I'm scared.

[Sly]

So a little backstory, I was homeless for a while and am living in transitional housing until I can get my sh together, k.

I'm seriously scared and need to move out of here ASAP.  It isn't safe.  Something went down, I don't really know what it was about.  People come and go a lot in transitional housing, and a lot of the people I live with (11 right now) are here because they're too unstable to hold down a job and live in everyday society.  A new girl moved in a few days ago.  She's pretty loud and annoying, but that's not the issue here.  She's apparently involved in some drama from when she lived on the street, and today someone she knows came to the house.  The staff working at the time told him he has to leave (no visitors allowed) and the guy, I dunno he was screwed up on something, you could see it in his eyes.  He's yelling at the staff, getting in his face like he's about to punch him, but he eventually leaves.

Ten minutes later the girl looks out the window and screams that he's back.  She sounds really scared and runs upstairs to her room.  The guy starts banging on the door and yelling at us to open it, while the staff is calling the police.  The dude smashed our window and ran off.  We have security cameras everywhere so it was all caught on tape and he's been arrested, but damn.  I don't feel at all safe here and I need to get out.

[Jeatyn]

I've been there dude on several occasions and I really feel for you The last place I was at like this someone stole my goddamn mattress...while I was in the room o_0 Their English wasn't great but it was pretty clear that I should just let them get on with it if I valued my safety. When it got too much for me one night I called a suicide hotline, called out the emergency psych team and begged them to section me just so I could have somewhere safe to sleep. They refused, apparently I'm not that good of a liar, they did not believe I was crazy enough to be put into a psych hospital.

I honestly don't know what to suggest other than the obvious - move out - which I know is much easier said than done. I'm assuming you have no close friends or family who could put you up for a bit while you get sorted?

[Sly]

Staying with my family is out of the question.  There's another program I want to move to though.  I've already applied and everything, just have to wait for a space to open up.  I've been over there and it seems a lot nicer, and it's LGBT housing so that's a big plus.  There's going to be drama everywhere I go I suppose, but I can deal with most of it.  When it comes to smashing windows though... no.

[Ayden]

I don't have any advice aside from get out of there as soon as you can. In the mean time, trust your instincts and try and stay safe, man. I'll keep my fingers crossed the other program gets you in quickly.

[suzifrommd]

I've never been in that position, so any ideas I give you don't come from experience. But here's my best:

* Try to make friends with as many of the residents of either gender as you can. Make friends with the staff too. Let them get to know you, do favors for them, ask them about themselves and listen to whatever they want to say. People who know you and feel a connection are more likely to have your back when you need them to.

* Try to find out the names of local law enforcement officers. Get to know them if you can. Approach them for suggestions on how to protect your personal safety, if for no other reason than that it helps them feel useful. Getting to know you will give them a personal investment in helping you stay safe. Police are human. They form connections and will bend over backward to help people they care about.

* Keep yourself clean. Refuse politely to have anything to do with drug selling or using, or other questionable activity.

* Get in touch with your personal toughness. Tell yourself you are a tough person, that you can handle whatever life throws at you. That you are easily strong enough to stare into the face of whatever threatens you. Say this to yourself as often as you need to.

I know it's not much but it's the best I've got.