Great news! I got approved for HRSN (Health Related Social Needs) benefits, which means I will have six months of rent and utilities covered!

Bad news! It has gone well past the promised date and I keep going further into debt. 

In case you don’t know me: hi. I’m Tessa, a queer, neurodivergent chronic-illness mama living with a kid and two cats in Portland, Oregon. I’m a writer and web designer. My health has gone steadily downhill as a result of Long COVID, and the newest feature - in addition to all my other health/mental health bs - is weekly migraines. I can’t work when I have migraines, and when I don’t work, I don’t have money. (This is what is known as a Health Related Social Need, and the entire reason I was approved in the first place).

I'm not the only one getting screwed over by the HRSN stuff - dozens (or more) people are in the exact same boat I am. (Here’s an article from OPB talking about it.) We were guaranteed this benefit through our insurance, and then...nothing. In February, I was told it would be 6-8 weeks. In May, I was told 6-8 weeks. I’d tell you what they said on Wednesday but I was on hold for four hours before they disconnected my call.

I keep going into this cycle of borrow/repay that’s just leaving me further in debt, and it's reached a crisis point. So far I’ve been able to pay my bills, keep my kid fed and clothed, and take care of the cats - but I’m months behind. There’s no way I can catch up, and the property management company does not accept partial payments.

Can you help?

If you can, that would be so, so great. If not, don’t worry! I don’t have any expectations! You are awesome either way and you look great in that outfit.