Yes, I know. And most places won't even allow you to move in unless you can prove you make 2.5x the rent. But we don't have a choice. I'm not being melodramatic, I'm serious. We tried to move into a shelter but the closest one is so far away from my mother's work she'd be forced to give up her job, which would screw us over pretty badly. We tried to get into YWCA housing, but their rent isn't much cheaper than anywhere else, the units are tiny, and the only housing available is also so far away from my mom's work that we can't manage it. Low-income housing in King County is scarce and has very strict policies on credit and on housing students, so we've had no luck there either. What's left is to find the cheapest rent we can, get our application approved by means of a guarantor, ask my mom's church to help us pay the deposit, and apply for food stamps. My sister and I will get jobs as soon as we know where we'll be living, but until then - given that we both have full classloads this quarter - it wouldn't be too smart to commit to being in a certain city for work if we may end up living far enough away that it becomes a problem.

Look, I know you mean well, but... Financing this situation is such a huge source of stress - because I do know what it will take - that it's sort of tough for me to talk about it.