To start, I have never had to do anything like this. On September 24th, I received a phone call at 1:30 in the morning from my husband telling me the house was on fire while I was 3 hours away for a conference meeting. The fire started in the abandoned house next door and moved to our house. The house is deemed unlivable now by the insurance company and fire investigator.

Unfortunately, we didn't have renter's insurance. My landlord is terminating my lease and says I'll get my security deposit back "minus unpaid utility bills." Um, I thought those transferred with us. I think they may be trying to get out of giving me that as well as telling me, "We are not obligated to do anything other than terminate a lease. We offered for you to stay 1 night at a hotel because we felt bad," but said we refused because of the dogs. Well, yeah, you told me to keep them in an unlivable house. I have 3 and they are my world. For only 1 night. I'm sorry, but that doesn't help. I also have a disabled mom that we take care of who is on disability.

We need to find a house and, well, you need money to move. Red Cross refuses to help, says it's not deemed unlivable by FEMA standards, whatever that means. My house is ruined, my belongings are ruined, and I honestly just need help.