Striving to Become Self-Sufficient and End Our Homelessness

Revised Page Message and goal, as of 1 September 2012:

For quite some time pride has kept me from revealing to a great number of my friends the struggle to just survive, but have reached a point where I have no choice but to humbly request assistance in keeping us afloat while we cope with being officially homeless.
 
Several years ago I started having health issues, keeping me from finding or keeping jobs in my field of expertise (I have a bachelor's degree in management, specializing in process improvement). I have also been dealing with the family court system, as a result of my son's father's abusive behavior.

Having lost my insurance in 2007, getting a disability claim started was not possible until recently, although we now have Medicaid, which as led to the long-overdue discovery that I have a debilitating form of inflammatory arthrits called ankylosing spondilytis, in addition to the fibromyalgia that was diagnosed in 2006. Through it all, I've managed somehow to keep things afloat, until now, as we are in a shelter for the time being.

Since last year I have been working freelance or telecommuting jobs, but have hit a dry spell since February. I haven't had a car in over two years:I've cut expenses to the bare minimum to make survival more realistic, but today I find that just isn't enough. I am humbled, embarrassed, and scared about having to reach out to you all in this way, but for my son I will do anything I can to keep struggling to make things better. 

I have checked every possible source of charitable assistance, but find that the demand is so overwhelming there's little or no funds left by the time I manage to get through to any of the help lines:I absolutely realize I'm not the only one struggling, these are desperate times for many. I am finding that being in a shelter provides a few more opportunities for help in getting back on our feet, but the processes take time that I'm worried we don't really have.

I appreciate everyone's understanding, and hope that if enough people pitch in just a little, to help with school expenses so my son can benefit from the gifted/talented programs he is in, cell phone charges and post office box fees so I can continue to have contact availability for housing assistance programs, SSI disability claims and potential work-at-home jobs, and the steadily incresing co-pays for doctors visits and prescriptions.

Thanks for listening and for helping if you are able. We are greatly appreciative of all the help we've received so far, and hope that we can maintain the bare minimum in survival until a sustainable income and stable housing is finally a reality. Much love and peace to all...