https://www.reddit.com/r/almosthomeless/comments/1iwyjgr/old_disabled_homeless_in_5_months/
created by GenX_Boomer_Hybrid on 24/02/2025 at 09:56 UTC
400 upvotes, 88 top-level comments (showing 25)
60/Disabled Female I've been on the verge of being homeless for almost 5 years. It started because of health issues becoming so bad I could only work part time. So I rented out a room where I lived to help pay bills, and avoid being homeless.
I applied for SSI and after 2 1/2 years I was approved. However because I was receiving rent payment from someone I received no benefits. So approved, no benefits. When it became apparent I could no longer work I once again thought I'd be homeless until a friend said that I could live in a rental house he owned for a year. I moved and quickly reapplied for SSI since I was now receiving no income. I was told it would take 6 months.
That time is up and something happened where my SSI application was sent to a different office. No clue why. This office told me they are up to claims filed in December. I'm not until May. They told me to call back in a couple of months. I have called back repeatedly and got no answers. They just tell me they'll upgrade my case to hardship. Which I don't believe means anything.
I have advanced scoliosis, spondylitis, crippling arthritis and major depression. I need 2 operations on my spine. The only family I have is my 29 year old schizophrenic son, who is unmedicated and homeless. I have nowhere to go. The house I'm in now is rented out for September and I have nowhere to go.
I have $500 and 2 cats to my name. I'm tired, very scared and have given up hope. Wherever you suggest I call, I have. Twice. I'm on a first name basis with 211.
I haven't slept in 2 nights because I'm scared out of my mind so forgive me if this doesn't make sense. If you've made it this far thanks for hanging on and letting me vent. I appreciate it. I've fought this battle almost 5 years and basically I'm throwing in the towel. I'm old, tired and in a lot of pain. The system won.
Comment by AutoModerator at 24/02/2025 at 09:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Welcome to r/almosthomeless
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Comment by Leviathon713 at 24/02/2025 at 13:01 UTC*
68 upvotes, 6 direct replies
Go to your local DSS office, explain your situation and ask to speak to a case worker. My wife works for DSS, you are more likely to get someone to care/help when you are more than just another voice on the phone.
Edit to respond to below as I have been blocked from commenting:
First, they will take her more seriously because she showed the initiative to actually come in rather than just calling around.
Second, they have more resources available than housing. They can put her in a hotel, they can buy supplies for her such as hygienic and foodstuffs. There is literally a card for this purpose that they have access to.
I'm not going to keep going, though. Clearly, you are more well-informed than I about the inner workings of DSS in our state.
Comment by AdRegular1647 at 24/02/2025 at 10:40 UTC
21 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Keep your head up, my friend. You have the headway of a number of months on your side. Subsidized senior housing applications are what you want to start working on asap. If not in your area, then try other areas, too, if you're willing to move. Can you get the help of an advocate w SSI? Something is going to come through for you. Consider going to food pantries and getting help from local nonprofits to stretch the $500 to last longer. I'm rooting for you. Please keep us updated on your progress. 🙏
Comment by Jonistar76 at 24/02/2025 at 11:44 UTC
17 upvotes, 2 direct replies
You do not need to be receiving SSI or SSDI to apply for HUD or section 8
Comment by Neolamprologus99 at 24/02/2025 at 12:23 UTC
13 upvotes, 2 direct replies
I got schizophrenia when I was 18 in 1997. I've been on medication for almost 30 years. It was severe. The doctors told my mom I may never recover and that I might have to be institutionalized. I'm sorry to hear about your son and your situation. I know what it's like to be on the edge. I was worried about being homeless too. My aunt was living out of her car and staying at the salvation army center. They had resources that helped her get SSI. It's always darkest before the dawn so they say. Hopefully you can find a way to get the help you need.
Comment by elrabb22 at 24/02/2025 at 10:21 UTC
13 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I am so sorry life has dealt you this deeply unfair hand. Have you been in touch with non profit organizations like churches?
Comment by Funny-Pie-700 at 24/02/2025 at 13:31 UTC
4 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Have you contacted your Area Agency on Aging? (Sorry if you already have.)
Comment by AuggumsMcDoggums at 24/02/2025 at 13:59 UTC*
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
If you're on FB join the SUV Car Camping Women Only group.
Comment by MSalmon21 at 25/02/2025 at 17:04 UTC
4 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Are you able to live independelty or require someone to help you. You could try and see if you are applicable to live in a Nursing Home. They will apply for Medicaid and as you are literally without money they may be able to assist you.
Does your health requires Nursing Home care?
Comment by DapperAd5384 at 24/02/2025 at 10:33 UTC
12 upvotes, 4 direct replies
First of all sleep deprivation leads to bipolar. U need to apply for homeless prevention assistance by getting a hud section 8 emergency housing voucher. Look at the website need help paying bills.com and look up your states resources that site is fantastic. Social services will provide u with emergency cash assistance. Salvation Army provides food and sometimes housing and hotel vouchers. United way provides cash assistance to and just gave my friend money for her hotel. Join Catholic and Christian groups on Facebook and post that u are in need of a home I saw people offering places to stay in those groups when someone was homeless. Catholic charities provides help too and I think so does Saint Vincent De Paul. Jewish family services can provide help financial and housing help and u don’t have to be Jewish either. Jewish Family Services offered my friends sister a house before. Also start a go fund me and do a tik tok video because this girl did a tik tok video asking for money because she was going to be homeless and raised like five grand in one day on that app.
Comment by WonderfulExplorer263 at 24/02/2025 at 12:03 UTC
7 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Have you gotten yourself signed up for Medicaid? If not make sure to get signed up. Sometimes at our age when you are sick, you can apply for your regular retirement a few years early . Things have changed so much in the laws…. I would just call the Social Security administration and find out what the process is for applying a couple years early due to medical problems.. it would be best if you could get to a doctor and have them declare you disabled as to expediate your Social Security disability claim. Then what you can do is once you have that is also apply for your Social Security retirement and combine the two. So to reiterate what I just said, cause I think I ramble and don’t make sense…. If you can get a very respected doctor to say you need disability, you will get it almost immediately. (it depends on the credentials of the doctor-this is a subjective thing that you’re gonna have to ask around about) if you can find a doctor that has that kind of clout get your disability first… once you have your disability then you can add your retirement income onto the disability.. if you get retirement income first then you never get disability. If you are like me, you will probably need both as my SS retirement is a pittance. I just learned about all of this, but have not yet done it myself.. I have disability, but I’m going to try to add on early retirement. I’m very new to this social media stuff. I hope that you will keep us posted on what’s going on.
Comment by Pale_Natural9272 at 24/02/2025 at 15:02 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’m going to DM you.
Comment by [deleted] at 24/02/2025 at 17:33 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I am so sorry, I am going to hope that SSI comes through for you.
My only suggestion is to try to put this out of your mind and rest and be comfortable while you can. If you’re losing sleep worrying about this while you still have a place to live you’re wasting your comfortable bed right now. And you’re going to regret that later on when you don’t have the comfortable bed anymore
So please try to sleep and eat and do everything you need to do to take care of yourself while you have a place to do these things.
And keep calling the places keep doing the things, if section 8 waitlist isn’t open where you are find one that is open and apply there. You would have to use it there the first year that you have it but then you can move wherever. Get on the public housing waitlist all over the place not just where you are. I know it’s hard to be out of the area you are in if you have health issues because you’ve established care there, but you can’t sleep on the sidewalk just because your doctors office is in this area for example.
Comment by bopperbopper at 24/02/2025 at 20:10 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I have a friend who is sort of in your boat and after living me for too long, she now has subsidized housing, SSDI, SNAP, Medicare Advantage
Comment by Few-Nights at 24/02/2025 at 22:44 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
God fucking damn it
Comment by Capable_Influence_42 at 25/02/2025 at 02:58 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I wish you luck and hope everything works out for you
Comment by Lazylazylazylazyjane at 25/02/2025 at 03:47 UTC
3 upvotes, 3 direct replies
Have you ever thought about living on a commune?
I would read r/commune
Here is a link to the membership agreement of one in Virginia
https://www.twinoaks.org/policies/membership-agreement[1][2]
1: https://www.twinoaks.org/policies/membership-agreement
2: https://www.twinoaks.org/policies/membership-agreement
Capitalism has chewed you up and shat you out no offense, I think it's time to consider opting out.
Comment by Miserable_Anything52 at 24/02/2025 at 13:09 UTC
6 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Can you go to a nursing home? Some are actually really good.
Comment by lonerstoners at 24/02/2025 at 14:43 UTC
5 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Contact Social Services and request a Social Worker to help you.
Comment by InteractionNo9110 at 25/02/2025 at 00:33 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
This is why I am so upset with all the canceled funding the Gov't administration is doing. They don't care people are going to die on the streets. So they can fund their AI programs and line their pockets on the deaths of the innocent. It's brutal out there now.
I am sorry for what you are going through. I hope you are able to land softly. At worst, if you rehomed your cats. Would you qualify for a state-run nursing home. Once you get your SSI benefits?
My friend had to arrange for her ex FIL to be in one. He only had his SSI check and no family. His son decided to take himself out of this world with a bullet. While living for free with his father.
It wasn't super fancy, but it was nice and clean he did have to share a room with another man. But he was cared for well by the staff before he passed away in his sleep at 94. He had a long life.
Comment by WonderfulExplorer263 at 24/02/2025 at 11:42 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Are you in a city or a rural area?
Comment by No_Preparation3404 at 24/02/2025 at 13:30 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I’m wondering if you’ve tried going to a local fire or police department and telling them your situation. I’m wondering if law-enforcement can move your case forward with the right people.
Comment by complexguyincmh at 24/02/2025 at 17:52 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Contact you local area on aging. It is a an agency that helps people 60 and older. Law requires one for every county. Some agencies cover more than county though. 211 should be able to give you Contact information.
Comment by LambentDream at 24/02/2025 at 20:22 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Have you called your local representative?
They have specific mechanisms that can be pulled to require reviews and such when a constituent calls in.
Usually it's your representative for the voting district you live in. So local government rather than your senator, but no reason not to call them too.
You call their office, usually you'll be discussing all of this with one of the aides for the office, tell them you are a voting member of their district and in need of desperate help and have not been getting any kind of ETA or information on how to resolve your issue when calling other state & federal agencies.
Even though SSI is a federal program, it's run through the state offices for most of the administrative stuff like claims processing. So it's a local agency that's working on your claim not some agency in DC. So the local representative has some recourse.
The representatives office should have contact info for any other disability programs your state / county runs. Some states / counties have interim programs where if they believe you will be approved for ssi / ssdi they will provide a stipend until your federal level assistance claim is approved (usually this stipend is repayed from any backpay from ssi once approved - so it's not completely altruistic, but they *are* trying to keep folk from becoming homeless). In addition to pulling what levers they can on getting your claim worked.
Similarly, calling your governors office can sometimes net additional resource information.
Comment by UAintFnWitTwizz at 24/02/2025 at 23:25 UTC
2 upvotes, 2 direct replies
Can you do me a favor? Do you have a bank account open? If so, I strongly suggest you set up a GoFundMe page and I'm sure the community is eager to help... I know I would make a generous donation myself on behalf of my wife and I. I know that's not a permanent solution but everyone else beat me to the best permanent solutions you have available to you at the moment. Maybe if you can get some funds to alleviate the pressure, it will help to soothe you and allow you to make decisions with a clear head... Don't give up tho... You can't that's just not an option... You got this! If you need to reach out, please do so