Category: Daily Living
Hi all,
I'll make a long story short and quick to the point (hopefully!)
I may have to move from where I live (near Tampa Florida) back to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania where my family lives. This is not my choice.
I lost my job in July. I'm looking for one. I do not get much in SSDI and all of it, and I do mean all of it, goes towards bills. My rent is $700 for a 1 bedroom apartment centrally located. Internet is high, I got rid of my tv cable. I do not have Netflix.
I didn't have any money for food. If it were not for my church family I'd really be up the river without a pattle.
When I was working, I was able to put away about 3 months of savings but now that is all gone. My apartment lease is up in March, but I think I will get the new paperwork some time in January. If they raise my rent I will not be able to afford to live here. I mean at all because I'm not joking when I say every penny of SSDI goes towards bills.
I very recently got on food stamps. Something I haven't done I think in many years.
I hate not working;not doing anything it is driving me crazy but that's another topic I'm sure for another board.
I'm writing here because I may have to move to Pittsburgh and I'm not sure where to start! I would live with family, and I may have to for a while but I wouldn't be productive there as they live 4 miles from any bus stop.
I've found that up north, food and housing are cheaper than down here. But, transportation is way more pricy up north so no matter how you slice it you're still paying a lot..
I just feel overwhelmed and I'm not sure where to start. If anyone is from Pittsburgh can you send me a pm or something? How's the job market? My education is massage therapy but I'm also looking in the customer service field for work. How's the housing? Traveling? It has been years since I've lived there.
Thank you for any help or suggestions!! Thank you for your time!!
Flop eared Monster lives there.
I don't know if I wrote that right, but she'd maybe be a good source of help.
She also works for an agency that does things for the disabled.
Aww, darn, I'm sorry I no longer live there. I liked Pgh a lot, and I'd have been happy to meet you, and offer whatever little help or company I could. I lived in the Wilkinsburg/Regent's Square neighborhood, which had easy bus access to most things. It was one quick bus trip to Squirrel hill, where there was a grocery store, library, and lots of other useful businesses, and an easy walkable area.
Oh very cool Violet!! Where did you move to? I'm just being curious now..
Yeah, I grew up in the Monroeville area. I thought wilkens burg is a bad area but this was over ten years ago so did they clean it up?
I used to live in Dormont but I've heard that's gone down hill. To bad..has the subway stations right there and a cool church. :)
ForReal I'll look up FlopEaredMonster. Thanks so much!
I'm hoping not to move but we will see. God may have other plans and I believe He does know what is best. :)
Any help and suggestions are so greatly appreciated Thank you so much!
I'm in Washington state now.
Wilkinsburg, true, not the most upscale place, but cheaper rent. I never felt afraid there, maybe just lucky that I lived on a decent street. I'm sure careful choosing and caution are warranted, but I never felt unsafe there. I wasn't going out at night, either.
Yeah, this is very true considering that area. :) Thank you for your input!
I would maybe look into cheaper apt options if you want to stay in FL or if you are dead set on moving to Pitt. I'll tell you don't always through out low income places, I've lived in some really good ones, but do your research.
good luck!
I used to live in Shadyside and Ben Avon. But it has been 20 years, so probably cannot help much. I do know a few people in Pittsburgh still though. Floppy does not live in Pittsburgh. She lives quite a ways north as I recall. I have lived in some truly dangerous places, and in my view, Pgh is comparatively safe in most areas. Sorry to hear of your troubles.
Thank you everyone for your kind words of support.
Low income housing is almost impossible to get into and they're in some really bad areas. Since I like to walk with my dog and such, I don't want to give "bad people," a wrong idea. Of course that can happen everywhere and anywhere.
You're right..I spoke to Floppy and she doesn't live in Pgh. She was still helpful!
I used to live in Dormont back in the day..about almost ten years ago.. Can't believe it's been that long!
I thought she might be.
no problem ForReal..it is the thought that counts! :)
Nothing to offer here, except my sympathies. I, too have been between jobs
before. It's horrible. It's awful to have to contend with that. I'm so sorry for
your situation, and yes SSD has a cap even as much money as I made you only
get so much. Which in my case didn't go very far between the three of us. lol
Anyhow, all the best to you. Living decisions and how to manage a jobless
situation are very difficult things to contend with.
It sounds like, and I do hope, that your church people aren't judgmental of your
situation, or helping you on condition that you will do certain things the way
they think you should. Most of us certainly are not "kept" or "tamed very easily.
I certainly am not, lol. And you have my utmost sympathies.
Nope Leo..no judgement. No, "do this/do that.." They have really been awesome! I must say that they show how Christ's church should be and act like.
I am in PGH working at least 3x weekly, all over the city, and surrounding areas, and I'd say it feels much nicer than many other big cities I work in. Transit seems decent, and of course there are certain spots where anything is well within a walk! SPring summer and fall, we often walk somewhere after working with clients and find something nice to eat/drink! I recently had the opportunity to move there via a job offer, but we had literally just bought a house in May, so that nixed that. Though, I will say that had that not been the case, we certainly would have strongly considered making the move, that's how much I enjoy the city.
HTH.
Oh wow! Thanks for the info! Do you live in Pennsylvania now or do you live in another state? I'm glad you got to check it out! Very cool! Thanks!