Please help us to get through this tough time. My family and I are new to Tennessee; we have been here about 4 months now, and it has been one struggle after another since we got here. I am a recovering addict going on 5 years now and I am raising my 2-year-old niece, Daniele, for my sister who is still struggling with her addictions. However, upon doing so, I have had a number of obstacles I've had to repeatedly continue to battle.

Since we got here, we've been in a weekly motel in Bellevue, Tennessee, which is by far the worst place anyone could ever stay willingly. Unfortunately, at this time, I have had no other choice. I have finally obtained employment; however, my checks each week are barely enough to cover rent, considering it bounces between $395 to $239 each week. Do not for one second think that if you are $5 short, they will let you slide because they will not. So it makes it very hard when all you seem to do is work to cover rent.

On top of attending my college classes that I am taking, I feel like I can't save a dime for an actual apartment, nor can I even get a babysitter half the time because I have no other money, or even purchase food, hygiene products, or diapers. But you see, that's not even the worst part. In the last 2 and a half weeks, we have been without water due to the sprinkler system pipes that burst, which lasted about 5 days, and then an additional 2 with no hot water. You'd think they would cut a little break, but nope. And now we have no electricity due to the storm, but it is now going on day 7 of that with no electricity and no water, no way to cook, or keep my 2-year-old warm.

This is completely illegal for me because if anyone from any kind of agency were to walk in there, they would remove her immediately from me, even though it's not at all my fault, nor do I have any other options. So I am taking out, begging and pleading for your generosity in helping me to come up with enough money to make the first month's rent and deposit on a place for us to call home before I lose everything I have fought so damn hard to keep. This includes my sobriety, as it has become harder and harder to stay sober through all this. Please help me.