First let me say I'm sorry you're in this situation. When I lived alone in a very dodgy part of Brooklyn a few years, I had a long walk from the subway to my apartment, which I usually had to make after dark, alone. My strategy was to make friends with the shopkeepers along my route. These were mostly bodega-style, rather dodgy shops themselves, BUT, the owners had a vested interest in keeping their storefronts safe. So, I made a point to buy something from each shop periodically and to chat with the owners. They were fascinated by why I was living there and were very nice to me. So, over time, my route involved me waving and greeting all of the shopkeepers on my way home. I don't know if this made me safer, but I certainly felt better knowing they recognized me every day. Not sure if you could employ this same strategy? And let me reiterate that these were dingy, gross, graffiti-covered shops--but again, nice folks who were happy to talk with me.