My wife and I have been together since we were teens. We also had our sons while still in our teens. Tomorrow marks our 39th wedding anniversary. We have been together for over 41 years. My medical problems started when I was young and continue to this day. Five hernias, heart attack at 29, chronic kidney stones requiring many surgeries, both knees replaced, arthritis in my spine and other joints, a neurostimulator implanted in my head for a rare neurological condition called SUNCT, poly cystic kidney disease, and recently diagnosed with macular degeneration in my right eye that has advanced quickly.

My wife has had many health problems of her own that were made much worse after being told to take a biologic medication that she didn’t need. It destroyed her immune system, caused vitiligo, and made her unable to regulate her body temperature or handle exposure to the sun. Now tests show that she has lupus.

I worked at Home Depot for 16 years. I had no choice but to apply for SSDI after many extended leaves for surgery and other treatment. I was quickly approved for full disability. My wife also applied and was found fully disabled. But because I am receiving disability benefits, she qualified for no benefits. We have been surviving on just my SSDI for the most part.

Our youngest son has been helping as to keep our heads partially above water. We would be homeless without his help.

We have lived in our current apartment for 18 years. Our landlord has been great to us. She has kept our rent well below the going market rate. I have always been hear to do whatever was needed in the three family home. Snow removal, yard work, leaking pipes, using our generator to power things for all tenants during power outages, buying and using pump and vacuum during basement flooding, paining, and so much more.

Now, two weeks ago we were notified on a Sunday, that a realtor would be by on the following Tuesday for a walkthrough. Today (Thursday Oct. 2nd) I was notified that there would be an open house on Sunday Oct. 5th. We came home today and the for sale sign was in the front yard. She said that the might not even sell right now and she might have to wait until spring. Then she said it could take a few months for it to close, if it does sell. Then says that the new owner might keep the tenants. We would love nothing more than to be able to stay here. At least until spring to give us time to figure things out. This is way too many maybes right now. We have so much to go through in a short time. Winter is coming fast.

We have two cats that we have had for 8 years and one that is our sons. My wife has dealt with depression, and her two cats are like her kids now. Emotional support animals. The sudden thought of losing them because we can’t find a place that will let her keep them is pushing her to even worse places.

Due to our financial situation. We have no money to move. No first, last, and deposit. Then there is the issue of finding a place on such short notice that we can afford or would even accept us based on our income. Even if we include my son moving in with us, it will be hard. In order to get any assistance, then including our adult son’s income would more than likely put us over the limit for any assistance. We are on the list for alternative housing vouchers. But that could still take years.

We are probably the only people that have used housing vouchers the way they should be used. Over the years, when I had to take leaves. We received two different housing vouchers and turned them in when I returned to work and was able to support us again. Now that I need one in order to possibly keep from being homeless, we are told there are none available and it would be years. We had an application in for section 8, for over six years. Then suddenly the application disappeared from their system. We tried everything to get help to find out what happened. They told us we had to reapply and start all over again. With an 8-10 year wait.

So now I am going to bury my pride and ask for help. I would love for someone to see this that is actually able to help us get into a place and not have to rely on others donations. But right now we have little choice. With our health issues, moving out of Massachusetts and losing our insurance would be a death sentence. We need at least a two bedroom. But a three bedroom would be better. My wife sleeps on the couch a lot of the time because my cpap machine and her own pain keep her up a lot at night. We are getting older and starting to understand why many of our grandparents had separate bedrooms. We are only 59 and 56. But our health problems make us feel older.

In case some are curious. My SSDI is just over $1,800 per month. Our rent is $1,500 per month.

Sorry this was so long. Our story should be made into a book. Thank you for anything you can do to help us at this time.

Any funds raised will be used to pay past due bills, first last and deposit on a place we find if we are forced to move as soon as it’s sold, moving boxes, moving truck rental, possibly a temporary storage unit, new utilities, and anything left will go towards helping with future bills.

My car is going to need new tires and work on the brakes very soon also. So some of the funds may be needed to keep our car on the road. . It’s important to keep it safe and on the road with all of our doctor’s appointments. I have had three this week alone and kidney scan next week to plan more kidney procedures. Lisa has two doctors appointments tomorrow. We see so many. Worcester, Boston, Chestnut Hill, Jamaica Plain, Peabody, Franklin, and right here in Marlborough.