financial independence

Reading the law of my city is quite extensive but very useful in studying my city and its influence on supply, demand, and labor. I'm going to outline a reading plan, but I won't actually start reading law with that plan until I first record and solicit work from all the businesses in my zip code area.

there are about 600 businesses in my zip code area, and I plan on walking throughout the entire area, so I need to start outreach as soon as possible. It'll be important that I talk with employers of the facilities and not employees, so I might not have to walk as much as make phone calls. then again, I'll still walk around to double-check the accuracy of google maps.

I don't think I'm going to go around asking for work. Instead, I might spend the remainder of this month with reading law. I don't feel safe securing work because my mom has threatened to evict me depending on my type of employment. It'd be fruitless to labor to find work, and then to have to be evicted for having that work. This is especially because I'd have to go to a homeless shelter tens of miles away, and so I wouldn't easily be able to continue the work under such costly transportation.

Over the past 3 years, I've had many ideas of securing work and making money, from renting out my room with Airbnb, to becoming a New York State Department of Sanitation worker, to being a protective service worker or taxi driver, to offering my labor below the minimum wage- I've even reached out to a vocational rehabilitation center a year ago.

I'm not blaming my lack of success on my living situation with my mom, but my mom's eviction threats haven't helped and has also made me not explore industries that could've been promising. She threatened to evict me from the house if I became a refuse and recyclable material collector, even though it's statistically recorded that many blacks in my nation are in that occupation. She might have also evicted me for being a janitor, which is another popular job in my nation and city.

A long time ago, I resolved to living with my mom and trying to find a job where I wouldn't be harassed or evicted by her. but it's been 3 years and I've had little luck. I might have better employment opportunities if I move into a homeless shelter. the homeless shelters, where I live, are less discriminant and have a legal obligation to be less discriminant. Homeless shelters are also more focused on getting work for their clients.



Again, I don't blame my mom. I knew a long time ago that I might have to go into a homeless shelter to find work. I've only delayed that fate because my mom's house had lots of resources like electricity, internet, and a home address; all helpful in securing work and employment. I also delayed my fate because there's discrimination against the homeless, which could make employment even harder without those resources.

I'm going to continue trying to work with that Employment Network with my Ticket to Work, while reading the new york city law. If I don't secure work by next month, and if my use of the Ticket To Work doesn't postpone my medical review, then I will move into a homeless shelter and try to get work there. I will also still continue reading the law while in the shelter.

There are about 990 chapters of written law. If I read 3 chapters a day, I can read the entire law within a year.

I haven't heard from the Employment Network, so I'm going to call tomorrow to see if I can visit. I'd take the initiative and just visit without calling, but it might be a place where I'll need an appointment to enter.

I'm going to discontinue my food benefits tomorrow, but ask if I can use the remainder of my food stamp without owing money. Then I will apply for Cash Assistance. Unless the employment network helps me, I'm not too confident that I'll continue receiving SSI for rent because I feel that I can work regardless of my mental illness. Cash Assistance will probably assign me work, which would give me work experience.

I can discontinue my food stamp benefits and still use the remainder, but I'd have to send a letter or visit their office.

I'm going to mail a letter stating that I want to discontinue my food stamp benefits.

I think I'm also going to discontinue my SSI. The local EN doesn't seem reliable.

I'm going to apply for Cash Assistance with my 0 income (since I'll be discontinuing SSI and food stamp) and my 0 expenses (as I'm not liable to pay rent to mom but she can likely evict me.) Depending on the amount of Cash Assistance that I get, if any, I will decide whether or not to live at a homeless shelter. If Cash Assistance doesn't assign me any work, then I will ask for work around my zip code area while studying law.

the law is very extensive and I'm not confident in outlining a reading plan for it. It seems I won't quite be able to read all of it, but I can still give it a good thorough review and also memorize its parts for quick reference. The former could mean at least reading the titles of every unit or section of the law. The latter can be achieved by testing myself and understanding the structure of the law, maybe even through memorizing and then rewriting the structure of the law. I still believe there are currently about 990 chapters within the law, and so I can at least review 3 chapters daily to understand the law within a year.

I'm going to the food stamp office tomorrow to discontinue the resource. then on friday i'm going to the SSA local office to discontinue my SSI. I called both offices and it seems I have to voluntarily terminate those benefits in-person. then I'll apply for Cash Assistance.

joining the army is a last resort for me. my poor eyesight and mentality would make me a bad candidate, so they might not even accept me. I also know some men like me who joined the army and afterwards were in jail or shot down by the police.

the homeless shelter might require me to join the army. being homeless, outside of a homeless shelter, is not too legal nor safe.

i want to find work within the next few days.

well i went to the social security office, but I wasn't able to terminate my SSI. the man suggested I just don't take action on my re-certification application, and the SSI would eventually just stop.

In that case, I'm probably just going to submit my application after joining some vocational training service by Tuesday.


I'm still reviewing law. I might also map the local businesses in my zip code area and solicit work.


In April, I'm going to dedicate 30 more minutes, every day, to financial matters.

Homeless shelters wouldn’t require anyone to join army.

I don’t think military is the right course of action for you. I’d say you should stick with vocational services for people with disabilities. I am not sure why want to get off SSI.

I’d not waste time on learning 900 pages of law, but call local disability services and ask for help with part employment supplementing SSI.

yeah, I will try to join some vocational program. I tried the Ticket To Work, but that doesn't seem to be working out too well. So I might just join some vocational program outside of TTW.


I might try the TTW vocational agencies again, but there aren't that many TTW agencies, and they serve multiple counties of people and veterans. There are about 1,000+ veterans in my zip code area alone, and it's very probable that they are disabled due to war.

I had emailed the TTW employment network, but got no response. I called them to arrange a visit, but they only redirected me. I can try calling them again Monday, and asking if I can visit to apply my Ticket To Work.

Outside of that, I might just apply for some vocational/employment program outside of the Ticket To Work, and document it on my SSI re-certification application. That's what I honestly plan on doing, although I'd probably cost money.

Then I will solicit work around my zip code area, I guess. It'd be my back-up plan if the vocational/employment program doesn't work. I've been wanting some self-employment but that's a bit of investment involving resources, time, money, and etc. It might be better to just go for regular employment first, and then I'd feel more honestly inclined to self-employment if nobody wants to hire me.


I had planned on soliciting work months ago, but got a bit distracted after I was told I'd be evicted for being a sanitation worker or janitor. It's not too easy to find work when I might have to sacrifice shelter.


Where I live, I think the Department of Homelessness Services aid those who are willing to work, and who'd accept work given to them. From my understanding, the army is an employment.

I don’t understand why you think vocational services would cost you money. If you have documented disability, you’d qualify for free vocational services.

Yes military is employment but it’s not mandatory employment, you can’t be forced to be enlisted. Also if you are diagnosed with scizophrenia no one could force you to go to army and likely you won’t qualify for military.

Do you see a psychiatrist? Therapist? Any of those people should advice you what’s the best course of action re seeking employment .

I think divine is giving good input here.

Another thing I'd like to touch on is that you have said several times you would like to try soliciting for work. Unless you have an established company and/or reputation, very few people will hire a complete stranger who comes to their door asking for work. It's not a secure way to get income.

Is living without your mom, in your own apartment an option? This way you could get a respectable hourly wage without fear of getting kicked out. Also, have you ever considered schooling?

divine1966, I can probably get free vocational services due to my mental disability, but there are many people with disabilities where I live, especially veterans. There might not be enough vocational services to help everyone in need. Apparently the TTW agency wouldn't even let me visit its office, when I called last time. I'll contact the TTW agency again, but it honestly wasn't too supportive or helpful.

Outside of government-affiliated and veteran-affiliated agencies, I don't think vocational agencies are obligated to give free employment services or training regardless of my mental disability.


my mental disability makes me ineligible for the army. so I probably shouldn't focus on the army much.

where I live, psychiatrist are usually only knowledgeable of administering medicine and dealing with mental health issues. Therapists also deal with mental health concerns and some workplace issues. Maybe if I had a long-term therapist or psychiatrist who knew me personally and cared about me enough, I could get some guidance from him. In fact, I remember one psychologist referring me to some vocational agency. But otherwise, medical professionals aren't quite qualified nor obligated to help me find a job or training. A vocational or employment agency might be better for this.


Ohseedee, hence why reviewing the local law is important for me. almost every plan i have is borderline illegal, which is a bit frustrating.

For now, my only options are my mom's place or a homeless shelter. Also, nobody's really obligated to house me. My mom probably only houses me because she feels she's responsible for me, or at least the community feels that she's responsible for me. but maybe after getting some work, I can rent my own room somewhere else.

Some vocational rehabilitation worker, about a year ago, told me that I should get back into college. But I have a $4K college debt that's forbidding me from participating in the public colleges' system. Outside of public colleges, private colleges are more expensive and I'd need a loan maybe. Would probably be a risky investment for me, right now.

I did some googling and found about 7 employment agencies in my local area. I also found some city government website with some resources for employment and training. I feel a lot more confident now.

I should probably focus on employment through an employer, especially with help from an employment or vocational agency. I have a tendency to underestimate my mental illness and its effect on my employment.


I don't like the idea of working with a employment or vocational agency, even because it might not care about my successful employment as much as I care; but since I'm mentally disabled, but it would be the responsible thing to work with it. I can probably find some free assistance through the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

I'm dedicating one day of each week to vocational/employment agency outreach and other social matters pertaining to employment. Today and yesterday I've been outreaching to agencies and it doesn't feel good. I've outreached in the past too. I get a feeling that people might not want to help me because of my mental illness, background, or both; even if they are legally obligated to.


I don't have friends in real life, and I don't have a girlfriend. Forcing myself into social situations makes me feel not safe, maybe because of my mental illness. Its honestly not healthy, doing social outreach and getting little to no response. Really not healthy. So i'm going to dedicate only 1 day a week for now.

I contacted the local government agency on my interest in its commercial driver training.

I'm going to start working in the automotive and transportation industry, but eventually try to move towards the construction industry. This is because I feel the construction industry includes dealing with constructing and maintaining homes, where shelter is an animal/human need. I believe that industries, focusing on human needs, can have a high demand.

I don't like the automotive transportation industry, because it's technology that's quite modern. That industry/market didn't even exist, a few centuries ago. Also, the industry/market might require me to work outside of my zip code area where the construction industry could work on repairing local houses. The automotive transportation industry isn't quite independent either, as I can't afford an automobile; so I probably will need to work under some employer rather than a self-employment. automotive transportation might be helpful for other industries, but its existance and demand probably also depends on those industries too. I also can expect low pay, having to rent and refuel an automobile all the time.

But the automotive transportation industry has many applications, from fast food delivery to construction aid. Its technology greatly complements and aids other industries, including the construction industry. the automotive and transportation industry also doesn't require as much certification, experience, or knowledge as the construction industry.

another thing that upsets me about these industries is my eye impairment. my eye impairment is a reason why I've not focused on the protective service industry too, which would probably require a lot of movement and damage my glasses.

Imagine if I were driving a car and suddenly a road bump causes my eyeglasses to fall off. And since I'm more interested in truck driving, road bumps might shake the heavy vehicle worse. my glasses are quite slippery. simply looking down can cause them to slide off my nose. when I sort the household garbage, I sometimes put a string around my head so that my eyeglasses don't slide off.

I'm thinking of investing in some contact lenses. at first, I was thinking of simply putting some transparent thread around my head, to keep my eyeglasses in place while not looking too strange. but it's not about my appearance as much as about the chance of my eyeglasses coming off or tilting in a strange angle. I could accidentally crash a truck if that happens, so buying contact lenses would be the responsible thing but also costs money.

so before I begin to work in the automotive transportation industry, I should really calculate the "net?" worth of the investment. I know I wouldn't make much money, but I'd definitely not want to be losing money. If I find some employer to work for (as an employee or independent contractor,) or if I study my neighborhood enough for a positive financial estimate of a self-employment, then I'll definitely buy contacts. My aim isn't necessarily to make a lot of money, but to simply pay at least 7 months of rent in a year.

I doubt I can learn about construction while writing poetry. going from the automotive transportation industry to the Construction Industry might ensure more financial security, but would take time and commitment. I like poetry though. I want to work to not only secure my finances, but to secure a future of poetry writing.

So instead of transitioning to the Construction industry, I might just dedicate time and money to understanding and adapting to changes in the automotive transportation industry. For example, If I'm employed by an employer, and then suddenly there's a new technology that replaces cars whereupon I get laid off, I can use some money in a savings account to learn about the new technology.

A century or two ago, maybe horses were used for transportation. but when cars replaced horses, I wonder what happened to all the horse-riders? If I were in that situation, I would've dedicated some time and money to learning about cars before they replaced the horse transportation industry.

Imagine if aviation technology starts to affect the automotive transportation industry, years from now. well, I'll be prepared!

Studying changes and developments in the Transportation industry, every now and then, is a lot easier than learning work in the Construction industry. And so I'll be able to engage in poetry more.

I will return to poetry, next month. I fear that my affinity with poetry might affect my plans in the automotive transportation industry. For instance, I might try to not be a driver because it's not much literary work. I know some men like me who quit their jobs to pursue work more aligned to literature. So i might also have to dedicate some time and money to applying poetry to my future automotive job or designing a career pathway to more literary work.

i could probably buy contacts and work in the protective services industry, like some men I know. but I don't want to risk life and limb for work, if I don't have to.

I should be a security guard because my mom wouldn't want me to be a sanitation worker? I don't think so.

If I were a protective service worker and I get hurt by criminals, then I'd not only be laid off but possibly in a hospital. I'd have to pay medical expenses, and then recover from the injury. hopefully don't lose a body part. hopefully don't die. and for what? 543$ a month? to go home and then get harassed by my mom like always?

If I had a daughter who loved me or anyone who loved me enough for me to feel a duty to defend, then I'd definitely defend. but money alone isn't convincing enough for me to be a security guard or defender in a neighborhood that might abhor me for my background or mental illness.

It'd be cute to be a security guard for a female employer or public figure maybe. So perhaps it wouldn't be so bad. though female employers are rare where I live: they're a minority.


I read the bible too, and so I know some basic deathly cautions of protective service work. I also know about street gangs and talked to some assaulters, even some that I've encountered in my psych ward stays.

Protective service work is still work, so I'll consider it. but it's at the bottom of my list for now.

federal employment is not that easy ticket that you think it is. permanent employment with any agency is VERY difficult to come by . very competitive. you must be qualified for the position you apply for, even the low entry level ones. benefits are nice, but you pay for them. and then there are some positions which are "seasonal" which include no benefits other then sick leave and minimal time off earned with no guarantee of rehire once the position ends. other positions involve furloughs, meaning periods off without pay. and let's not forget trump putting everyone out of paid work during the shut down. it isn't all fun and games..and most government positions are at a lower pay scale then private sector positions of the same levels. positions are fixed..if you get hired as a 5, you will stay a 5 unless you apply for a 7.

it's not all fun & games. been there, had a hard time buying the t shirt.

and just out of curiosity how are you going to be a car mechanic with training and certification?

What job choices would you make if you did not have your mother's opinions hindering you? She appears to be a common barrier in your life. Although she may mean well, she is doing harm to you by imposing these unreasonable barriers.

Financial independence may involve doing what is best for yourself, even if it is not what your mother wants for you.

i'd probably honestly be a refuse and recyclable material collector like offer to help sort people's recycle, move their heavy garbage or unwanted furniture. I was also thinking of shoveling snow on sidewalks during the winter, like the Department of Sanitation does on the roads. Or maybe I could've been a janitor for some company buildings.


The awesome thing about the sanitation industry is that it's an all-year industry, especially in dense cities like where I live. People will always have waste, i guess.


you're right, I have to realize that my mom can have an effect on my financial situation. I actually plan on going to a homeless shelter if my SSI gets cut before I find work, and then maybe getting some work there instead.

"federal employment is not that easy ticket that you think it is. permanent employment with any agency is VERY difficult to come by . very competitive. you must be qualified for the position you apply for, even the low entry level ones.
benefits are nice, but you pay for them. and then there are some positions which are "seasonal" which include no benefits other then sick leave and minimal time off earned with no guarantee of rehire once the position ends. other positions involve furloughs, meaning periods off without pay. and let's not forget trump putting everyone out of paid work during the shut down. it isn't all fun and games..and most government positions are at a lower pay scale then private sector positions of the same levels. positions are fixed..if you get hired as a 5, you will stay a 5 unless you apply for a 7"

Unlike private employers, federal employers/contractors are more legally obligated to not discriminate against people like me. I think some federal contractors have to have a certain percent if disabled workers in their workforce. I might not have a choice anyhow, as I'm pretty sure federal contractors/employers are greatly involved with the Ticket To Work program.

oh, I'm not worried about pay. some men like me were slaves in the past, so I'm not expecting to make much money in my work. I don't have kids or any liability, so I won't need much money anyways. I've always told myself that my diet and exercise is my only health insurance, so I take both of those seriously. then there can be work hazards, but eh: what can we do?



I'd honestly be lucky to get hired by federal contractors, as i think they reserve some jobs for veterans, especially disabled veterans. It makes sense because I guess the federal government feel responsible for their fighters and so gives them priority.


"and just out of curiosity how are you going to be a car mechanic with training and certification?"

yeah, I kind of realized that I wouldn't be a car mechanic because of the training costs. Instead I'm planning on being an employed truck driver, a fast food deliveryman, or grocery deliveryman. A lot less training costs: might only need to get a CDL.

then rent a car or truck, buy contact lenses, oil/gas, maybe even parking. but the transportation industry is quite promising, so I'll be making a net profit.

feds are required to hire disabled but that said you still must be able to perform the position. you can't be hired for a position that you have no qualifications for...just because you are disabled (it happens rarely but usually the person hired does not last long). even with accommodations you still must be able to perform duties. the gov't is not a free ticket. and once you are hired you must show up for work, maintain standards etc.

good luck with employment, I wish you the best. I hope you find something, maybe find an agency that helps the disabled locate jobs.

I just came from an employment network agency that can accept my Ticket To Work. it can give me free CDL training. it also can let me meet sale representatives. the downside is that I'd need a driver's license before it can help me get a CDL, so it might not want to work with me.


With or without its help, I will get a CDL or at least a driver's license. I'm only working with this agency because applying my Ticket can suspend my medical review. Also, as a mentally ill person, I feel that it's my responsibility to work with vocational agencies for work.

some men like me are taxi drivers, but not many. I'm interested in the automotive transportation industry, and got excited about transporting people rather than just foods, parcels, sanitation, or stock because the Department of Small Business Services promotes city tourism and so positively influences the automotive transportation business of transporting humans, especially those that can't walk around with a ton of luggage and baggage from airports.

however, my city also has a commission that supervises taxi and human transportation services. even worse, that commission has identified discrimination within that business. I've honestly even considered it myself, as some people might not want to be in a car with me because of the way that I look or culturally behave.


the human transportation business is great, but it's also more social than other transportation businesses. and I'm realizing that heavy social environments can come with discrimination affecting a business. So it's probably best I stick to transporting foods, goods, and other things.