It's not just the lack of money for socializing. When you're unemployed, you don't feel like you have much to offer people: and you're not sure what people would see in you. That sends off a kind of vibe. I don't think TtW should have been placed on the spot about why she does or does not have friends in the first place. If it sounds like she tried to make up some answer, I'm sure I would have, too. I just happen to be a total introvert - so in my "times of need" (like when I have medical procedure that I'm supposed to have a "friend pick me up for" this week) I don't have anyone to call. Hopefully I don't fall into the same trap TtW did about rising to that bait.
That said...TtW needs to stabilize her life. The reason she keeps showing up once a month is that's when her rent is due, and she doesn't know where else to go. There are surprisingly few resources to support keeping people in their existing home in this country. TtW is obviously trying to cling to hers, slumlord or not. Perhaps she just needs someone to show her the way to other possibilities - like a bridge to a new apartment with no first-last-deposit necessary. Now that she has a social worker, she may qualify for General Assistance, and from there she may qualify for a low income apartment. BUT, that process could take many months, and even a couple of years. Yoshi will probably have to go in the meantime. The prospect is devastatingly scary. I don't blame TtW for trying to hold on to what she knows.
This sort of situation is why we need REAL, customized poverty assistance in this country. Because each element of the problem will take an unknown amount of time to deal with (housing, employment, mental health...), the case will be complicated by lack of coordination. The things she needs will not line up at the right time. The housing really needs to be stabilized before she can even think of work.
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