Needhelppayingbills

Hi,
Well, we appreciate the feedback and glad you found the help you needed way back when. But thanks for the offer, but we do not need your services. But if you do need some work, try this for jobs you can do from home. We have a wide variety of positions listed, including that cover Los Angeles. Or try job training or this site for volunteer jobs in LA. https://www.laworks.com/

Dear Jon McNamar,
I’m reaching out because I have an urgent situation and really need your advice and guidance. I’m sending this same message to several of your email addresses in hopes it reaches you or someone on your team.
I know about the wonderful work you do because a few years ago I used NeedHelpPayingBills to find rental assistance when I was unemployed during and right after the pandemic here in Los Angeles. In trying to find out how to reach you I read that you have even more ways you are helping people and small businesses across the country.
You are inspiring.
I believe in Paying it Forward so I’d love to contribute to your work — and I’ll share below how I believe I could be of help. But, to be honest, first I have to get through a crisis of my own before I can focus on and help anyone else.
My Emergency
I need to pay $2300 in back rent by August 15, or my landlord will take me to court to evict me and my daughter from our apartment.
This is not current rent — I’m paid up on.
It’s part of the back rent that built up during the Covid shutdown and Los Angeles’ rent moratorium. This is not all the back rent I owe; but in February, my landlord gave me an ultimatum to reduce the balance by $11,000 by August 15 or face eviction.
I have been doing everything I can to resolve this, and I have paid back around $8,000 of it. From my salary, a tax refund, side jobs and borrowing. But I am out of ideas and almost out of time for where to get the last $2300.
What I am asking you for:
I need your guidance and direction to any nonprofit, faith-based group, national organization, or federal program outside of Los Angeles that might be able to help me — a low-income senior citizen — cover this $2,300.
I pretty much exhausted most of the options on the Los Angeles page the last time I turned to your site for help. Many groups, especially churches and community organizations, helped me once and said they couldn’t again. Others no longer offer rental assistance, or their programs are inactive or out of funds.
For example:
Using your site, I found and received one-time help from the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, St. Vincents, a Los Angeles Community Service and Family Center which I found out about on your site. I also found a national nonprofit called A Family in Need that helped me.
City programs like ERAP were lottery-based but wasn’t chosen.
County services like DPSS are out of rental funds.
Some places (211, Salvation Army, Jewish Federation, Lutheran Social Services) either don’t offer rental help, are overwhelmed, or have strict criteria I don’t meet.
Trust me, I’ve used or tried almost all the places in Los Angeles that are on your list.
So, what haven’t I tried at the national level or in cities and states outside of Los Angeles and California that you know might help me?
It’s only $2300 for a senior citizen to get help with rent for one month. It shouldn’t be impossible but I’m running out of time.
A few details about me:
I am 66. A senior citizen.
My 2024 tax return has me below 30% AMI
I pay more than 50% of my household income for rent.
I get Food Stamps
I have several chronic health conditions: high blood pressure and a compromised immune system.
I am a single dad and the Custodial Parent for my teenage daughter who is in college. She lives with me on school breaks and during the summer.
employment - Unlike the last time I used your website, I have a job. I have been a substitute teacher at different subbing agencies, and since November, I got promoted and have been working directly for the Santa Monica/Malibu School district. I’ve been paying my bills and current rent, and whatever extra I had I threw it into back rent.
But school is out for the summer so that income is temporarily paused. That’s the reason for my immediate emergency. I’ve found and taken on a marketing client and will be able to pay the current rent from that job, but not the $2300 in back rent.
What the money is for specifically - Unlike the last time I used your website, this is not for current rent. I am fully paid up for the current rent. This is part of the Covid back rent.
Moving is not a good option - I live in Los Angeles where rent is very high. But I have a two-bedroom apartment for me and my daughter that is under rent control. If we were to move now It would be more expensive to rent even a one bedroom than what I am currently paying. And I don’t have the money to cover moving costs and first and last month deposits in a new place. That sum would be much more than the $2300 I am looking for anyway.
My sincere offer to you:
As I wrote above, I genuinely want to help you with your work once I am back on stable ground. This isn’t a quid pro quo — just an honest offer. And here’s how I think I can help:
Legwork in Los Angeles -
Many of the resources listed for Los Angeles on your site are outdated or no longer active. I can help you review, verify, and update them.
Marketing -
I have a marketing degree from Wharton, and I was a marketing/sales consultant for 15 years. I would be happy to work with you in that capacity to get the word out about needhelppayingbills.com or your other projects.
Video Content -
On the internet, the video is king. I am a filmmaker, I made a move called “20 Dates,” and I use my skills to write and direct videos for my clients’ websites and YouTube channels. I can make videos for your organizations also.
Nonprofit work -
I have done case work, organizing and project planning for nonprofits over the last few years. I even started and run a non-profit that connects American high school students with recently arrived teen refugee and immigrants in their cities and towns.
I must be able to help in some way!
Thank you for taking the time to read this. I hope to hear from you — both about resources you might know of and, when the time is right, how I might contribute to the work you’re doing.