Wow, where to start? How about I start with where I am at right now...! The background story would take me hours to type because it started back in 2005 when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. It was unexpected and I was young, just getting married and making a great living in a professional environment. I had every kind of insurance, a fat 401(k) considering my age and the market, etc. I had a brand new sports car (mini cooper) and I was really, really happy and felt healthy and good.
Fast forward to present time, as I sit here in cheap hotel with my husband and dog. We haev no money and have no idea how we are going to pay for a place to stay and I refuse to put my dog in a shelter. She was abused before we adopted her from the humane society and I'm afraid she doesn't do well with others and I'd cry forever if something happened to her. Plus I made her a promise when I got her that I would take care of her and be her "everything" no matter what. (It's only fair since my husband and I really are the center of her life! like it or not) So...we have no money, no savings, nothing of value, etc. Oh and I sold the mini ofter a year ago to put on a downpayment for a lease-to-own house ($5K). We were evicted from that house almost a month ago. The deposit=nonrefundable and I feel like the biggest idiot in the world because we got scammed. We *will* litigate because the eviction was also wrongful. We were able to obtain federally-funded assistance (HPRP funds) and paid all of the past due rent. Idiotic landlord piggybacked off of the orignal writ to have the constable come out. And remove mostly all (still thinking of stuff that they didn't get out of the back yard) of our belongings and put them in the front yard. While it is not legal to do this in the rain, apparantly there is no law against doing it 30 minutes before it rains. It rained for two days and most of our stuff is going to be ruined. We haven't had time to go sort through it beecause we've been trying frantically to find a place to live (with an eviction on my husband's record--don't know why, but I wasnt included in the suit). I'm devastated that my family hasn't offered to help in any way (and I've asked). I'm not a bad person and we're not drug fiends or difficult people (nothing against drug fiends, but sometimes they can be troublesome to deal with).
So, we have no money and need a place to live. Oh, and I haven't filed for social security (but need to do so ASAP) and my private insurer stopped paying me 2 years ago. I've been just trying to "hang on" because I've been just that sick. i was hospitalized last august and they finally figured out the root of my problem, so have been doing slightly better for past 6 months but I am still unable to work (which kills me since I was a workaholic before this...totally mourned losing my career at brokerage firm because apparently it defined me or something). My husband is unemployed, but has been diligently looking for a year now. If he was just able to look for work, it would be easy but he has to take care of me and has been trying to keep our electircity and such on at the house (that we no longer reside in). We're below the mean poverty level or whatever. We lost our health insurance. We are so incredibly screwed when you read it on paper.
I have faith that things will work out...and everything I've been through has made me stronger person...and I've tapped into this creative side that was buried so I plan on changing career path. But...where are we going to sleep tomrrow?
We've only slept in the car once because we've managed to use every cent of our money for this dump. I've looked for help/assistance but most of them will only help if we're in a shelter...and again, I can't leave my dog behind anywhere (even temporarily).
We lived in Fort Worth, are staying in North Arlington and plan to move to Dallas. Does anyone know of any good, relevant and *current* resources to utilize? We mainly need rent assistance (we're in proc of applying for food stamps), help with security deposits, etc. as well as other basic stuff. A loan would be amazing! I can do things to work in exchange for assistnce too...so, while financial "help" is always kind and appreciated, I don't expect it to be given to us.
We just need major help gettig back on our feet. We're both college grads from good schools...I didn't see this in the cards. I try not to get sad, but when I let myself slip into that depression, it's like a neverendig pit (I am on antidepressents as I suffer from major clinical depression) So...I'll end it there....does anyone know of something/someplace/someone/? I can turn to?
Help is beyond appreciated at this point.
Kind regards,
Riley
