I think living in ones car is a terrible plan, but an ok safety net (My backup plan was to live in my car next to the bay in Emeryville). At a minimum share a house with a bunch of people. If you want to do your best work, don't be homeless. It adds stress to your life after awhile. Get two weeks at the hostel to start and negotiate a discount for a long stay.
In Summer the kids go away, but during the academic year it is booming. Every week visit each of these places to network with people:
Berkeley campus
Stanford campus
noisebridge hackerspace
Fry's electronics
A classy bar in SF financial district (order only one drink and hold it all night as a prop)
to suburban.....?
http://www.inc.com/magazine/201207/leigh-buchanan/the-leanes...