This might sound a little controversial, but have you considered other roles in IT, not just pure development jobs?

I've been in Ops for 20+ years now and started on 1st line support for an ISP, although I had very few options without a degree (or much of an academic background really).

An entry level role might be a stepping stone to other positions within the company - and an opportunity to network with colleagues in other departments.

Over the years I built professional relationships and moved up to 2nd line and then 3rd line (sysadmin). This provided industry experience, certifications and sufficient domain knowledge to move elsewhere.

A few peers from 1st line moved over to development after they helped provide direct feedback to the devs as users of their software.