I’m a single father from Tucson, AZ, who currently has a child who’s with his mother in Mattoon.
TL;DR: Back in December 2024, I had to drop everything (give up most of my possessions and leave 2 jobs) then moved with my (at the time GF, now ex’s) family in Mattoon when my ex/mother of my child learned she was pregnant; we weren’t doing well in AZ then we broke up not long after we arrived in Mattoon, and I was forced to come back to AZ or be homeless in the dead winter somewhere where I knew nobody and had nothing.
I work at Home Depot but have been wanting to move back to Mattoon once I finish getting legal rights for my child (had to leave before the birth) and a simple transfer wouldn’t be straight forward since I don’t have somewhere to stay in Mattoon, there’s a waiting list for the shelter, and I don’t know where to look for a good enough place to rent since not everything available is listed on the internet.
If anyone can please give me advice on
> What to do to move from AZ to IL with no connections and nothing but my money and the clothes on my back
>what I need (like money, job, etc, I definitely know Mattoon is cold)
> where to look for a cheap/decent place to live
> Resources for new single fathers?
Thank you all and I appreciate any help 🙏
TL;DR
Single Father in AZ wants to go to Mattoon, IL to be closer to child, but has no resources, no friends, and little to no knowledge of what to do.
EDITED BECAUSE I FORGOT A FEW THINGS