comments:
I highly recommend looking into Section 8 and public housing. The housing authority will put someone in an abusive situation higher up on the list. Normally the wait is 2-3 years but I think you could get in faster with your situation. The only thing with section 8 is that you need to be able to go find your own apartment/house. You said you don't have any local friends but I'm sure one of the organizations mentioned by others would have a caseworker or someone who is able to assist with the process. Rent for section 8 is always 30% of your income. If you get $450 a month, that will be $135 for your rent. Public housing is different in that there are apartments owned by the gov that become available as others move out. You would be assigned an apartment instead of having to find a place yourself. The public housing where I am uses the same 30% of your income to determine your monthly rent, but I don't know if that is universal to all of them, so call and check if you are interested. In the meantime, do what you can to remove access to your food. If you get something sturdy and lockable they sell locks at hardware stores and at storage facilities that are super thick and hard to break. Here is an example of a lock. Just make sure the container itself isn't easily broken since she has broken locks before. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Brinks-Stainless-Steel-60mm-Keyed-Discus-Padlock-with-5-8in-Shackle/16783316?classType=VARIANT&athbdg=L1200&from=/search Most importantly, STAY SAFE. If locking your food away angers her and you fear for your physical saftey, just remove the locks. You can go to your local foodbank to get more food for free. Because she gets so angry when you mention moving out, I think the safe thing is to work on getting out without her realizing you are doing it. Don't tell her you are moving out until you are ready to go. I don't know about this but because it's an abusive situation, maybe the housing authority will have someone who can come over to assist you as you are leaving the home. Or if she's the type to behave when others are around hire movers so she stays civil while you are leaving. I highly recommend cutting contact with your mother and brother once you are housed but if that isn't what you want to do you might still want set some firm boundaries with them. Something like telling your mother that if she yells at you you are hanging up the phone and then follow through and do it. Do not give them a key as they seem perfectly fine with stealing from you. Protect your peace. You've got this and people are always here (on reddit) to offer our 2 cents and give a helpful link or two. Edited for a typo