Have you ever been on the verge of being homeless?

things fell apart in 2005, my brother passed in a car accident, then both my parents lost their jobs. Even though I managed to stay afloat with a little IT job its finally catching up to me as my parents have moved back to dominican republic I have no safety net. Student loans are drowning me, rent rates have become inhumane I have the same salary as five years ago but cost of living sky rocketed (god forbid i want to feed my kids and save up for their education). So what any last stands anyone suggests before I start doing the shelter or crime thing?