Honestly, Lady Davis, if I were you I'd join the Police Force or Search and Rescue. Joining the Alliance comes with room and board, and it can be a good intermediary measure. You could ask Riza Hawkeye for some gun training and Buffy Summers for some self-defense. Actually, that mightn't be a half bad idea regardless of where you end up working.

If you need help with anything, let me know.