Help! My daughter and I are on the verge of being homeless!!?

Question

I am a single mom with a 12 1/2 year old daughter. I have struggled for years with horrible, nowhere jobs. For the past 2 years Catholic Charities had been paying my rent while I went to college to work on my AA degree in Addictions counseling. Unfortunately, their funding has been cut and the will no longer be able to help us. What's worse is the lease is up for renewal in September and they are raising the rent from $831-$913/month. It's just way too much for me to pull off so I will have to move out.I decided the best move was to put school on hold for now and I was accepted into the 6week Nursing Assistant course at one of the local Nursing homes. I get paid while I am taking the class, but only minimum wage and I only get between 15-25 hours per week. Once we finish the class in the beginning of September I will get a raise and full time hours, but that first full paycheck is going to come just before our deadline to move out. I have no idea what to do! Does anyone have any ideas?

Answer 1

Being homeless for 14 months and facing that prospect again (now married)--because the cost of living is just getting out of control where I live--I would suggest that you start packing things up and putting them in storage, and purchase some camping gear just in case. (Or ask your family for some help with some emergency funding/lodging.)

The other thing is there should be a woman's mission where you could bunk up for awhile and keep working.

Other than that, there isn't much else I can offer you except for a prayer and a crossing of the ol' fingers here--because I know what you're going through. I've been there.

But my wife hasn't and this is what's worrying me.

Sky

Answer 2

Apply for every job you can find. For your daughter's sake you have to put life on hold and bring in some real money. I'm sorry I'm not really helpful in this situation but I guarantee if you think of your daughter you'll make bigger and more productive risks. Until you find a well paying job is there a relative or friend that you can stay with? If not your daughter and you is there someone that will take your daughter in, feed her, clothe her and such and simply give you a place to sleep at night? If things get really bad you may have to move to a place where you can find work. Try telling your story to locally owned businesses and see if they will hire you on and simply pay you by the job (such as $20 up front to clean the floors in the store). Try talking to your daughter's school or a local soup kitchen for information on a possible loan that you can get and pay back over the course of many years.

Best Wishes,
Amanda

Answer 3

G'day Grrlgenius5173,

Thanks for your question.

It sounds like a horrible situation. Have you tried speaking with your landlord to see if you can get an extension given that you will have a paycheck coming in and I assume that you have been a model tenant?

You might want to speak with Catholic charities and your local priest. While they will be unable to help financially, they may be able to make some useful suggestions.

I would also contact politicians such as your local state member or Congressman to get some suggestions. They may be able to make useful suggestions. You may also want to contact your local housing authority to see if you might be able to arrange emergency housing.

You might also want to find out if there are any housing advocates in your local area. They might wish to take up your case. Alternatively, there might be a possibility of gaining legal advice about what you can do.

You might also want to contact your local media. It may well be an interesting story for the news about a struggling, hardworking family facing life being homeless that may lead to help being offered.

If you were to advise where you live, I would be able to suggest more details of who you can contact.

Best wishes to you and your daughter.

Regards

Answer 4

Search out the Department of Housing and Urban Developement, County or City housing agencies, these agencies provide low to no cost homes for those in your situation. Good luck I hope it all works out for you. Plus you would be able to gain more time for schooling. I would also suggest you look into Food Stamps or Welfare programs. I dont know where you live but I know that in most states all of these programs exist. The trick is to not let your pride get in the way.

Answer 5

Hard as it may be to swing another part-time income would help you. You may want to add a third by signing on to try to do something like sell Avon on the side.

Other than that, I don't know if you'd be able to talk to the people who manage your lease and see if they may be willling to give you a little extra time or otherwise work out some arrangement. If you can give them dates as to when you can get things on track and signed etc. they may be willing to do something in view of the fact that you are already in the apartment. Even if you have to move out of this apartment they may be willing to work out something if you can tell them when you will be out and when you will be able to sign on for a different apartment.

Answer 6

Tough call... is it just you and your daughter? The best short-rem solution might be a low rent place, like a bachelor suite for a bit - you'd save a few hundred$ / month right there.
Chin up - once you have your degree, there's plenty of us alcoholics currently in counselling to keep you busy!

Answer 7

When I was working at a Holiday Inn Express, the maintenance man lived in a spare storage room, all you need to do is know how to be able to fix things. It was a nice setup him and management had. It was a pretty decent room too. Good Luck to you, God Bless.

Answer 8

You can check into homeless shelters. The best chance to get in is when your showing responsibility with your life. Your schooling should be supporting this in showing them that you are committed into making a better life for yourself. Another option is to also look into living with family and friends. Asking them to help support you throught this time in your life.

I wish you the best of luck and i hope you pull it off.

Answer 9

Why don't you talk to the realestate. Tell them what's going on and ask for an extention.
Maybe even ask them to help yo ulook for some where cheaper in the same area.
I am sure that they could help. There is also housing comission they helped me pay for bond.

Answer 10

I would suggest finding a full-time job now, plus a better rate per hour.