No idea what to do...

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Hi,
There is a lost in this message - lot of needs, no county/state mentioned, etc. So use our main page to financial help in your county or city. Scroll down the page, find the programs you need, etc.

Dear Sir or Madame,
As I’m sure you hear hundreds of times a day from people who, like me, depend on SSDI for their sole source of income and have no idea how to live. The amount we receive (and the very skewed percentages of our benefits the issuing governmental bodies have deemed “realistic” for living in today’s world ~ $400 per month for rent???) does not come close to covering basic needs ~ even if SNAP, Medicare/Medicaid, etc. are part of the equation…and with a 4 year waiting list for just a Section 8 interview and inexpensive housing almost impossible to find (never mind the moving costs), many of us are in danger of becoming homeless.
Please know that my circumstances ~ living, as I did before I became ill and began receiving SSDI after having to give up a lucrative career and within days any work whatsoever, in a rich neighborhood, renting an extremely expensive apartment, seeming having an abundance of creature comforters ~ are misleading, as they paint a picture of someone who has nothing to complain about given the unimaginably dire straits families with several children currently face; that said, though, the plight so many face is the same as the one I do now, losing the roof over my head and not being able to find alternate housing, or finding by some miracle a lower-rent living situation and having my benefits cut to fit the equation by which amounts are partially determined…so whether a $2000 per month rental or a $600 per month rental.
SSDI benefits are not sufficient to pay rent, utilities, non-SNAP eligible items like toilet paper, toothpaste, phone, internet (if it is necessary, as it is for me so that I can easily communicate with my many doctors and pharmacies), shampoo, etc. I’ve been told by members of SHINE, NAMI, and other individuals in the social services that staying put is, as financially impossible as the numbers are, is actually the best thing to do in the local (and I am guessing larger) government’s eyes and for my own life.
I turn to you now out of complete despair as have no other idea what to do…my physical and psychological conditions have worsened since I began receiving SSDI and the prognosis for both is that the pattern will continue (quickly, I am treatment-resistant to all medications even at their highest legal dose and just as an example, procedures that work wonders on others with severe anemia ~ infusions and full blood transfusions ~ have no effect whatsoever on me) and I will never be able to supplement my SSDI with part time work or replace it with full time work. What do I do when I can no longer pay my rent or purchase the most basic items or pay utilities (those at a reduced rate and those not)?? My research, such that it is, says that there are some avenues of financial help available but I suspect my apartment far surpasses what is considered “reasonable housing” ~ yet it is reasonable because I chose it before SSDI was even a consideration, I have a roof over my head and cannot find another, issues that would otherwise detract greatly from my life because of my various disabilities…shoveling snow, not having my primary doctor/psychiatrist, pharmacy, and grocery all literally one minute away, having upstairs neighbors who check on me, etc.….are not issues at all…except that this is the last month I will be able to afford my residence unless I can find some sort of financial assistance.
Might you have specific suggestions as to where ~ or to whom ~ I should turn for the best chance of finding that help, even if it is just temporary? Winter homelessness terrifies me.
Thank you so much for your time (we writers tend to turn out novels, not emails), your consideration, and any advice you may be able to provide.

[Grace O’Connell]

Dear Sir or Madame,
As I’m sure you hear hundreds of times a day from people who, like me, depend on SSDI for their sole source of income and have no idea how to live. The amount we receive (and the very skewed percentages of our benefits the issuing governmental bodies have deemed “realistic” for living in today’s world ~ $400 per month for rent???) does not come close to covering basic needs ~ even if SNAP, Medicare/Medicaid, etc. are part of the equation…and with a 4 year waiting list for just a Section 8 interview and inexpensive housing almost impossible to find (never mind the moving costs), many of us are in danger of becoming homeless.
Please know that my circumstances ~ living, as I did before I became ill and began receiving SSDI after having to give up a lucrative career and within days any work whatsoever, in a rich neighborhood, renting an extremely expensive apartment, seeming having an abundance of creature comforters ~ are misleading, as they paint a picture of someone who has nothing to complain about given the unimaginably dire straits families with several children currently face; that said, though, the plight so many face is the same as the one I do now, losing the roof over my head and not being able to find alternate housing, or finding by some miracle a lower-rent living situation and having my benefits cut to fit the equation by which amounts are partially determined…so whether a $2000 per month rental or a $600 per month rental.
SSDI benefits are not sufficient to pay rent, utilities, non-SNAP eligible items like toilet paper, toothpaste, phone, internet (if it is necessary, as it is for me so that I can easily communicate with my many doctors and pharmacies), shampoo, etc. I’ve been told by members of SHINE, NAMI, and other individuals in the social services that staying put is, as financially impossible as the numbers are, is actually the best thing to do in the local (and I am guessing larger) government’s eyes and for my own life.
I turn to you now out of complete despair as have no other idea what to do…my physical and psychological conditions have worsened since I began receiving SSDI and the prognosis for both is that the pattern will continue (quickly, I am treatment-resistant to all medications even at their highest legal dose and just as an example, procedures that work wonders on others with severe anemia ~ infusions and full blood transfusions ~ have no effect whatsoever on me) and I will never be able to supplement my SSDI with part time work or replace it with full time work. What do I do when I can no longer pay my rent or purchase the most basic items or pay utilities (those at a reduced rate and those not)?? My research, such that it is, says that there are some avenues of financial help available but I suspect my apartment far surpasses what is considered “reasonable housing” ~ yet it is reasonable because I chose it before SSDI was even a consideration, I have a roof over my head and cannot find another, issues that would otherwise detract greatly from my life because of my various disabilities…shoveling snow, not having my primary doctor/psychiatrist, pharmacy, and grocery all literally one minute away, having upstairs neighbors who check on me, etc.….are not issues at all…except that this is the last month I will be able to afford my residence unless I can find some sort of financial assistance.
Might you have specific suggestions as to where ~ or to whom ~ I should turn for the best chance of finding that help, even if it is just temporary? Winter homelessness terrifies me.
Thank you so much for your time (we writers tend to turn out novels, not emails), your consideration, and any advice you may be able to provide.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Then you may want to try all the thrift stores, clothing closets, and other options out there. As maybe they can give free stuf to your family. As all those places (Urban League, Salvation Army, etc) all offer this form of support.

I have received help over last year from other sources, Urban league, Salvation army, St Vincent, Daystar etc. but
are so poor for waiting so long for hearing and surviving on one disability check.

[LaTessa]

Good afternoon,
I am disabled and so is husband. I am on SSDI, husband is waiting on SSDI disability hearing. Waiting now
For over a year.
We received LHEAP electric help in April 2015, and had been told we could call in first of each month and apply quarterly.
I called in today and reached LHEAP, and was told we could only get help yearly.
Online it appears to match what we were initially told, electric help quarterly or by season.
Is this denial correct or just a mistake? We really need help, extra specialist medical bills and car repair.
I have received help over last year from other sources, Urban league, Salvation army, St Vincent, Daystar etc. but
are so poor for waiting so long for hearing and surviving on one disability check.
Any other options or can you PLEASE confirm if LHEAP is not usable for one year for disabled adults, no children?

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Yes, most of the information on our site is for paying bills, but we also have rent assistance, housing, etc. And many of the agencies that can help with bills also are great sources of information and referrals. So call some organizations and tell them of your situation. Maybe they can help or redirect you to who can help. Especially being in the military and family they hopefully have programs. Some programs can even provide vouchers for hotel rooms. Location non-profits in El Paso and call places like El Paso Community Action Program, Project BRAVO at (915) 562-4100, and other agencies are listed too.

So my husband is in the military, and he is in transition from his active duty station to his reserve station, but since he hasn't been paid i full what the army owes him just yet, we are st here, and with no assistance from uncle sam. We've used up any means of cash we had teng sustain hotel rooms and for food, so we now h nothing. We can't even pull out a loan because husband has not signed into his duty station. A I'm 5 months pregnant. I checked out assistanc programs, but they're all keyed towards paying bills and such, so I figured I would post here..hoping for something. We're in el paso, tx and don't even have phones, because we sold them, but we have wifi.

[KJSmith]

So my husband is in the military, and he is in transition from his active duty station to his reserve station, but since he hasn't been paid i full what the army owes him just yet, we are st here, and with no assistance from uncle sam. We've used up any means of cash we had teng sustain hotel rooms and for food, so we now h nothing. We can't even pull out a loan because husband has not signed into his duty station. A I'm 5 months pregnant. I checked out assistanc programs, but they're all keyed towards paying bills and such, so I figured I would post here..hoping for something. We're in el paso, tx and don't even have phones, because we sold them, but we have wifi.