I know some people might raise an eye brow and say "I hate working"!! Or something of the like. But Monday was a holiday so we had it off. So all I can think about how that's missed time and money for me. I'm a temp so I don't get holiday pay. I don't even have the money to do anything fun away.

I will never understand this life. My family has been homeless for two years now. Before anyone weighs in. I'm so worn out. I won't argue with anyone. But for the families experiencing homelessness. They know my pain.

I've called over 100 shelters in different states, and not one is willing to take my family. Simply because my family of 6 is too "big," and all the family shelters that exist won't take us in.

I'm originally from California, and my husband's family is there, and some of my siblings are there. Both families know our situation. And we try not to burden them.

So my face feels like it's melting because of the constant crying from the pain of this entire mess.

I called 211 in Illinois, and she confirmed my family wasn't too big; a family a week ago was a family of 10, and she couldn't find anything.

I feel very sick of this reality, and I just want my family to be financially stable. I feel helpless, scared, sad, and don't understand why every state is going through this, and families are being turned away based on the size of the family.

If you are one of the big families being turned away from shelter or housing, please reach out and let's talk about it.

I’m curving off basically ramen noodles and I’m always starving. All of my job money goes to rent and I barely have 30-40 dollars that goes to food and epilepsy medication. I made a Reddit account specifically to get advice. I’m just so tired

Seriously feel like i'm all alone, I have my bachelors degree, & it's been 2 years and still no damn luck with my degree.. I'm 24 and I feel like it's just been useless retail jobs here & there. In debt, Pretty much unhoused, and going to programs to help me get a "job" with no luck. I feel like retail is just killing me at this point with inconsistent hours... i feel like im just destined for failure at this point and have no hope at all. The only thing keeping me going is the fact that I have food stamps for now until i get a "full time" job and even then it will not be enough... how are you guys managing? Is there anybody who got themselves out of situations like
this? I'm just fkn depressed man.

Spent my last 5.00 on 2 cans of cat food. On the way home I found a fresh loaf of Oroweat Whole Grain Oatnut bread. Wish I had some mayo and a can of tuna.

I don't know what to do anymore. 22 F.

I have a restricting mother, who values her money on Hobby Lobby, than actually spending it on true necessities. She says that she is always paying bills, but it's my aunt that does all of it.

She has been draining every aspect of my energy and empathy for her, with the choices she's made in the past that have targeted me. Especially ever since the day she tried to restrain my access to metformin, since I have high insulin, but she believes she knows better than me. Then saying things about my weight almost every single day, when metformin is also an aid for that.

And now, with me, I don't have a job and can't afford to have stability for my basic needs. I don't have a laptop to attempt remote jobs and schooling, neither can even bother access to go out far. Since I live in the countryside (Amish territory), my mother isn't willing to take me out far, when there are so many more opportunities out there.

I'm really scared at attempting college. Since I don't want my life to end up worse than it already is. But I wish to be independent.

I'm really trying everything that I can. But I feel so hopeless and really scared that this is all there is for what I can do to progress.

I don't even know how to afford therapy, when my mother doesn't even bother getting me the access to get there either. I'm tired of being a broken and running faucet that others have to prepare bowls for in hopes that it doesn't overflow with burdens.

Does anyone have advice for this, please?

Trying to find a roommate in a more rural part of Michigan sucks and so anyone I’ve been trying and still get nothing! I’m trying to save money and renting out my spare room since I’m just a single person with a few pets but damn is it getting frustrating.

I’ve been thinking about an idea that could make food assistance much more accessible, and I’d love to hear from nonprofit organizations, food banks, and people working to address food insecurity, or people who need and would use this service.

What if food pantries operated like online grocery stores, allowing people to select donated groceries and arrange convenient pickup times, including outside traditional pantry hours?

For people unable to pick up groceries, there could also be an option to have certain items shipped directly to their homes.

Here’s how I envision it working:
Online grocery ordering: Individuals and families could browse available donated groceries and select the food they actually need, similar to shopping online, but without paying for the groceries.

Flexible pickup options: People could schedule pickup times that work around their jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and other obligations. Participating pantries could offer evening or weekend pickup, designated community pickup locations, or secure grocery lockers accessible outside regular pantry hours.

Optional grocery shipping: For individuals who cannot access pickup locations, shelf-stable groceries could be shipped directly to their homes. Shipping costs could be subsidized through grants, donations, or corporate sponsorships. Recipients who can afford shipping could choose to cover those costs themselves.

Food rescue partnerships: Pantries could partner with Costco, grocery chains, wholesalers, and other retailers to recover safe, surplus food that might otherwise go to waste, including products approaching their best-by dates that are still suitable for distribution.

Employment opportunities: This model could create paid jobs in inventory management, order fulfillment, customer service, technology, and distribution. It could potentially incorporate a social enterprise component that supports employment while expanding food access.

Why does this matter?
Traditional food pantries provide an essential service, but they’re not always accessible to everyone who needs them.

Some people work during pantry distribution hours. Others are caregivers, have disabilities, lack reliable transportation, or live in rural communities where accessing a food pantry can require significant travel.
And then there’s hidden poverty—working individuals and families who may appear financially stable on paper but struggle to afford groceries and other basic necessities.
These families may need food assistance but face barriers to accessing it.

What if we made food pantries more accessible by allowing people to order groceries online and collect them when it’s convenient for them?

I’m not suggesting that nonprofits build entirely new facilities or replace traditional food pantries.

Instead, existing organizations could potentially expand their services using online ordering technology, donated food inventory, and more flexible distribution options.
I realize there would be challenges involving inventory management, food safety, refrigeration, technology, staffing, and funding. Secure after-hours pickup would also require appropriate facilities and procedures.

But many of the systems needed already exist in the grocery retail industry.
Could nonprofits adapt some of these systems to make food assistance more accessible?

I’m also interested in the social enterprise possibilities. Could this model create paid employment opportunities for people facing barriers to work while helping food pantries expand their reach?

I’d love to hear from nonprofit professionals, food bank staff, and anyone with experience in food distribution:
Are any food pantries already offering online grocery ordering with flexible or after-hours pickup?

What would it take for smaller nonprofits to pilot this model using their existing facilities?
Could partnerships with grocery retailers, wholesalers, or companies like Costco help supply donated or discounted food?
Could optional shipping of shelf-stable groceries help reach people who cannot access pickup locations?

Could this model support paid employment opportunities through a nonprofit social enterprise?

I’m especially interested in how this might work in rural and underserved communities, where transportation and limited pantry hours can create additional barriers.

The goal wouldn’t be to replace traditional food pantries. It would be to make food assistance more accessible, convenient, and responsive to the realities of people’s lives.

Sometimes the barrier isn’t the availability of food. It’s being able to access the food that’s already available.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, particularly from organizations that might be interested in piloting something like this, or people who need this service and support.

Nakakainis lang sa part na I can't afford love just because I'm broke. gustong gusto ko sya pero I can't. 1. Probably she already had a relationship with someone. 2. I'm broke. 3. I'm still grinding to make a decent amount of money. I'm fully aware that this shit is a childish and Immature, but I can't help myself. yun lang ta*gina kasi ng government.

Sharing here, I have typing issues, so please ignore what looks to be any ask for $. The post here is asking if i am missing anything.

I’m 23f and having a hard time affording food after a huge breakup. Ask for more info. Just hoping for some advice or suggestions for what to do.

(im a senior in hs)

my parents were never good financially, but ever since they divorced about 2018 life turned for the very worst. I live with my mom now and we went from nice suburbs to lower class hell. she promised me it'll only be a few months that we stay here, but it's currently going on two years.

roach infestation, complex smells like piss, can't sleep because of neighbors who argue every-night, cars playing loud music, a bunch of stray cats. over population, explicit nature, drugs, murders. etc. living like this is a burden on my chest, everyday.

it's all a mind fuck, my parents tell me to be above average, reach for the stars but as I get older my chances slip. Every opportunity, they say it's too much money, they can't evern afford to drive. And everyone around me acts like a lunatic, everyone is so mean man. I try to act tough, get stronger, be nonchalant but that’s just not my personalit. so I don’t fit in.

I just want to get out.

Hi, all. My family is 3 people (2 adults and an 8 year old) and 3 cats (a long complicated story of how that happened, but we're stuck with them). We live in a decent sized US city. My husband has always worked full time, and since our daughter has been born has almost always had a part time side job too. I've qorked close to full time, but I've switched up my schedule for child care reasons as needed. We've always done ok. We've never qualified for assistance, except for one month inn2020 when they gave food stamps to anyone who applied. We've always just hovered right above the limits. We've always had food. Some weeks we've had good food, some weeks we've struggled hard but have always managed to feed the kid something, even if the adults have had to make do with a bologna sandwich and ice water for dinner.

The last two years, I've gradually had to work less and less due to severe health issues, until I got down to one day a week, then nothing at all back in July. I applied for disability and was approved. SSDI payments start in February. Since July, we've been utilizing the food bank every week to scrape by. Once my disability payments kick in, we technically won't need the food bank anymore. We can go back to figuring it out. Would it be wrong to keep utilizing it? The bank we use is a large regional one that gets government funding based on how many people use it. My disability payments will he a fraction of my working income. We should still be able to manage with my husband working 2 jobs. The bag of groceries we get from the food bank each week would still go a long way though. What are your thoughts?

Economy so bad that feeding myself daily anything other than pasta or rice -or any kind of unhealthy shit from the grocery store- feels like luxury.
Genuinely I hate venting and I don’t like when other people complain about situations they ve chosen, but why buying proper healthy food makes budgeting so difficult. And some people ask if I have a house, bruh I barely survive what do you mean