Hello and thank you up front for your considerate offer to help. For the past 7 years now I have been caring for my 2 children the best I can and mostly on my own after their father's habits caused us to lose our home. I, however, do not have those habits (it'€™s the bigger part of why we are no longer), I just want to clarify up front. I am not a drug addict or alcoholic or criminal. This is why I can't believe I'm having such a hard time finding work. (While sometimes I even realize I would receive more assistance if I were a drug addict, I am not.) I was raised to be self-sufficient and have done well for the most part. My credit was perfect and I worked hard to keep it that way until my ex happened. I have never done anything like this before now. There have been ups and downs along the way that I have been able to manage and I can honestly say, right now in my life, it can't get any worse. I was laid off from a permanent position almost 2 years ago that I gained after struggling to graduate from college with children underfoot. I was receiving unemployment until earlier this year when all extension benefits were cut. During this time I WAS able to find work, however, nothing permanent or consistent. I do receive child support but, as many cases out there, I'm lucky to even get what little I receive. When I lost my job I also lost my apartment in the city because on UE I couldn't afford $800/month and I had to leave once I got 3 months behind. That is also now against my credit with all of my late bills, etc. I left before they actually evicted me and moved to a strange new place in a small town. I was lucky enough and am thankful to have found a landlord that understood my credit situation and rented to me anyway. Rent is cheap and while it's nothing much, my children and I have a place to lay our heads at night. I was keeping up with rent just fine but since UE benefits were cut, I have gotten so behind on my rent. After speaking today with my landlord he is losing his patience with me and I really don't know how long I have left. He has told me I need to do something soon or we are moving to the "next step." A few weeks ago I had to scrounge to buy a whole new set of tires after I had 3 flats (YES, 3 individual times I got a flat) while driving within 2 months and was too nervous to ride on used tires anymore with my children. In the last few days I have managed to save my car insurance from lapsing and was able to pay my power bill to avoid disconnection, leaving 10cents in my bank account and $20 for gas for the whole week. I missed one of my sons' football game to save the money for gas to get by until Friday. He is 13 now but he understood. Yesterday morning I woke up to no cell phone service and cannot get it turned back on. I use a discount no-contract provider ($40/mo.) My cell phone is my primary contact number and I put it on all of my work applications because I'm always riding from place to place looking for work. Right now I'm afraid I am missing that call that I so long for. I owe money to keep my water on, my car payment, and my home phone/internet is due for cut-off as well. Over the years I have learned to live well beneath my means. I do not have a fancy car or the latest phones or even cable/satellite. As a matter of fact, I barely have enough clothes that fit me anymore to last a whole week. I haven't been shopping for myself or my children outside of consignment shops in over 2 years. Even then I was always frugal and only spent for our needs. At the beginning of the year I was forced to trade my dying car to buy another car to ensure transportation for work, kids, and errands. I live in the middle of nowhere with no public transportation. I bought the car agreeing to pay it off in 1 year. Just 4 more months, and I am so afraid to lose it! My bills each month consist of rent, electricity, water, car/car insurance, phone, internet, and of course gas for errands. Nothing more and unfortunately nothing less. I am constantly looking for work and have been able to get a few gigs to get me through but only for a day or two. May you please find it in your heart to help me get out of this hole. I feel like every time I turn around something is beating me down and I can't get ahead this way. I need to stay strong for my kids. I have a couple of little gigs for cash coming up but not before my disconnections and I am constantly looking for more and I am so concerned I am missing my phone calls. I've had to ask for assistance for electricity earlier this year through Christian Ministries so I can't ask again until next year. I've been to apply for housing assistance in my county but they aren't accepting applications now because they have too many on the waiting list as it is. And they don't know when they will open back up for new applications. I am afraid I cannot stay strong for my kids much longer. I only cry alone at night when they sleep, but I've caught my older child notice me fighting my tears when I hold back. He knows and it saddens me. My younger child isn't fully aware. Thank you forever and I promise one day to pay it forward. As a matter of fact, I have had to quit volunteering to help children in need because I don't have it to give anymore, neither my time (because I'€™m always working or looking for work,) nor the gas. I feel awful. Thank you again and may we all maintain peace within no matter what gets us down.