Hi. Congrats for getting out of that toxic work environment. It's sad that too often coworkers simply are not friends; they'd rather sabotage you than help you.

The good news is that companies tend to hire the most the first three months of the new year, so this is in your favor. That, and when you apply for work, you can always check "No" on the question "Can we contact your previous employer?" They're not supposed to say much more than confirming the dates you worked for them anyhow. At least that's what a previous HR manager told me.

Anyways, out of the two living places, they both sound a little sketchy. Does it really matter though? There's always your car if you find yourself in a jam, so you have options and an escape, even in the cold. You can overcome winter with a good sleeping bag. I will suggest that the car dwelling be your last choice. In my opinion, a coworker getting wind of your living in a car has the potential to get ugly. A lot of people just don't understand what's it's like going through hard times (at least not until they go through it themselves).

Lastly, since you're not tied to a job or a place at the moment, any chance you're looking outside the area/state you're in? I ask because I often see ads for rooms looking for college students and/or young professionals. Maybe it's worth looking at some cities with a few colleges around.

Well, sorry for the wall of text. I'm bored out of my mind. I hope 2020 brings you good things!