This is one of the last things I wanted to have to do, but I find myself in need of reaching out for some help. Here's a little bit about what happened.

My roommates fell behind on rent for months without telling me (they always said they were doing fine), and I only found out when we got hit with a 14-day pay or vacate in June. It took until basically the end of the 14-day period for me to manage to cajole everyone to accept a repayment agreement that required an extra $300 a month to be paid.

At the time, I stated that, in order to make it work, I would be willing to cover any of the extra balance that was necessary, so long as I was paid back. This was verbally agreed on every occasion when it was brought up in July and August, though I was unable to get them to make a written agreement.

On the 10th of September, I was informed by one of my roommates that they were no longer going to pay me back for any of the amount that I cover, arguing that simply because my name was on the repayment agreement meant they were no longer responsible for anything I cover (even though their names were on as well), and stating that because they no longer wanted me "hanging over them" asking to be paid back, they were going to simply refuse to pay me back.

Neither a reasoned discussion nor the mention of small claims court potentially getting involved made any movement. At this point, I'm likely to have to get small claims court involved after I move, but until they do get involved and I'm able to act on a judgment (which could take months or years to pay out), I'm going to be out $1,550, which for me is a not insignificant sum that would make a huge difference.

I'm in the process of getting into my own place, and while I have money to do this, getting this help would help set things up that much quicker and keep me on my feet through this transition. I'm still reeling from these events, as these are people I've known and trusted for over a decade. I'd appreciate whatever support you're able to provide to help make things easier.

UPDATE: As of 9/19, a change in the situation of my roommates has made this situation worse, not better, for me. I now have to come up with $1,550 total to be made whole, and the prospects of being out into a situation safe for me to pursue it are even more remote.