Help Scott stay off the streets

My name is Scott. I'm a 46 year old man living in Seattle, WA. 

22 years ago, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. It's been quite aggressive; it was a little over a year after diagnosis when I was forced to use a wheelchair to get around. Since MS has no cure, my condition has gotten steadily worse over the years.

But even with this deterioration of body, my mind has always been strong with no effects from the MS - have always been able to do my job as a software testing engineer without issues - and as such have put together a respectable career, stringing together quite a few contracts/positions at a lot of great places over the past 20+ years. For whatever reason, though, over the past few months I have not been able to land a job. I've been trying to find work since September of last year, and while I've had what I perceived to be good interviews, I keep getting passed over. I don't know if this is due to my age, that the interviews aren't going as well as I think they have, the wheelchair, or ??? ...

I've exhausted my unemployment benefits and am now coming close to the end of my savings, investments, etc. Rent is not cheap here in Seattle, and neither is my monthly bill for medical insurance ($485) - and that's just for starters. You can see why I am almost at the end of my resources. I've sold pretty much everything I own that carries any value (musical instruments, jewelry, etc). I do not own a home, nor do I own a car, or anything else significant that I could sell.

June's rent was covered. Going forward from there, though, unless I can find a job I'll be stuck with no income with no way to pay for anything - rent, power, food, insurance, et al. It's a real possibility that I could be out on the street, homeless. While I am looking as hard as I can - turning over every leaf and looking everywhere I can to find open positions (some places that would require a 3+ hour commute to and from work) - it's slow going. While I am quite qualified, I just don't seem to be drawing much interest. For the life of me, I don't know why this is the case.

With the physical challenges in my life, I can't be homeless. I have to have a bed that can be adjusted electronically up and down so that I can transfer in and out of it. I need special facilities to use the bathroom. I need power to charge my chair or I'm not going anywhere. If I get to that point - I don't know what to do. There are no homeless shelters that have what I need to survive.

I am just looking to get enough financial resources to keep me with a roof over my head for 2-3 months while I continue to look for employment, and to have medical insurance in case something with the MS decides it's time to pop up ... or maybe something else; hey, I'm 46 - not entirely young anymore. As we age, things go wrong with the human body. Quite simply, if I was forced to live on the streets, I'd be dead within a month or two. And I am not ready to die.

Throughout my adult life having to deal with this illness and the challenges it has presented me, I think it's important to note that never - not once - have I ever asked for or expected any help from anyone. I've always been able to take care of and provide for myself - until now. I'm not nor have I ever been the kind of person looking for a handout of any sort. Everything I've achieved I've gotten by working hard for it. This is tough to have to do/say. But I'm swallowing my pride and asking for assistance.

Thanks for taking the time to read this - and thanks very much in advance for any help you can provide. I think it's important to note: I *expect* nothing from anyone ... but whatever help can be offered to me I'll appreciate more than my meager language skills can adequately describe. If you have any questions, or suggestions, PLEASE feel free to contact me. Thank you!