Leaving the house at 18

Hi all

I'm writing this thread to ask whether I should do this and if I do what should I do to prepare?

I'm thinking about leaving my house on my 18th birthday and go on a bit of an adventure living by myself on the streets. I think I'll go to Cairns which is a city in Australia. Since I'll only be taking $100 and no other electronic or luggage so I'll probably be living on the streets until I find a job. So my question is I guess should I do this and if I do what should I do to prepare?

Do you think people will be able to help me out at the beginning or will it be impossible to transition from homeless to employed if I do this? And in terms of sleeping is it legal to sleep on a footpath, park bench, bus stop or would that be trespassing? I guess my source of food and water would mainly be donations from people or would that not work? Like would you donate if a person knocked on your door asking for help and donations? Accommodation would be anywhere away from main roads. Maybe in someone's front yard if they let me. Then I would find some sort of employment and move up the hierarchy from there.

Opinions? Thoughts? Advice?

 

It's do-able, my dad did this when he came to the UK, came over at 17, couldn't speak a word of our language or anything managed to finish a degree part time by the time he was 26, and great English now. Just study wherever you're going to move to, check crime rates etc, not only could it be lonely and hard, but it could be really dangerous, take pre-cautions and be safe. People should help you out, you just have to be polite, you should just clean windows, or gardening for people, post flyers around and earn some money, you could be self employeed. In the UK my friend does this and brings in over £800 a month tax free obviously (cash in hand).

Hopefully you could rent a bedroom from a nice familiy, somewhere you could leave your work tools and sleep. Then it's onwards and upwards from then on!

 

I'd first try to find a job before you move out. With a little persistence, it shouldn't be a problem even in these economic times. I recently went scuba diving in Cairns and there are a lot of homeless Aboriginals, at least in the central part of the city.

 

If you have loving parents, a stable family standing & peaceful living conditions why should you leave your house? Of course its your choice if you want to life independently, try to pave your own success in life, but why do it? Freedom? No parental control, free choice? Australia is a nice place, better than many, but $100 & nothing else is only inviting trouble for yourself. Bring more $ at least, to get you a cheap place to stay (or crash at a friend's place) so you can make sure you dont get robbed, kidnapped or pounced on sleeping in public.

Dont depend on donations to keep you going. Since you had school education you can find a low-level job to start your career, guarantee a source of income. Success is a journey paved by your own efforts, not by the pity of others is what i always preach.

Good luck in your resolve.

 

If you live outside of Australia bear in mind you will need a working visa etc, to actually be legally allowed to work. I think you should put some more preparation into this decision as leaving with $100 seems folly.

 

From personal experience it's a hard thing to do. When I turned 18 I left home with my brother but the first thing I did was seek government assistance. Government services are a great way to help you jump start your life with financial assistance, housing, job opportunities. I stayed at a friends house for awhile and collected money from the government while looking for a job. It really sucks and is hard to find a good paying job at 18 to provide for yourself. I don't know how things work in Australia but the experience changed me, I took what I had for granted. Live with your parents as long as you can mate I went back home after 2 months. My story is a bit more complicated but I don't want to get off topic.

 

Huge difference between leaving home at 18 and going homeless at 18, lol. I personally think you should spend some time doing organised travelling with accommodation to get used to moving around, being in hostels, being without regular work etc. before actually rendering yourself homeless.

 

Leaving home with 100$ in your back pocket?

It doesn't sound like the best idea ever,
If you were going to do it you need to plan ahead, sort out a job, sort out a place to stay.

Being homeless will be one of the hardest things you have to do.
Think about food, warmth...

It will be hard to find a job whilst homeless you will smell for the interview and most probably will need to have smart clothes of some description.

Think it through before you jump into anything.

 

I wouldn't suggest any of that for the following reasons.

1. $100 won't get you far, at all.

2. Most of the other people who live on the streets are looking out for themselves and aren't going to help a random person, and if they do i'm sure they'd expect something in return.

3. Most of the places you suggested sleeping like door steps isn't public property, so you can't sleep there.

4. You have no long term plan, and are just looking for an adventure of some sort it seems.

5. knocking on doors and asking for money is solicitation and you can end up in jail, or with an expensive fine.

 

I'm not sure why anyone would want to live on the streets. I've been on the streets before and not by choice. I've been robbed and beaten when I was homeless and staying in the city. Yeah you can make decent money panhandling outside of stores/gas stations if you do it right, but that still isn't a life you want to live. Some places will call the cops on you too, at least here in the U.S. No one is going to give you stuff if you go knocking on doors either. It'd be different if you were backpacking across Europe with a little bit of cash in your pocket or something, but just sleeping on the streets begging all day isn't going to be fun. Just get a job, save up for an apartment, and get out of your parent's house. You'll be much happier that way.

 

This.

Don't think going "homeless" just because your 18 is a smart option at all, lol.

Plan what your going to do organise yourself before diving head first into something you have no control of currently

 

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with the people here. Would it be the best/most stable financial plan for you? Fuck no. Would it be a huge adventure and something you'd never forget? Probably.

A little preparation would be good. More money than $100, a job lined up, a place you intend to stay, and then go for it man. Minimum wage is always hiring, I'm sure you could find something to get you started. People can have their opinions about it, but if you think it'd be a good experience go for it =p

 

I want to leave the house I guess to face real life conditions and sort of like hit a wall and wake up and understand more about the outside world. I have peaceful living conditions at the moment with a family and all but I feel like it has made be somewhat laid back and a bit lazy. I guess what I'm looking at is this adventure/journey of moving out to homeless at 18 as being something to teach me about the outside world and overall toughen up.

I don't plan on depending on donations and as soon as I get to the destination for example cairns, I would start finding whatever jobs or errands I can do for some money. If things go really bad I'll probably ask for donations and help but overall I don't want to depend on that.

I do currently live in Australia and Cairns is about 1900km away from where I live as I live in the opposite side of the state Queensland. I'm south and Cairns is far north. $100 would suffice for the first few days of food wouldn't it? I can bring more but I don't want to lose too much if I get robbed or anything like that. If things don't work out I'd rather go home with a loss of $100 than with a loss of much more if I'm robbed.

In what ways did the experience change you? I'm also hoping at having this experience change me and make me understand more about the outside world and learn to toughen up. Also out of curiosity what was the minimum wage in your area? For me it's $11.18 which goes up to around $16 at age 20, do you think an $11 hour job would be enough to sustain oneself for a while?

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/PAY/NATIONAL-MINIMUM-WAGE/pages/default.aspx

In terms of remaining clean I think it would be possible in public restrooms or going to a swimming pool where they have a shower in the change rooms. Here the climate is rather warm and hot so I don't think I would need to worry to much about warmth but food definitely, I would probably rely on donations if things go really bad.

I don't understand how it will be solicitation? Isn't the definition of solicitation the following

Solicitation
The criminal offense of urging someone to commit an unlawful act.

I know $100 won't go far but I think it will teach me to think quickly and become more alert if the $100 runs out as I would get a determination drive I think to find an income to survive.

Ouch that sounds harsh, I don't plan on panhandling for the rest of my life just it would be a start as I try to work myself up to better and more stable jobs.

@Everyone
It looks like some have been through homelessness at one stage. Any advice on what one should bring when going homeless? What got me concerned with being homeless was that to apply for a job an employer need both an address and phone number? I think a phone number would be easy to get with just purchasing a low end one for $20-$30 or so and just go with prepaid. Not sure about address though? What would one do to get an address?

Also would a church be able to help one out does anyone know? Christian church?

What sort of jobs could one do to get an income at the beginning besides panhandling? would need something to get some income at the beginning as I apply and wait for responses from employers

Any other opinions? Thoughts? Advice?

 

I want to leave the house I guess to face real life conditions and sort of like hit a wall and wake up and understand more about the outside world. I have peaceful living conditions at the moment with a family and all but I feel like it has made be somewhat laid back and a bit lazy. I guess what I'm looking at is this adventure/journey of moving out to homeless at 18 as being something to teach me about the outside world and overall toughen up.

I don't plan on depending on donations and as soon as I get to the destination for example cairns, I would start finding whatever jobs or errands I can do for some money. If things go really bad I'll probably ask for donations and help but overall I don't want to depend on that.

I do currently live in Australia and Cairns is about 1900km away from where I live as I live in the opposite side of the state Queensland. I'm south and Cairns is far north. $100 would suffice for the first few days of food wouldn't it? I can bring more but I don't want to lose too much if I get robbed or anything like that. If things don't work out I'd rather go home with a loss of $100 than with a loss of much more if I'm robbed.

In what ways did the experience change you? I'm also hoping at having this experience change me and make me understand more about the outside world and learn to toughen up. Also out of curiosity what was the minimum wage in your area? For me it's $11.18 which goes up to around $16 at age 20, do you think an $11 hour job would be enough to sustain oneself for a while?

http://www.fairwork.gov.au/PAY/NATIONAL-MINIMUM-WAGE/pages/default.aspx

In terms of remaining clean I think it would be possible in public restrooms or going to a swimming pool where they have a shower in the change rooms. Here the climate is rather warm and hot so I don't think I would need to worry to much about warmth but food definitely, I would probably rely on donations if things go really bad.

I don't understand how it will be solicitation? Isn't the definition of solicitation the following

Solicitation
The criminal offense of urging someone to commit an unlawful act.

I know $100 won't go far but I think it will teach me to think quickly and become more alert if the $100 runs out as I would get a determination drive I think to find an income to survive.

Ouch that sounds harsh, I don't plan on panhandling for the rest of my life just it would be a start as I try to work myself up to better and more stable jobs.

@Everyone
It looks like some have been through homelessness at one stage. Any advice on what one should bring when going homeless? What got me concerned with being homeless was that to apply for a job an employer need both an address and phone number? I think a phone number would be easy to get with just purchasing a low end one for $20-$30 or so and just go with prepaid. Not sure about address though? What would one do to get an address?

Also would a church be able to help one out does anyone know? Christian church?

What sort of jobs could one do to get an income at the beginning besides panhandling? would need something to get some income at the beginning as I apply and wait for responses from employers

Any other opinions? Thoughts? Advice?

How much do you think would be needed? What sort of worries me is being robbed the first day which is why I planned on only bringing $100, if it's robbed the first day and I can't survive and need to return home then it would be a $100 loss, if I take more money it would be a bigger risk and maybe a bigger loss if it's robbed wouldn't it? Yep and I'm going for the experience, don't plan on it being permanent or anything like that, just more so a learning experience to learn more about the outside world and to toughen up, become more responsible, alert, determined etc.

 

If you're going to move out, plan it out. Don't live on the streets. Save up money and plan your future

 

What can be so bad at home that you would want to be homeless but not bad enough for you to leave now and or call the cops?

And why wait till you're homeless to find a job? Find one now?

 

I moved out at 17, have done well since. Been 3 years.

Best advice I can offer is to have a job, something you can do full time and actually keep doing for a long period of time.


Best of luck.

 

If you're going to look for a job what's the point? it wont be possible to uphold a job whilst being homeless unless it's casual labour here & there. I really don't think you should take advantage of any food banks or churches unless you desperately need to and are homeless through no choice of your own, using resources that may keep someone alive who needs them is pretty bad.

Homelessness is an endless reality for some people and to embark on it with the attitude of an adventure isn't a good way to go. If you want an adventure go and volunteer abroad or something - that's be exciting?

 

Once you start getting a proper stable job, meet a nice girl, start a family & begin raising your little ones, you will truly feel the world. Going out so young & just for the heck of adventure will not show you the true meaning of the world. Live life as it is & continue your journey in the path which you choose.

 

I think if u can stay with your family. Even so, leaving home with 100 dollars without any plans isnt the best idea as u never know when u can find a job. Also depending on donations is also not the best idea as u never know u could 1 day run out of money and no one is there to help u.