Getting From Here to There

Surviving the Next Few Years

You’re out or almost out of high school. You’re not sure what’s next, but you know you’re in for some changes—a temporary job, different school, even taking a year or two to explore. You may even be thinking about the military. Whatever you’re thinking about doing, each choice means a choice NOT to do something else. So it’s a good idea to get a big picture of the options you have. This section has some pieces on what it feels like to make a change, what you might consider doing in a year off, and how you can start thinking “out of the box.”

For starters, make the Internet your friend. They don’t call it the “worldwide web” for nothing—it is literally your access to millions of ideas and options. We’ve got some tips on how to find one near you. Some of your plans may include finding your own place to live, so we’ve included a Basic Training Guide for finding shelter, meals, and transportation. It’s the start of your life... Go for it!

Making Transitions
When you’re making changes—from high school to something else—not knowing is sometimes the hardest part.
But Remember! It’s OK to NOT KNOW what to do next at your age.

• This is the time to get information and explore your options.
• The best choice may come to you in stages. Trust it all to make
  sense eventually.
• Don’t try to sort it all out now.
• LIVE IN THE QUESTIONS.

Take Small Steps in Exploring.

• Make smaller changes instead of a huge leap you may not be ready for.

What’s Exciting to You?

• What makes you want to take action? What are you passionate about?
• What makes you feel alert—energized mentally, emotionally, and physically?
• What are you doing when you lose track of time?
• What engages you so much that you’re willing to put up with anything to do it?
• When you’re talking with the most excitement, what are you talking about?
• What ideas, images, or people keep showing up in your life?
• This is the time to get information and explore your options.
• The best choice may come to you in stages. Trust it all to make sense eventually.
• Don’t try to sort it all out now.

Experiment

• Test reality by taking action (take a class, apply for a job, . . .)
• Take the risk of going down the road and learning from DEAD ENDS. They’ll be there. Don’t worry about that. Follow any road that intrigues you.

Find People Who Support Your Real, Deep Choices. People Who:

• believe in you,
• provide healthy support,
• provide constructive criticism,
• But NOT people who are negative or don’t provide support for your deep choices.

Make Yourself and Your Health a Priority.
Bad habits can make you less alert, cloud your thinking, and limit your ability to engage fully in your life.

• Pay attention to what you eat. Eat less sugar and carbs (refined white flour products).
• Drink lots of water.
• Get enough sleep. Not getting enough sleep can make you depressed.
• Be active and physical to get exercise. Even a short walk helps.
• Limit time with people and things that distract you from what you really want to do.

Basics Training: Shelter, Meals, Transportation

One of the first and most important things you’ll need to do when you set out on your own is to find a place to live. Short-term? Long-term? Roommates? Solo? Location? Transportation? There are a lot of things to think about—some practical, some personal.

Some Tips:

• Rooms are cheaper than apartments; apartments are cheaper than houses.
• The more roommates you have, the cheaper everything will be.
• Most landlords will require a deposit at the beginning of your lease, and it’s usually at least one month’s rent.
• Most leases last for one year. Some places have shorter or month-to-month leases, but if you sign the lease, it’s going to cost a lot of money if you want to leave before it’s up. You may also need a co-signer if you’re under 21.
• Keep in mind the cost of utilities. Typical utilities include electricity, gas or oil heat, water, and phone/Internet. These could add several hundred dollars to your expenses each month.
• Your electric bill will be higher if lights, air conditioning, or appliances are left on.
• Heating and air conditioning, which may be electric, will cost more if the place is poorly insulated, or if it’s not surrounded by other apartments.
• Some landlords and apartment complexes include some utilities in the rent. Ask about this since it reduces your expenses.

Rental Housing Resources

Greensboro Housing Coalition: A referral, informational, and educational organization dedicated to helping people find and keep affordable housing. See www.greensborohousingcoalition.com/ at 122 N. Elm St., Suite 607, Greensboro, NC 27401; Phone: 336-691-9521.

Charlotte (Mecklenburg, Union and Gaston Counties): A list of housing resources and options, including available affordable rental properties. See www.socialserve.com/tenant.

Durham Affordable Housing Coalition: A rental guide for Durham County, provided by the Durham Affordable Housing Coalition, helps you begin your search. See dahc.org/rentalguide.html.

Wake County Housing Resource: Provides information about housing options in Raleigh and Wake County. Phone: 919-857-9472; or check their website at: www.wakegov.com/humanservices/locations/.

Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County: Has great information on resources and housing in Greensboro. P.O. Box 4933, Greensboro, NC 27404. See their website at: www.hpcgc.org or Email: info@hpcgc.org.

Temporary Shelter

Youth Hostels

In many larger cities—and most states—in the U.S., you will find youth hostels that are safe, clean and provide temporary shelter. If you are adventurous enough to travel, check out this website to find out which states have hostels and what facilities they have: www.hihostels.com. Housing ranges from $10 per night in Pembroke, NC, to $29 in New York City. The Pembroke, NC, Hostel is in the Baptist Student Center, 300 N. Odum St., UNC Pembroke, Pembroke, NC 28372. Phone: 910-5218777; Email: pembrokehostel@carolina.net.

Other temporary shelter information sources:

• Guilford County: www.hpcgc.org then click on “Homeless: New Shelter?”
• Wake County: www.wakegov.com/humanservices/about/default.htm
• Orange County: Inter-Faith Council for Social Services. Phone: 919-929-6380. www.ifcweb.org/services.html

Emergency or Safe Shelters in North Carolina

A Safe Place is a community program that sets up public locations as a network of places where youth in crisis can get immediate help. The YMCA has a hotline number and Safe Places you can go if you find yourself needing temporary shelter. Call 800-621-4000 to find out where one is near you. Safe Place sites may be in fire stations, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs, libraries, fast food restaurants, convenience stores, other businesses, and even buses (mobile Safe Places). Look for the Safe Place sign. Or go to one of the Safe Houses in North Carolina. (see box below). If you are in a city with no Safe Place Program, find

• Friends or relatives who can give you dependable advice
• A teacher or guidance counselor at school
• A minister, rabbi, or priest
• Your parents, or a local youth shelter
• A community crisis hotline

Beyond Shelter

Need a Shower?
If you’re not looking for a shelter, but just a place to shower and get coffee and breakfast:
Beloved Community Day Center, 437 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC. Hours at the Community Day Center are 7:00-11:00 a.m.

Need a Meal?
Go to www.hpcgc.org and click on “Hungry? Need Food?” for a listing of free meals regularly served in Greensboro. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner places are listed there.

Need a Way to Get to Work or School?
Ride Boards, “Smart Commute,” and other ride-sharing programs have hit the Piedmont along with the soaring price of gas. Every day hundreds or thousands of people drive the route you take between your house and your job or school. If you don’t have a car, you may be able to contribute money for gas to someone who does. If you have a car, you can share the price of gas, or carpool—in other words, you can take turns driving.

How Do You Find People Willing to “Share Your Commute?”

• At your job, put up a sign with your route, times of day you need to drive, an offer to share gas, and contact information (your phone number).
• Send the same information to co-workers in an email at your job.
• Ask the administration at your job or school if they have ways to help people rideshare. More and more businesses are finding ways to help employees cut costs on gas.
• Go to Share The Ride NC: www.sharetheridenc.com/faq.html How does it work? Share the Ride NC is a statewide commuter information network that connects you with various transportation options. When you register with Share The Ride NC, your commuting information is entered into a database that searches for other commuters with similar commutes and work hours. Individual riders, vanpools, and carpools are listed. This website includes frequently asked questions, so find the Internet and surf to this website.
• Go to: www.erideshare.com/carpool.phg?dstate=NC. This is a listing of all places in NC to share rides. If you don’t find one near you, post one yourself. If you’re in Greensboro, a carpool on-line listing that you can use is: www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?city=Greensboro

Safe Houses in North Carolina

How to Find a Place to Rent

• Read the Classified ads in newspapers
• Look for ‘For Rent’ signs from the street
• Use local lists such as www.craigslist.org.
• Check out bulletin boards at local businesses

Cost Affects Housing Expenses
Cost May Be the Most Important Thing About Your Place So, ask yourself some questions:

• Is it close to the places you need to go every day (work, school, etc.)?
• If you’re paying low rent but spending hours a day getting around, it may not be worth the savings.
• If you have a car, how far will you have to drive to work? Gas is really pricey.
• If you are using public transport, how far will you have to walk to the bus stop?
• A bike is cheap and good exercise, but difficult for long distances and in rain.
• How safe is it?