imagine the perseverance and grit it took to get here. Wish I could send you a pizza to celebrate🙌
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u/banana9128 28d ago
Omg this is so awesome. Congratulations, you deserve it and more! Enjoy your new home!
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u/Rocketman1701e 28d ago
You... Might want to look into changing out the keying on your lock. If there's any way to link your profile to your IRL identity, that picture allows anyone with a little knowledge/experience to potentially replicate what I assume is the key to your apartment. General FYI: don't take close up pictures of your keys and then post them online!
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u/energy423 28d ago
I’m really very happy for you! Im sending you a congratulatory hug and job well done pat on the back. You did it! Yay you!
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u/InLazlosBasement 28d ago
Congratulations!!! May this is the beginning of a long time of prosperity and health in your life <3
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u/chickaboomba 28d ago
Weird question, and not wanting gory details, but I’ve sat on multiple initiatives for economic mobility, blah blah blah … and the biggest barrier to overcome is almost always having enough income to actually save to get into more stable living arrangements. Being poor is expensive. You get charged bank fees that others with more money never deal with. You have to choose more expensive options because you don’t have a credit card to pay over time at a reasonable interest rate. A doctor’s appointment, tooth abscess or auto accident can be financially devastating. (That’s a generalized “you”)
What did you do to get into more stable housing?
Lots of respect for your perseverance and wishing you some happy homemaking. Go get a house plant and enjoy watching it grow by a window!
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u/Nothingsomething7 28d ago
I was very lucky to have a program called the Human Resource Council pay for all my moving in costs. They help the homeless get back on their feet and I'm forever greatful for them ♡
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u/RobinMBeem 28d ago
Congratulations! It’s so bright and open, it must be like waking up from a bad dream, I wish you well OP.
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u/Spidrmunkee 28d ago
Hey buddy, lpt. Don’t put photos of your key online, they can be duped that way. Otherwise congratulations!!
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u/ClairaKalin 28d ago
That’s fantastic!!!! Enjoy your new home and I wish you all the best! :)