75-YEAR-OLD woman who has been forced to move into a VAN because she can’t afford rent – despite working full time – lays bare brutal reality of her lifestyle, from desperately scrimping for food to using a tiny STOVE for heat
- Lindy, 75, has been living in a 2013 Chevy van for a year and a half
- Despite working full-time, she can’t afford rent or air conditioning in the car
- The Arizona resident revealed that she has to work ‘in order to survive’
A 75-year-old woman has revealed she was forced to move into a van where she uses a small stove as a heater because she can’t afford rent, despite working full time.
Lindy is an Arizona-based senior who has faced the consequences of soaring inflation and rising costs of living as she has adapted to a life on wheels in her 2013 Chevy van.
The senior living in poverty – who has one son who isn’t helping her because she is ‘too independent’ – has shared a look into her life in the car and why she has to work ‘in order to survive.’
In an interview with the unnamed host of the YouTube account, The Glorious Life on Wheels, Lindy shared how she couldn’t qualify for social security and the detrimental effects living in poverty has had on her.
Lindy is an Arizona-based 75-year-old who has revealed she was forced to move into a van because she can’t afford rent, despite working full time
She has faced the consequences of soaring inflation and rising costs of living as she has adapted to a life on wheels in her 2013 Chevy van
Lindy – who didn’t reveal where she works – showed her van set up.
Inside the large black van, the 75-year-old had a small bed, a small stove, and boxes for storage.
She shared that she couldn’t afford heat, so she uses a tiny stove to stay warm in the colder months, adding that she is lucky it doesn’t snow where she lives.
Lindy noted that it can be around ‘$400 per month for butane’, which she can’t afford to spend.
And while she does have solar in her van, she noted it was too expensive to keep up with and it was ‘unreliable.’
Lindy revealed that she can’t even afford air conditioning so she is forced to suffer through dreadfully hot Arizona summers.
She shared that one summer day it was a whopping 140 degrees in her van.
Lindy is on social security, however, she noted that even with the help, ‘you are left with very little for food.’
The senior living in poverty – who has one son who isn’t helping her because she is ‘too independent’ – has shared a look into her life in the car
She shared that she couldn’t afford heat, so she uses a tiny stove to stay warm in the colder months, adding that she is lucky it doesn’t snow where she lives
The 75-year-old applied for food stamps ‘a few years back,’ however, revealed she was told she makes ‘$8 a month too much’
The 75-year-old applied for food stamps ‘a few years back,’ however, revealed she was told she makes ‘$8 a month too much.’
She noted that she has been grateful to receive food from churches as they tend to give her a bag of vegetables every week.
She added that whenever she has any extra money, she tries to ‘stockpile her food.’
‘I have at least six months’ worth of food in my van right now. I carry around 40 pounds of rice, 20-30 pounds of beans,’ she explained before revealing she buys as much as she can afford.
As far as housing goes, Lindy noted that the state’s housing system has been unable to help her in any way.
While working, she was told by a state employee that her rent would be higher in low-income housing because she had a job.
However, she had to be unemployed for six months to apply for lower-cost housing, meaning that she ‘wouldn’t be able to survive’ for a year and a half.
‘If I go on low-income housing now, they will not lower the rent for me when I quit working. You have to go out of the housing system and re-sign up to wait for another house,’ she explained.
Lindy noted that she has attempted to go through the housing system twice, adding that the last time she reached out to a state employee they said, ‘You are so much better off in that van.’
While working, she was told by a state employee that her rent would be higher in low-income housing because she had a job
The 75-year-old – who has been living in the van for over a year and a half – lamented about the soaring costs of living, adding that ‘everything costs money’
The 75-year-old – who has been living in the van for over a year and a half – lamented about the soaring costs of living, adding that ‘everything costs money.’
‘You have to be a minimalist to live like this and how do you do it?’ Lindy said before sharing that she was still attempting to adapt to living in poverty.
Lindy has one son who she said would help her if it came down to it, however, she noted that she is far too ‘independent.’
According to the Economic Policy Institute, as women get older, they become more likely to live in poverty.
17 per cent of women between the ages of 70–79 and 22 per cent of women 80 and over are in poverty. Meanwhile, men have a poverty rate of 11 per cent and 17 per cent.
Although inflation has decreased in the past few months, it still remains high and sits at 7.1 per cent.
According to consumer data firm Dunnhumby, one-third of households are skipping meals or reducing their portion sizes to save money.
Researchers found that 18 per cent of the survey’s 2,000 participants noted they weren’t getting enough food to eat.
Furthermore, 31 per cent of households have reduced their portion sizes due to empty pantries as a result of rising grocery store prices.
In addition to food costs, millions of people across the country lack a financial safety net.
According to researchers, 64 per cent of participants admitted they wouldn’t be able to raise $400 in an emergency.
Many have suffered due to inflation, which has caused the prices of basic goods to skyrocket – including the prices of meat and poultry up by 10.4 per cent, cereal up 15.1 per cent, and fruits and vegetables up 8.1 per cent.
Gas prices are another point of pressure for many people around the country, up nearly 60 per cent over the past year, with the cost of airfares up more than 34 per cent and price of used cars up more than 7 per cent.
Apparel costs are up by 5.2 per cent, overall shelter costs went up 5.5 per cent and delivery services have gone up 14.4 per cent.
In Arizona, which ranks 37th when it comes to states with low costs of living, you need $44,875 per year to live, according to SoFi.
Lindy is continuing to work full-time at her job in an attempt to afford a better lifestyle.
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