Help Secure Safe Housing for a Family in Need

I am working to obtain safe and stable housing for my kids and I and have had a huge obstacle appear that I need help with.

We are currently in a shelter, and I have obtained employment and am about to be accepted into an apartment but was just made aware of an outstanding debt of $5000 from a rental property that my late husband lived in when we first met. He had been living there for years, and I moved in a few months before we moved into a house, and my name was put on the lease. Apparently, his mom was a cosigner on the lease but is now also deceased, leaving me as the only one to deal with this mess. And I cannot get approved for an apartment until this is paid in full.

I have been in contact with the attorney on this matter and found that I could offer to settle for about $3300. It needs to be paid in one lump sum to qualify for a settlement. If instead, I paid monthly, I would need to pay the entire $5000, and it would take quite a while before I could be accepted into a home.

If I go the settlement route, which I am, the money that was for the security deposit and first month's rent is now gone, and I can no longer get housing due to that.

I have been in contact with several places that offer help for situations such as this; however, funds are not available.

As difficult and awkward as it is for me to ask for help with such a huge expense, I feel that I must swallow my pride and do it. If it were just me in this situation, it wouldn't be so imperative, but my kids are here. They deserve better, and I am working diligently to make sure this situation never happens again.

I am grateful for any help offered.