My Emergency Housing Fund

Hi, my name is Jeff Burton, and I'm not doing really great at the moment.

I lost my job right before Christmas, and I wasn't eligible for unemployment benefits. About the only thing I am eligible for is SNAP (food stamps), so at least I'm not starving.

I'm looking for work, but I haven't found anything yet -- it doesn't help that I don't have transportation. In the meantime, I have no income and no savings. I've even lost my medical insurance because I can't pay for it. (I'd be eligible for Medicaid, but my state didn't expand it last year.)

I've applied for HUD housing, but there's a waiting list and I don't know when or if I'll get it. Right now, I'm living week-to-week off what my family can afford to give me. But that isn't much, and they aren't going to be able to afford it for much longer.

This is not easy for me to do. I'm 54 years old and have worked for most of my adult life, but I really have no other options left than to ask for help.

I set the goal at $5000 because you have to set one, but I really don't know how much I'll "need". I'd just like a buffer so I don't have to worry about homelessness while I search for employment or whatever else might be available to me. My health has not been great lately, and it would help to have some money I could put aside for medical expenses, too.

Thank you in advance for your help!