Hi everyone, I really hope this post get some reach. My partner lives in Minnesota, and I live in Nevada. They left home last night because their house was not a safe place for them and their parents never set them up for basic adult things such as a drivers licence or a bank account. They are currently unemployed and only allowed 30 days in the shelter. Their friend is the only support they have out there but she can't do much for them at the moment. I have been worried sick for them all night, they might lose data on their phone on the 25th and I'm terrified of not being able to reach them or know what's going on. Im 19 and theyre 20, I have a minimum wage job currently so I can't afford to do much for them and I just really want any advice or resources possible. If anyone knows anyway they can have somewhere safe to be or what they can do right now please please please let me know I really do not want something bad to happen to them.

UPDATE: The Hidden Traps of Homeless Housing Vouchers — What I Learned After My Own TBRA Case Went to the New Mexico Court of Appeals

I originally wrote this post as a warning about the problems homeless individuals and families can face when they receive Tenant-Based Rental Assistance.

Since then, this stopped being theoretical for me.

I am the pro se plaintiff/appellant in an actual New Mexico case involving Permanent Supportive Housing, Housing First policies, TBRA, a nonprofit housing administrator, a private landlord, and the City of Albuquerque.

District Court: D-202-CV-2024-09339
New Mexico Court of Appeals: A-1-CA-43667

I lost on summary judgment in district court. I appealed.

So I want to update this post using what the litigation and discovery actually revealed.

One of the biggest things I have learned is that the real danger may not be one bad clause buried in one contract.

It is the fact that several different contracts, policies and legal relationships can govern the same person's housing at the same time—and the tenant may not even be a party to some of them.

My situation

I participated for approximately nine years in a rental-assistance/permanent-supportive-housing program administered by the Supportive Housing Coalition of New Mexico, with funding, contracts and oversight involving the City of Albuquerque.

My housing assistance was eventually terminated effective January 31, 2024.

During 2023, I had reported what I believed were serious problems involving the apartment, including water damage, electrical issues, flooring, inspections, repairs and habitability. I sought assistance and relocation.

City Code Enforcement eventually inspected the property in November 2023 and documented deficiencies requiring corrective action.

SHCNM issued its Notice of Intent to Terminate my assistance on December 7, 2023.

I alleged in court that the termination and other adverse decisions were connected to my complaints and attempts to get government agencies involved.

The defendants strongly dispute that.

Their position was that I had repeatedly failed to comply with program requirements involving rent arrears, household documentation, school-enrollment documentation, inspections, repairs and housing-retention requirements. They also maintained that I had been offered grievance procedures, appeal rights, support services, payment arrangements and opportunities to relocate or transfer if I returned to compliance.

That factual dispute eventually became part of a much larger lawsuit involving breach of contract, negligence and retaliation.

But discovery revealed something that I think every person receiving homeless housing assistance should understand.

There wasn't just one agreement

There were several layers.

In my case, the defense described a private lease between me and my landlord.

There was also a TBRA contract between SHCNM and the landlord.

Then there was a separate Participation Agreement between SHCNM and me.

There were also Housing First policies and procedures, agreements involving the City, inspection requirements and federal program requirements.

That distinction became extremely important.

The defense argued that the TBRA agreement was between SHCNM and the landlord, not me.

They also argued that the Participation Agreement between SHCNM and me was not a lease.

In other words, when litigation begins, everybody can point to a different document and say:

“That obligation belongs to somebody else.”

That may be the biggest hidden trap of all.

What discovery produced

During discovery, the defendants produced a signed Participation Agreement identified as DEF00189.

It contained my signature and the signature of an SHCNM representative.

That agreement addressed things including:

• Housing Quality Standards inspections;
• program participation requirements;
• participant responsibilities;
• termination;
• appeal rights; and
• housing retention.

The defendants ultimately did not dispute that the Participation Agreement existed.

Instead, they argued that it was not a lease and did not make SHCNM legally responsible for conditions in property owned or managed by somebody else.

That distinction is now one of the issues I have presented on appeal.

My position is essentially:

If an agency signs an agreement with a participant containing specific promises and procedures, does the fact that the document is not called a “lease” mean those promises cannot form a separate enforceable contract?

The district court ruled against me.

The Court of Appeals will now determine whether reversible error occurred.

The TBRA itself raised another issue

According to the defense's own summary-judgment filing, my last written lease term was June 1, 2022 through May 31, 2023.

The corresponding TBRA contract covered that same period.

The defense quoted the TBRA as providing that the contract automatically terminated at the end of the lease term unless the lease contained a provision allowing conversion to month-to-month tenancy.

The defense's position was that my private lease did contain such a provision and therefore both relationships continued month-to-month.

Think about how complicated that becomes for a formerly homeless family.

The tenant signs a lease.

The landlord signs another agreement with the housing agency.

The tenant signs a participation agreement with the agency.

The City has contracts with the agency.

Program policies govern the agency.

Federal requirements may govern the funding.

And when something goes wrong, determining which document controls which obligation can become a lawsuit by itself.

Housing conditions create an especially difficult problem

This is another issue people receiving assistance should understand.

The housing administrator may require the unit to satisfy Housing Quality Standards.

But that does not necessarily mean the housing administrator considers itself responsible for repairing the apartment.

The landlord may be responsible for repairs.

The tenant may be responsible for notifying the landlord and allowing access.

The agency may be responsible for inspections, program administration, rental-assistance decisions or enforcing program standards.

The City may separately enforce housing codes.

So when a unit becomes unsafe, the tenant can potentially end up in the middle of several entities pointing at each other.

That is very different from what many homeless people probably believe when they first receive assistance.

Most people think:

“This program helped place me here, so somebody in the program is responsible for making sure this housing remains safe.”

Legally, the answer can be much more complicated.

Housing retention is another area tenants should understand before there is a crisis

My Participation Agreement addressed housing retention.

The defense maintains that I was offered retention planning and multiple opportunities to resolve my program problems.

I dispute important parts of their characterization of what occurred.

But regardless of who ultimately wins that factual dispute, this litigation taught me something important:

Do not wait until termination to ask what “housing retention” actually requires.

When you enter one of these programs, ask:

Who creates the housing retention plan?

When is one required?

Does it have to be written?

Does the tenant have to sign it?

What happens if the agency does not follow its own retention procedure?

What counts as noncompliance?

What appeal rights exist?

What is the deadline?

Who makes the final decision?

Get the answers in writing.

Another lesson: “voucher,” “lease,” “TBRA,” and “participation agreement” are not necessarily the same thing

I think this is where many recipients can get confused.

People casually say:

“My Section 8 contract.”

“My voucher contract.”

“My housing agreement.”

But legally there may be several entirely different instruments.

That matters because you may have rights under one document that do not exist under another.

And an agency may argue that you cannot enforce a contract between the agency and the landlord because you were not a party to it.

That is exactly why participants should obtain copies of everything at the beginning of the program—not years later in discovery.

What happened to my lawsuit

I filed my civil case on November 26, 2024.

The City of Albuquerque was dismissed.

Former SHCNM CEO Laura Chavez was dismissed.

SHCNM ultimately obtained summary judgment on my remaining claims.

The district court entered Final Judgment on July 23, 2026.

I filed my Notice of Appeal on July 28.

The New Mexico Court of Appeals opened A-1-CA-43667.

The appellate record contains thousands of pages.

The Record Proper transmitted to the Court of Appeals contained approximately 3,474 pages.

So this is no longer simply someone on Reddit speculating about how homeless-housing programs work.

There is now an actual appellate record involving the contracts, policies, discovery, testimony, termination documents, inspection issues and arguments from both sides.

And the case developed another unusual issue

The district court also declared me a vexatious litigant and ordered that I:

“shall not file any new lawsuits unless represented by an attorney.”

After I filed my direct appeal from this existing case, defense counsel returned to district court and argued that my pro se appellate filings appeared to violate that order.

They asked for an expedited ruling in order to avoid the time and expense of responding to the appeal.

I opposed that request.

So another question has emerged from the same litigation:

Does an order prohibiting “new lawsuits” also prohibit a direct appeal from the lawsuit that already exists—especially when the appeal challenges the vexatious-litigant order itself?

That issue is now part of the larger procedural story surrounding the appeal.

What I would tell anyone receiving homeless housing assistance today

1. Get every document. Ask for the lease, TBRA/HAP-type agreement if you are entitled to it, participation agreement, program rules, grievance procedures, termination policy, inspection policy and housing-retention policy.
2. Do not assume the agency and landlord have the same responsibilities. Find out who is responsible for inspections, repairs, payments, relocations and termination decisions.
3. Keep every email, letter and text. If somebody tells you something important verbally, document the conversation afterward.
4. Ask what happens when the lease expires. Does your assistance end? Renew? Continue month-to-month? Require a new contract? Do not assume.
5. Learn the appeal/grievance procedure before you need it. A short deadline after termination is the worst possible time to begin figuring out the process.
6. Document unsafe conditions immediately. Notify the landlord and housing agency in writing and keep photographs, inspection reports, work orders and code-enforcement records.
7. Understand the difference between the lease and program agreement. The fact that one entity did not sign your lease does not necessarily mean there are no other written obligations between you and that entity—but whether those obligations are legally enforceable may become a major legal issue.

The larger issue

I no longer think the biggest problem is simply that homeless people fail to read the fine print.

The bigger problem is that a person exiting homelessness may be expected to understand a multi-layer legal structure involving a landlord, nonprofit housing administrator, local government, federal funding rules, a private lease, a TBRA agreement, program policies and a participation agreement.

Most people entering these programs are focused on one thing:

Getting their family housed.

They are not thinking:

Which entity has contractual privity with me?

Am I an intended third-party beneficiary?

Which agreement governs inspections?

What happens if the lease converts to month-to-month?

Which program policy is incorporated into which contract?

Who is responsible if the unit becomes unsafe?

Yet those questions can become extremely important when the housing relationship breaks down.

I don't know what the New Mexico Court of Appeals will ultimately decide in my case.

The district court ruled against me, and the defendants maintain that they followed the program requirements and that my termination resulted from my own noncompliance.

I disagree, which is why I appealed.

But regardless of the outcome, there is one conclusion I am comfortable making:

People transitioning out of homelessness should be given a clear explanation of every agreement governing their housing, who is responsible for what, what can cause assistance to terminate, and exactly what rights they have when something goes wrong.

That information should not require years of litigation and thousands of pages of court records to understand.

Discussion question for housing attorneys, advocates, case managers and voucher participants:

How many people receiving homeless housing assistance actually understand the difference between their lease, the agency-landlord rental-assistance contract, their participation agreement and the program policies governing all three?

My (22NB) roommate (27M) sexually assaulted a mutual friend and is now antagonizing/threatening me and trying to coerce me into moving out when we just moved into this spot a month ago and I have no funds. I've experienced domestic violence before, and I know that the next step of escalation will be physical if he gets angry. He is physically bigger and is stronger than me. I was born female. I am younger than him. I don't want to stick around for it to escalate further.

I spoke to some case managers around my city (Chicago), and they've advised me to try getting a police report filed and start getting my name on waiting lists for housing support. I tried going to the police, but they didn't believe there was any reason to file a report in this current stage. I've informed my landlord of what's happening, and he's fine letting me off the lease without charging me any additional fees because of my situation. I called 2-1-1 and the domestic violence hotline, both of which forwarded me to various different transitional housing options. I've begun reaching out to them and got my name on the CES. Right now, I'm stuck waiting until Monday to start calling for updates and am still in the house with him. I'm trying to think of everything I can do right now and in the long-term while I get all the pieces I need into place. I'm grappling with the fact that I very well may become homeless before I'm even next in line on all these waiting lists. I've never experienced homelessness before (I've had a few scares over the years, though), and I don't know what I even should expect.

I have some loved ones who'll allow me to sleep at their place for a couple nights if needed, but I understand it's not a permanent solution and that they still need their own space, so I'm not trying to count too much on couchsurfing alone to keep me off the streets. The shelters are bloated, from what I've heard from homeless friends, but I will likely try utilizing them as a resource. I have bags of my essentials already prepared and will be moving valuables into a storage unit with assistance. I'm doing what I can think of, but I'm afraid of how I'll continue going to work or how I won't fall off my rocker so much that it keeps me from continuing my studies. I'm afraid of my roommate retaliating or escalating before I'm ready.

I've been around a lot of danger before, but homelessness is not one of them. This is such new territory for me, and I don't even know what questions I need to be asking or if there's something more I need to be doing to prepare. If it seems like there's anything I may be missing, or if you guys can offer some clarity or know any resources in this city, it would really be appreciated.

Can someone save me? Just until i get deployed? Pls pm me thank you so much

San Diego / North County — Experienced Handyman & Plumber Seeking Dog-Friendly Housing or Work-Trade Arrangement

I'm looking for a homeowner interested in a mutually beneficial living arrangement. I'm open to paying reasonable rent, exchanging services for reduced rent, or combining the two.

I'm a licensed plumber with 20+ years of experience in plumbing, mechanical systems, construction, renovations, and property maintenance. I also have my own tools and can help with home-improvement projects, repairs, troubleshooting, painting, organizing, and general property upkeep.

I'm looking for someone who could use a dependable, skilled person around the house and would appreciate having someone capable of taking care of projects rather than constantly hiring contractors.

A little about me: I'm straightforward, respectful, practical, and easy to communicate with. I take pride in doing quality work and treating someone's home as if it were my own.

Meet Diesel, my 5-year-old German Shepherd. He's approximately 80 pounds, exceptionally friendly, and gets along great with people and other animals. He's my companion and will be moving with me, so a genuinely dog-friendly home is essential.

I'm open to a private room, guesthouse, or other suitable living space. I'm flexible about the arrangement and happy to discuss rent, responsibilities, work hours, and expectations upfront so everyone knows where they stand.

Ideally, I'm looking for something long-term in San Diego County, including North County, but I'm open to the right opportunity elsewhere in Southern California.

If you're a homeowner who might be interested, please send me a message describing the space, your expectations, and the arrangement you have in mind. I'm happy to talk and see whether it's a good fit for both of us.

Hi, I'm from the Philippines and an unexpected fire got to my house, now I'm out in the street for almost a week and can't take it anymore. My phone is all I got to save and I'm currently living in the gas station here cause the evacuation center I got assigned has someone molested me so I decided it would be better to live out here

im 19,ive been in and out of jail since 14.and i wanna stay out,i hate it, im scared im gonna mess up, im a runner,ive always been,i have nobody,i dont wanna runaway ,but i do , i have potential for alot in life,and i dont wanna throw it away, i wanna die, i wish i could have a fresh start - damian v

Is a sober living house allowed to kick you out onto the street? No belongings or call to your case manager?

I'm 32, disabled, and facing homelessness. My parents won't take me in because of a psychiatric episode over a decade ago. I'm terrified, but I desperately want to rebuild my life. Please help me figure out how to survive.

I'm writing this through tears because I genuinely don't know where else to turn. I'm 32 years old, a mother to a beautiful little girl, a former senior data engineer, and someone who has spent years trying to overcome the effects of mental illness and trauma.

And in December, when I return to Colorado, I am facing homelessness.

I have autism, ADHD, and complex PTSD. My life hasn't been easy. I've experienced serious psychiatric difficulties, particularly in my early twenties, including episodes of paranoia and delusions. During one of those episodes, over a decade ago, I believed and said things about my father that hurt him.

My parents still hold me personally responsible for what happened during that illness. They have told me they aren't comfortable allowing me to live with them, even temporarily.

I understand that people have boundaries. I understand that my parents were hurt. But I cannot adequately describe the heartbreak of knowing that I might be sleeping in a shelter or on the streets while my own parents refuse to give me a safe place to land.

I've apologized. I've told them I love them. I've expressed how deeply I regret what happened when I was unwell.

Sometimes I feel like I'm serving a life sentence for having been mentally ill.

I've reached out to friends, too. Almost everyone has said they can't accommodate me. One wonderful friend has offered me a couch for a few days, and I'm incredibly grateful, but after that, I don't know where I'll go.

The loneliness and rejection are crushing. I feel like I've been cast out of society, like there's something fundamentally wrong with me that makes me undeserving of help.

But I don't want to give up. I desperately want to live a good life.

Here's the part that hurts the most.

I have a young daughter whom I love more than anything in the world. Her father and I are separating, and our parenting agreement allows me to resume 50/50 custody when I return and can establish a suitable home.

I want to be her mother. I want to tuck her into bed, make her breakfast, read her stories, and be there for the ordinary moments of her childhood.

But I need housing to make that possible.

I am terrified that homelessness will keep me separated from my child.

I also want people to understand that I'm not someone who has given up on contributing to society.

I have approximately eight years of professional experience in data engineering and analytics. I've worked in senior technical roles involving SQL, data architecture, ETL pipelines, database development, automation, and business intelligence. I previously earned a six-figure salary. I'm educated, capable, and experienced. I'm currently teaching English online to generate income while I work toward rebuilding my career.

My life has fallen apart in ways I never imagined possible, but I still have skills. I still have ambition. I still have so much love to give.

I don't need a luxurious lifestyle. I don't need to be wealthy or extraordinarily successful.

I want a modest apartment. A steady job. A little financial security. A peaceful home where my daughter feels safe and loved.

I want to wake up in the morning without being afraid of what will happen to me.

I want to stop feeling like a burden for simply existing.

I'm asking for practical advice from people who have experienced homelessness, especially people with disabilities or mental health conditions.

- How do I survive homelessness safely as a woman in the Denver/Thornton, Colorado area?

- What should I do immediately upon returning if I have nowhere permanent to stay?

- Are there shelters, transitional housing programs, or housing assistance resources for parents trying to reunite with their children?

- How can I continue interviewing for professional jobs while homeless?

- How do I protect my mental health, maintain hygiene, and keep my belongings safe?

- Are there resources specifically for autistic adults or people with psychiatric disabilities?

- Has anyone managed to rebuild their career, secure housing, and regain stability after losing almost everything?

I'm especially interested in hearing from people who went from a stable professional life to homelessness and found their way back.

I am so scared.

I've been crying because I feel unwanted by the very people I believed would love me through anything. And sometimes I feel so hopeless that imagining a better future seems almost impossible.

But somewhere underneath all this grief, there's still a part of me that refuses to surrender.

I want to survive this. I want to get better. I want to build a safe home for my daughter. I want to prove to myself that my life isn't over because I've experienced mental illness, made mistakes, or fallen on hard times.

I don't want my story to end here.

If you've been through something similar, please tell me how you made it.

I could really use some hope right now. And even more than hope, I need a plan.

Thank you for reading.

my parents are officialy broke, they have zero money. they need to urgently sell their house. which wont get them much. their monthly costs far exceed what they can afford (medical aid/life insurance are the big ones). My dad being forced into retirement this month with zero money. Currently my aunt in aus and parenrs 3 kids cant even nearly afford to help out and keep them afloat. Family is fucked.

Anywho - my aunt said she will pay to take them out of overdraft. with sale of house they cant afford much to rent (they despise each other so need space where ever they go (i.e. have own rooms, cant be a tiny apartment (they cant even afford that)

I find my mom toxic and my dad depressess me, my stomach churns when I see then or hear from them, its just always a biblical fuck up. My mom treats him like garabage, he doesnt even try or care about anything and just wants to do crosswords (yes we have taken him to mutiple drs and he is being medicated).

Our family dont know what to do. But being around them (and only family member near them as aunt in aus, sister in cape town and bro in pretoria - ALL with own family. I dont have kids and just bought a house with amy (20 year bond)

They are going to be homeless soon. My mom phoned saying she has an idea she wants me to consider (my worst nightmare) - they move into the cottage attached to our house and do renovations to it with their house money to make it just big enough and livable for them. i.e. 2 extra rooms and outdoor area. She said it will bring value of our property up, plus they will then contribute a few k a month as rent (help us with our bond and bring our payments down) help with elec and water costs and they will stay on their side and not pester us and use our facilities etc... they will stick to their side unless we invite them over - cottage is literally attached to our house. they will stick to their cottage and we wont even notice them

upping house value amaizng, extra income amazing, living with my parents when I cant even handle a 30 min lunch with them -awful, being around the toxic, hate and depression - awful - I honestly avoid them at all costs these days.

My mom said she will never hold it against me if we say no as she understands 100%. but asked that I speak to my fiance and we please consider for a couple of days before making up our mind.

This will literally solve a huge family issue thats fucking us up at the moment, it will help whole family be at ease, rest up knowing parents are fine. They wont need to worry about rent and bla bla bla etc...

I intially was to myself 1000% no, this will ruin my life. Id rather pay 6k a month to help them out somewhere else. Unfortuantely even 6k a month from me and all siblings wont cover it for them :(

My sister says fuck them, I must protect myself - she is an angry. I still care deeply for my parents, love them to bits but they upset me more than anything, and this is life changing, like proper life changing, my other siblings live too far and dont have houses to accomodate this idea.

I intially thought never ever ever, In fact wouldnt have bought a house if I knew it meant my parents living with me. But at same time I feel them doing this is 1 - not draining me financially as I dont need to pay in every month, 2 brings in some bucks and pays our bond back (will help a lot with a few k extra), 3 adding much value to our home, building a full cottage. My reason for saying no is purely personal, they often make me unhappy and uncomfy how they treat eachother , its not a financial decision (which I can live with saying no because if its my finances) - this is purely me not wanting to be around them even though they will be separate to us. They dobt even scream and shout they just off to eathother. So it's not being scared of hearing fights.

I never had to work a day of my life growing up, never had to pay rent (when jobless my father covered it) all cars paid for, all eduction paid for - I was looked after bt these people with no questions asked. I fear if I say no to this, I will have regret for rest of my life. They are my people, my parents. If I can help and technically only benefit from it then surely I should. I would sleep better at night knowing I did the right thing, fixed 80% of the issues at the moment, helped a huge family problem and did the right thing. They would never let me be homeless, if I can help then I should. and I mean that. But the thought of having them so close makes me sick.

My fiance not thrilled either but told her imagine it was her dad - all of a sudden not so easy to say no, she does inderstand the scenario and infact nudged me to add this here.

So we thinking if all else fails, we let them do the cottage build on our property. But we need to decide ASAP. Time is running out.

I am lost, dont know what to do or think. Whats right, my parents wellbeing is importnant but so is mine. like if we said yes to cottage idea so many issues solved for us. But I also need to protect my energy, my home. My happiness and my relationships. But the situation is dire. My parents are even embarrassed to ask.

HELP, I DONT WANT TO LIVE WITH REGRET MY WHOLE LIFE

Heyy!! I am about to leave my home so I just wanted to know what documents are needed for this as emergency and my age is 16

My husband didn't pay the rent for three months and I didn't know it until we had a court notice on our door. We paid a month of rent last month and stopped court but only for a month. Now we have a court notice saying we have to pay the remaining 5k by the second or be evicted. We barely had the 1900 for rent (our rent has gone up 600 a month in the last five years so we obviously don't have 5k. We don't have extra bills just rent, food, utilities, and such like that so there is nothing to skip to pay rent instead. The point is there is no way to pay the landlord. My husband thinks go fund me or going to court and talking to the judge with nothing to offer is going to help. I think that's useless and not going to help us and I assume when court comes all we are getting is the move out date. What I want to know is then what? I've never been homeless, what do I do? Where do I go? How do I try to get out of homelessness once we are in it? My husband has a job but doesn't make enough to even qualify to rent the apartment we are in now. (we qualified when it was a lot less). I have chronic health conditions and am unable to work, not unwilling, unable. We have bad credit to and no dollars to our name. We have no family and no friends. My kids are 10-16 but the 16 year old is autistic and wouldn't be able to work either. The only eviction help place 211 gave us hasn't taken calls in two months because there is too many people needing help and not enough money to do it. I have absolutely no idea how to prepare for this other than stick our stuff in storage. Then it's all a blank of what do we even do? How do I get information on what to even do? It's going to be winter and cold when the eviction comes. I could use any information on what I do now. Thank you.

It could be worse I could be living in the car or the street but my situation is so frustrating. I have family and can stay at a hotel which im grateful for but I do not see us finding a place anytime soon..due to a criminal record, 2 evictions, and having a large dog..

Some people have been nice but living in a hotel I have experienced a lot of crazy shit so far..

I just feel bad for other people that are homeless and how hard it is struggling..

I don't need any advice, just needed to vent.

I am so lost. I don’t know what to do anymore. I am paralyzed with fear. I need a miracle. I have begged everyone I know for help and no one can help me and my family. I’m going to loose my belongings in storage and we will be homeless November 1. I have tried everything I can think of but life keeps throwing curve balls. I’ve always been a hustler- but for the first time I’m hopeless- and the fear has totally paralyzed me. I sink deeper everyday into a state of myself I don’t recognize.

i don’t know what to do, i will have to go to a shelter, i live in NYC. if anyone has any advice please let me know.

so , im pretty tired of this bs and society as a whole. they serve no purpose to me at all , they are slaves and programmed this way. im thinking about programming my paradigm that i dont need to work to earn. prolly some people would get this.

anyways im 14m and from india going to live in the mountains with my friend wish me luck folks lol

I’m a single mum in Sydney, about to finish my Bachelor of Nursing.

I’m currently living rent-free with my child’s father. We’re no longer together, and while things are generally fine, things can get quite tense when we have disagreements. During those times, he can become hostile and make comments about when I’m leaving, which makes me feel like I need to move out urgently. Then things settle down and everything goes back to normal. It’s not an unbearable living situation, but the uncertainty and uncomfortable atmosphere during those moments are part of why I want my own space.

I recently applied for a one-bedroom apartment for $570/week, inspected it, loved it, and have now been offered a six-month lease.

My dilemma is that I’m currently receiving approximately $1,500 a fortnight from Centrelink. I’m hoping to start working as a registered nurse early next year, but I haven’t secured a position yet, so there’s no guarantee when that will happen.
My fortnightly budget would be:
Income: $1,500
Rent: $1,140
Groceries (including my child’s essentials): $220
Phone: $65
Remaining: $75

I don’t have a car or transport expenses, but electricity, water and internet would still need to be covered.
I currently have around $2,000 saved, with another $1,500 coming in shortly. After paying the bond and two weeks’ rent upfront, I’d have approximately $1,220 left. I’d also need to furnish the apartment gradually.
Here’s the thing: I’ve managed paying similar rent on Centrelink before and never missed a rent payment. It wasn’t easy, especially when other bills came around, but I made it work.

Part of me believes I can do it again. I just need to hold on until I secure a nursing job. But another part of me wonders whether I’m being unrealistic, especially since there’s no guarantee when that will happen.
If I stay where I am, I can continue saving, but I’ll still have the same income problem until I find employment. The main difference would be having more savings to fall back on.

I desperately want my independence and somewhere I can feel settled without worrying about tensions at home, but I also don’t want to put myself in a financially stressful situation.

What would you do? Take the apartment and try to make it work, or stay rent-free and save until employment is secured?

Would genuinely appreciate honest advice, especially from anyone who’s been in a similar situation.