My house sits on a steep slope, with a retaining wall serving to support a flat surface upon which my house is built. The wall is failing. It needs an emergency repair/replacement to keep my house, myself, and two beloved cats safe. Please help...

repair quote (with necessary stabilizing work for the deck which rests on the area just above the retaining wall) is MORE than $25000 - but I can scrape together the rest if I can get at least some assistance... insurance has told me that I was covered for lots of things "but not for this" (ain't that always the case...) and I need to get this work done and I simply don't have that kind of money lying around. I hate to ask this - but as a writer (whose income can be iffy and random), and as a widow who lives on very limited fixed income I and these two beloved blameless cats whose only mistake in this life might have been to cast their lot in with mine desperately need your help...