No local assistance available - really bad situation
Posted: Sat May 14, 2011 1:00 am
My family is in a rough situation. On 4/16, my younger brother either took his own life or was murdered. Not been a good month at all.
I've been to any local organizations that might be able to help but I end up going in endless circles.
I am on SSDI with a 5 year old to support alone. Our budget was super tight as it was and now my mother & her 2 little dogs have moved in with us. I was already looking for a handicap accessible apartment (recently ordered to use a power chair) and I found the perfect place and I can get a unit with 3BR and 2BA. This will allow all of us to have a room and some privacy as well.
Anyway, between driving back and forth between my home and my brother's, trying to assemble the funds to get moved, and a trip to WV to spread his ashes at my uncle's farm, I'm fighting to keep my head above water.
I've even overdrawn my checking account by $1300 as the manager at my bank suggested. However, this is just a bandaid fix. When my SSDI comes in next month, it will be gone to cover the overdraft.
Somehow, I've got to come up with $450 to cover the rest of the mortuary fees, $670 for first month's rent at the new apartment so they'll hold it for me until my current lease expires on 6/30 (I paid 6 months rent in advance so June's rent is covered), enough money to travel to WV and back to TN over Memorial Day Weekend (1,000 mile round trip), 3 nights in motel rooms, gasoline (yikes), and any incidentals. We're taking food with us so we save money there but it still does not compute. The mortuary fees and the first month's rent alone are $1120. This leaves me with $180 to cover the rest of it. The cherry on the sundae is mom has NO clothes. She never goes anywhere so she's got 3 pair of pants and 4 shirts. That's it.
Next month I'll have to come up with $350 for the pet deposit, whatever it will cost to move, $200 in legal fees for custody battle in KY(long story), a yet to be negotiated payment to my TN divorce attorney to get away from my abusive ex-husband, dr. copays and prescriptions for us all, $350 deposit to electric company, and $150 towards a washer/dryer set that I bought from a friend. All of this has to somehow come from mom's SSI and the SS my son receives because of my disability. They total $1005. Still gonna be way, way in the red.
I've been trying to sell anything I can on Craigslist but I've not had a whole lot of luck.
My situation is so far out of the norm that, while every agency I approach is sympathetic, my situation isn't something they can help with.
I do receive assistance with the electric bill thru LIHEAP but I haven't gotten an answer as to whether those funds are transferrable to the new electric company or not. I receive $58/month in food stamps (my income is too high????) and mom will receive them starting next month but the amount is yet to be determined pending an interview with DHS. Not to sound ungrateful but I need cashola right now way more than food stamps!
I know this novel I've written sounds like a pity party but I simply don't know where to turn. Does anyone out there have any ideas?
The last option I can come up with is to get a title loan on my car but that's a really bad idea. Wouldn't get enough and impossible to pay back.
Help!!! Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!
I've been to any local organizations that might be able to help but I end up going in endless circles.
I am on SSDI with a 5 year old to support alone. Our budget was super tight as it was and now my mother & her 2 little dogs have moved in with us. I was already looking for a handicap accessible apartment (recently ordered to use a power chair) and I found the perfect place and I can get a unit with 3BR and 2BA. This will allow all of us to have a room and some privacy as well.
Anyway, between driving back and forth between my home and my brother's, trying to assemble the funds to get moved, and a trip to WV to spread his ashes at my uncle's farm, I'm fighting to keep my head above water.
I've even overdrawn my checking account by $1300 as the manager at my bank suggested. However, this is just a bandaid fix. When my SSDI comes in next month, it will be gone to cover the overdraft.
Somehow, I've got to come up with $450 to cover the rest of the mortuary fees, $670 for first month's rent at the new apartment so they'll hold it for me until my current lease expires on 6/30 (I paid 6 months rent in advance so June's rent is covered), enough money to travel to WV and back to TN over Memorial Day Weekend (1,000 mile round trip), 3 nights in motel rooms, gasoline (yikes), and any incidentals. We're taking food with us so we save money there but it still does not compute. The mortuary fees and the first month's rent alone are $1120. This leaves me with $180 to cover the rest of it. The cherry on the sundae is mom has NO clothes. She never goes anywhere so she's got 3 pair of pants and 4 shirts. That's it.
Next month I'll have to come up with $350 for the pet deposit, whatever it will cost to move, $200 in legal fees for custody battle in KY(long story), a yet to be negotiated payment to my TN divorce attorney to get away from my abusive ex-husband, dr. copays and prescriptions for us all, $350 deposit to electric company, and $150 towards a washer/dryer set that I bought from a friend. All of this has to somehow come from mom's SSI and the SS my son receives because of my disability. They total $1005. Still gonna be way, way in the red.
I've been trying to sell anything I can on Craigslist but I've not had a whole lot of luck.
My situation is so far out of the norm that, while every agency I approach is sympathetic, my situation isn't something they can help with.
I do receive assistance with the electric bill thru LIHEAP but I haven't gotten an answer as to whether those funds are transferrable to the new electric company or not. I receive $58/month in food stamps (my income is too high????) and mom will receive them starting next month but the amount is yet to be determined pending an interview with DHS. Not to sound ungrateful but I need cashola right now way more than food stamps!
I know this novel I've written sounds like a pity party but I simply don't know where to turn. Does anyone out there have any ideas?
The last option I can come up with is to get a title loan on my car but that's a really bad idea. Wouldn't get enough and impossible to pay back.
Help!!! Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!