Good job on getting around that, if anyone else needs a possible solution, renting a box at the UPS Store is not considered a PO Box by most entities and lets you get around the “no PO Box” rule, even though it’s officially owned and serviced by USPS. There are a few exceptions, though they are mainly from government offices. Unfortunately the only way to know if any place will accept it without asking first (which would give you away) is to already have the box on a short term rental (3 months is the shortest maybe?) and try it.

Dang, it sucks that they're so strict about having to a 'real' address (physical address). Glad it worked out for ya! I hate how things that really shouldn't need an address in this day and age ask for an address. I am curious about how you handle parking. Would you mind sharing how you decide where you park?

I intentionally “moved” to the highest cost of living state for 3 reasons:

A smart play.

This is the first time since embarking on this lifestyle I’ve absolutely had to get a real W-2 job that requires employees to have a permanent address in the state but I don’t want my employer to know that I don’t have a physical address.

Depending on the state there may be RV parks like escapees that have can offer residential address after a stay of some length. Examples: 30 days in TX, 1 day in south dakota!

If one were going to stay in a given state for a few years it might be worth it to rent a house or apt for month to get utils and such in one's name, DL. All mail would go to a remailer and never to that address.

domicile, residency, and mail forwarding

I don’t want my new prospective employers to know that I live in a van

I know those feels. OTOH, at my last job before retirement I told everyone freely. There were zero issues, other than people constantly asking where I was boondocking on my days off so they could have a bit of adventure by proxy. A co-worker and my boss actually ended up buying Class C RVs and started traveling a bit during my tenture.

I tried to pick up some seasonal work last winter with the USPS; I gave my legal residence (family member's house in another state) but put unhoused in the appropriate areas. They offered me the gig but the process was so slow the season was over before training would have begun.

Why they need so much information from their employees

Much of the egregiousness is fallout from the so-called Patriot Act, but federal paperwork and background checks typically require addresses. Example: the addresses help the background check ID the correct person, and tell the investigator which counties to sniff around in.

So glad to hear that - it's the humans in the process who make it possible.

I know a guy who once gave his probation officer a UPS store box, and they didn't even blink. For the thrity bucks or so, it was well worth it. Not once did said PO knock on my friend's door a couple states away, and all was right with the world.

Also, congrats on the giant pair it takes to sa 'yeah, homeless, but look at me, I've got my shit together - because I've a place to stay, and your def of homeless is very different from mine."

Nice homie! Go get that money!