URGENT - Road to Self-Sufficiency

I'm a 55 yr old widow who was effectively homeless for several months over the winter (day-to-day housing dependent completely on the kindness of others).   Thanks to a loan from a friend a while back, I was finally able to secure a small "efficiency" apartment in a rooming house.  But without a job, keeping the rent paid here has been a struggle.


I've been trying to find work since losing my job last year, but have had very little luck, mostly because I don't have a car.  In the area where I live, public transit is unreliable and sketchy.  It doesn't go to many of the industrial parks (mostly office space, although there are some warehouses too).  Also, it stops running completely by 6pm on weekdays, 3pm on Saturdays, and doesn't run at all on Sundays or holidays.  

So employers want people with their own transportation, particularly in the kinds of jobs that are most prevalent here, which is call centers (customer service, healthcare customer service, etc.).  Those centers can stay open as late as 11pm (healthcare) and some even work 24/7 (sales) - so they want to know you can get there (and stay for overtime as needed) without relying on public transit. 


I've also been trying to find jobs I can do from home, but I wasn't even sure I'd be able to keep this small apartment without reliable income.  It didn't make sense to order the cable modem I'd need for some of the at-home jobs if I wasn't staying here, especially since they wanted more than $100 up front just for the installation (no wiring here).  

Even the jobs that didn't require that - such as transcription work - required that I have a reliable internet connection, and the ability to turn around the completed work quickly.  That is only possible if I have a secure place to live - and security was the one thing I didn't have due to no income.  

To solve this problem I need to be able to get a vehicle as soon as possible.  I have found a site where local folks are selling cars for $1500 or less, and while some are junk cars, there are always a few decent ones as well.  I just have to wait for the right car to be listed, and have the cash to jump on it right away. 

So the amount listed above is a combination of what I'd need to obain a used car ($1500 for the car, plus registration, tags, and 2 months of insurance) as well as the cost of rent and living expenses for the time it takes to raise the money for the car, get hired at one of those call centers, and get that first paycheck once I have the car. 

My plan, if all of this works, is to both work whatever shift I can get in a call center, and do the at-home work on the side to earn extra money... this way I can start saving again, as well as pay off some debts that have accumulated during this difficult time. But it all hinges on having a car, as the at-home work is not likely to result in enough earnings to keep the bills paid on that alone. 

Finally, I just want to say thank you to whoever is able to donate.  I will try to send an individual thank you to each person, but just in case I miss anyone, please know that anything you can do to help is greatly appreciated, from the bottom of my heart.  <3