Homeless with Student Loans

I grew up constantly being told that college was the only way to get anywhere in life. If you didn't go to college, you would never get a decent job, you could never lead a good life, you could never achieve the American Dream. So, like a good girl, I went to college and got two masters.

My family was never in any position to help me financially, but the government doesn't care if they *can* help you; their FAFSA forms insist that as far as they're concerned, your family IS helping you. Therefore, I didn't get much assistance and had to pay for everything through loans.

Even though I got a decent-paying, tenure-track, salaried position as a teacher a few months after leaving college, my student loans are still far more than I can afford. It wasn't too bad for the past few years - I've never needed much to keep me happy. So long as my local library had a good book and my pets had food, I could cope. I don't need to go places and do things to be happy.

However, I just learned that in one month, I will be homeless. I've spoken to my crediters and they've helped me as much as they can. However I cannot afford a home. I cannot afford rent or a mortgage - and utilities are out of the question.