Power for Rift

Hello. My name is Charles. I'm more known on the internet as Riftblade. I am a disabled Army veteran and I play video games on Twitch.

In short, I am starting this campaign because I am in dire need of energy bill assistance and car repair and unable to do it on my own.

I will explain the situation in detail.

I am a 100% permanent and totally disabled Army veteran. My sole income is disability. That status allowed me to be enrolled in my energy company's bill assistance plan. The plan provides a fixed payment based on the amount you owed the company all while continuing to have active services. The problem is, the fixed payment amount was less than my monthly usage. So while I was making the required payments, I was slowly descending down a deeper hole without knowledge.

My energy bills would sometime be upwards of $800 for one month and averages about $500-600. The bills only showed the plan amount as due, not the actual usage total. Turns out the furnace isn't exactly energy efficient. The thermostat is located in the basement, instead of the main living area of the home. As a result, the furnace has to work harder to maintain a constant temperature as it fluctuates more in the basement.

I ended up missing a payment and being removed from the program, which means the total amount for all incurred charges show as due immediately. To the total of $4100. That is more money than my total income for a full month. With Rent, other utilities, food, etc as part of monthly expenses, there is no way I can afford to pay in the time they require. I have asked for extensions while I work out assistance. The current extension ends in a week.

My state has many assistance programs for situations such as mine. I have applied, and called, and reapplied. Over, and over, and over again. I have been constantly denied assistance due to income. While the state believes I clearly need assistance, my income is more than the required maximum the state requires for assistance.

I decided to start making DoorDash deliveries to make extra money. This wasn't easy on my body due to my spinal injury, but I was determined to push on and do it anyway. Then my car breaks down. My car needs a new clutch and additional transmission repair. The repair shop has said the cost of parts and labor could total close to $1500, but cannot provide a detailed estimate without taking the transmission apart and inspecting it. I don't have a picture of an estimate, because I can't pay to take it in and have it looked at as the estimate is not free.

I can't take care of the electric bill because I just do not have the funds required. I cannot go out to make extra funds with DoorDash, because I do not have a working car. I once tried renting a car for a week to make deliveries, but at the end of a week of nonstop work, I only brought in enough funds to cover the cost of the rental and gas, making the entire effort a bust.

My spinal injury prevents me from working a normal job, hence the rating of 100% disabled.

This is where I swallow my pride and turn to all of you. I need help. I have tried to do it on my own, but I just keep falling short. Without power, I will be unable to safely stay in my own home, with close to zero degree temperatures outside. I'm unable to move to a location that is cheaper and more energy efficient, because I will still need power and will be unable to have it until the situation has been resolved.

I don't have anywhere else to go or anyone to turn to. I have exhausted all other options.

I would like to thank you for reading my story. If you have decided to help, you have my heartfelt thanks again. The amount of stress this has caused me trying to resolve this has been more than I can handle. Once again, thank you.