“You can work at a National Park (or other resort areas) for something like $16/hr and get very low-cost housing in the park for approximately $50/week (last I spoke with them- it could be more now),” shared one.
Someone volunteered, “Most Summer Stock Theater production gigs offer housing with employment. It’s usually a three-to-four-month contract aimed at younger industry types."
“In California, any apartment complex larger than 16 units requires an on-site manager to live there. Companies that own many properties hire folks to live on-site as the acting manager,” replied another.
“I lived for free(ish) for about a year as a house sitter with mostly long-term house sits for retirees who traveled a lot or had second homes in other states,” announced another.
One person agreed, “100%, I’m a recent job corps graduate (2017), and it was one of the best things I could’ve done. It’s easy to get lost in the drama, relationships, egos, pride, etc., but if you keep your head down and focus, you’ll be golden.”