I don't know what to do anymore. I don't know where to turn at this point. As you might know, my husband Eric, had a heart attack and stroke last year and has been disabled. He cannot read well enough to work so I have been the sole breadwinner for over a year now. It takes forever for the government to grant disability and so we do not have a second income coming in. Last year, we had been receiving rental assistance from the city but that ended when they ran out of funds. We were also receiving SNAP (food stamps) but when I began working my new job last winter, I was making $20 over the limit and so we were cut off. We had been receiving $521 a month to buy food but that is gone. $521 is a third of my paycheck, with that money gone, it’s been hard to make rent each month. Juggling money, not paying my credit card bills, barely being able to put any gas in the car (thank goodness I’m working from home right now). I know so many of us are struggling right now.

It’s to the point where I won’t have enough money to pay the rent this month (or most likely next month until I can get caught up). I get paid twice a month. I had been paying part of the rent at the beginning of the month with that paycheck and making up the rest (plus the utilities bill which is $200) the in the middle of the month. Which also means late fees of about $160 a month. It was unsustainable when I started doing that and now I can’t swing it anymore and the landlord has said they want the full rent at the beginning of each month. I am actively looking for a second full-time work from home job that I can do after my first job’s shift ends. I do get paid for a couple writing gigs but after the kiddo and I got Covid at the end of May, there were a couple weeks where I wasn’t writing. I just don’t make enough from writing to make up any real difference anyway. Just enough to pay a bill or buy a few gallons of gas.

Our cupboards are nearly bare at this point. All the money that I have left has to go for food for the kiddo. Eric and I are down to ramen and PB&J sandwiches. Our kiddo is 11 now and he sees we’re struggling. He’s on summer break and wants to go place like visit my Mum in AZ and go to the beach. We can’t do any of that and I feel like such a terrible mom. He shouldn’t have to worry about anything like this. No child should.

I know I’ve asked for help in the past; to move here to Austin back in 2018 and again, last year when we had the fire during the Texas Freeze and when both Eric and I were in the hospital, and I absolutely hate to ask again. We just haven’t been able to find our footing since the fire. It’s been one disaster after another, and I just can’t keep my head above water anymore. I’m drowning right now, and this the only place I have left to ask for help.