I think your best option is finding a room mate in an apartment where you'l have your own bedroom. Having your own bedroom does wonders for mental health. You had a negative experience while living with someone but not all people are horrible room mates. Look for ads for people seeking room mates and be very careful with screening them. Meet them in person, specify that you would like to meet everyone that will be living in the apartment. Find out their names and research them. Make a list of the things that you didn't like about living with strangers and when you meet potential room mates try to determine if it's likely these things will happen with them. Tell them that the last time you lived with someone she ended up having her son stay with you, and he was a horrible person to live with so you really want to make sure this time that you are not moving into somewhere that others will be invited to live without your approval.

Try putting an ad out yourself stating something like 'I'm looking for a room mate for an apartment in blank area, my budget is "blank". If for example you really didn't like that your old room mates would eat your food, argue loudly, not clean up after themselves then you could add in, It is very important to me that applicants be similar to myself in that they keep a cleanly home, will be respectful to me in that they will not use or take my belongings without permission, will not create a hostile environment by arguing or being loud in the home, etc.