Share and Follow
A PROFESSIONAL who narrowly escaped homelessness has shared what it was like living out of her car for several months.
Chrystal Audet, 49, is a social worker for the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services who earns $72,000 per year.
But even with that sizable salary, a few financial mishaps left the woman and her 26-year-old daughter Cierra living in a 2015 Ford Fusion on the streets of the Seattle suburbs, where prices are exceptionally high.
“I make $32 and some change per hour, but even still, I find myself struggling,” Chrystal told The New York Times.
She and her daughter would eat take-out dinners on the roof of their car and shower at a nearby state park to get ready for work.
In addition to her day job, Chrystal spent her night delivering food for DoorDash.
“It’s the irony of working and making a nice income and still not being able to afford housing,” the mother said.
She and Cierra caught a break when they were allowed spend their evenings in the parking area at the Lake Washington United Methodist Church, which is one of 12 lots in the region that let homeless people stay overnight.
Bad credit was a big part of the problem for Chrystal.
Read Related Also: Westminster police arrests barricaded suspect accused of assaulting deputy with knife
After she got convicted for posting a bad check in 2001, her credit score plummited.
The situation came to a head in 2015 when her needed extensive repairs.
With her credit, the only loan Chrystal could get was one with an interest rate of 27.99percent.
The monthly payment of $398 was too much on top of the payments she had to make for her Crohn’s disease treatments.
“It was a case of one bill too many,” Chrystal said.
After months of car living, advocates were able to help her get into an apartment.
Now, Chrystal is paying $2,360 for a one bedroom apartment.
“I’m always, like, on the edge,” Chrystal said.
“At least I have a car to sit in — and a safe parking lot to be in.”