Preventing Eviction for Irene Sanford
Donation protected
I never thought I’d find myself in this position. That after working for over 30 years, steadily building a career, and taking care of myself independently, I’d be publicly asking people to help me avoid getting evicted. But the truth is, as we enter the month of September, I’m desperate and scared. I am now entering the 3rd month of being behind on my rent and I’m terrified of eviction. At this moment, I owe my landlord over $3500 for rent and late fees. That's just to bring me to a current status. I don’t even know how to ask such a question, so I’ll just come out and say it. I need financial help to catch up on my rent before my landlord evicts me. I need to raise this money as soon as possible.
How did this happen? I was badly injured on the job in November 2018. I was too hurt to return to work, so my position was filled and I became a displaced employee. I received Workers Comp benefits for a few months, but they abruptly cut me off, even though I was not healed enough to go back to work and I didn’t have a job to return to. So I applied for long-term disability. My physicians all said that I was disabled and incapable of returning to work, given my severe, mobility-limiting orthopedic issues and traumatic brain injuries that negatively impact my memory and other brain functions. I was an emotional mess – severely anxious, depressed, having panic attacks and unable to sleep. I had insomnia so bad, I didn’t sleep for an entire week. My physicians also said that I was suffering from PTSD on top of everything else. I was a total wreck.
Given all of these serious medical conditions and my doctor’s diagnoses, I never dreamed that I would be denied long-term disability benefits as well. I was counting on receiving those payments. I had all of the required paperwork and I had jumped though all of the hoops. So I was totally shocked when they denied my case near the end of July. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but I was. I still thought that my employer would take proper responsibility since I suffered so much bodily damage due to their negligence. And I did all the right things. I complied with every request demanded of me. But I was wrong about that. Insurance companies do their best to avoid paying claims, even if they have merit and valid support. They drag things out and make you fight for it. At this point, I had zero income and no way to pay my July or August rent. Although I’m in the appeals process for these benefit payments, those procedures take a lot of time. And no one cares how the injured party is supposed to live in the meantime. Workers Comp cases have significantly fewer options and less support than auto accidents or slip and fall cases. I don’t understand it, but that’s the reality. I’ve researched my options at length.
After my experiences throughout this ordeal, I can totally see how people, even those who had successful careers, can become homeless. The right set of circumstances can easily get you there in less than a year. The “safety net” is filled with holes and it’s scarily easy for people to fall through the cracks. There really are no programs out there for someone like me who is trying to stay in their current home and needs assistance to bridge the gap while insurance companies haggle over paying disability benefits or whatever temporary ordeal a person is facing. That kind of help is simply not there. If you don’t have solid family support and strong social support, you are in trouble. This is where I find myself today. And I feel helpless and scared.
Those who know me well, know that it is extraordinarily hard for me to ask for help and that I wouldn’t do it if I had ANY other options. Those who don’t know me, well, I hope that you can relate to my story in some way and that you would help as you feel led. I am eternally grateful for anyone that has the kindness and generosity to donate to my cause. I never thought it would be me on this end of a plea for help, but life has twists and turns that we cannot predict. We survive them to the best of our ability and that’s what I’m trying to do. Thank you for listening and for your generous help.
How did this happen? I was badly injured on the job in November 2018. I was too hurt to return to work, so my position was filled and I became a displaced employee. I received Workers Comp benefits for a few months, but they abruptly cut me off, even though I was not healed enough to go back to work and I didn’t have a job to return to. So I applied for long-term disability. My physicians all said that I was disabled and incapable of returning to work, given my severe, mobility-limiting orthopedic issues and traumatic brain injuries that negatively impact my memory and other brain functions. I was an emotional mess – severely anxious, depressed, having panic attacks and unable to sleep. I had insomnia so bad, I didn’t sleep for an entire week. My physicians also said that I was suffering from PTSD on top of everything else. I was a total wreck.
Given all of these serious medical conditions and my doctor’s diagnoses, I never dreamed that I would be denied long-term disability benefits as well. I was counting on receiving those payments. I had all of the required paperwork and I had jumped though all of the hoops. So I was totally shocked when they denied my case near the end of July. In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been so surprised, but I was. I still thought that my employer would take proper responsibility since I suffered so much bodily damage due to their negligence. And I did all the right things. I complied with every request demanded of me. But I was wrong about that. Insurance companies do their best to avoid paying claims, even if they have merit and valid support. They drag things out and make you fight for it. At this point, I had zero income and no way to pay my July or August rent. Although I’m in the appeals process for these benefit payments, those procedures take a lot of time. And no one cares how the injured party is supposed to live in the meantime. Workers Comp cases have significantly fewer options and less support than auto accidents or slip and fall cases. I don’t understand it, but that’s the reality. I’ve researched my options at length.
After my experiences throughout this ordeal, I can totally see how people, even those who had successful careers, can become homeless. The right set of circumstances can easily get you there in less than a year. The “safety net” is filled with holes and it’s scarily easy for people to fall through the cracks. There really are no programs out there for someone like me who is trying to stay in their current home and needs assistance to bridge the gap while insurance companies haggle over paying disability benefits or whatever temporary ordeal a person is facing. That kind of help is simply not there. If you don’t have solid family support and strong social support, you are in trouble. This is where I find myself today. And I feel helpless and scared.
Those who know me well, know that it is extraordinarily hard for me to ask for help and that I wouldn’t do it if I had ANY other options. Those who don’t know me, well, I hope that you can relate to my story in some way and that you would help as you feel led. I am eternally grateful for anyone that has the kindness and generosity to donate to my cause. I never thought it would be me on this end of a plea for help, but life has twists and turns that we cannot predict. We survive them to the best of our ability and that’s what I’m trying to do. Thank you for listening and for your generous help.
Organizer
Irene Sanford
Organizer
Redford, MI