This message was self-deleted by its author

[mvd]

This message was self-deleted by its author (mvd) on Wed Sep 20, 2023, 01:52 PM. When the original post in a discussion thread is self-deleted, the entire discussion thread is automatically locked so new replies cannot be posted.

[UpInArms]

1. I wish I had more to give

I wish you all the best.

[mvd]

10. Thank you so much for the wishes

This is the most scared I have ever been and I have had problems before.

[UpInArms]

11. You are so welcome

Hugs hugs hugs

[Lisa0825]

2. K & R

[MLAA]

3. Good luck! Was able to pitch in a bit.

[calimary]

4. Kicking this for more visibility.

[calimary]

7. Another kick...

[mvd]

9. Thanks

I am also contacting a lawyer about everything these house buyers did.

[mvd]

60. Thanks so much again calimary

[SKKY]

5. Kicking so more people can see this...

...and hopefully help.

[ancianita]

6. Done. Good luck out there. May you all come out of this in a better place.

[mvd]

8. Thank you all so much

I am very humbled by each donation and I can already rest easier.

[BWdem4life]

12. Hang in there!

[mvd]

15. Thank you

Am doing that

[XanaDUer2]

13. Sorry to hear this

I'm undergoing a financial crisis myself now. How secure do you find GFM to be? Do you have to enter your Social Security number? I assume you enter your banking information for obvious reasons.

Is paypal better, or easier to use? I'm low-tech.

Someone else asked a few weeks ago about GFMs security, but no one responded.

Best of luck to you both! Can you get expdited housing due to disability and an older adult? Can your social worker help?

[mvd]

14. Hi Xana

They do require SS number. I prefer GoFundMe but yes it is more involved. I couldn’t get through the process of getting my new phone number verified this time. For low tech, PayPal could be better.

I still have to get on wait lists regardless and the place I wanted most told me 2 years. Others are costly and when you apply tell you monthly income should be 3x the monthly rent.

It is frustrating and many times I feel like giving up. But I have a determination. The social worker has helped me with the disability process.

So I hope to get enough in donations to hold me over until something is found. And I hope your situation gets better. Hugs

[XanaDUer2]

16. Thank you

I hope yours sorts out to your satisfaction.

So, Paypal does not require my SS#? I'm not comfortable including that with my banking information.

[mvd]

17. I don't think they do for a personal account

More if you are using it as a business.

[mvd]

18. Kick before bed

I still do not have a long term plan for shelter, so I can’t even convey how important the donations are

[Hekate]

20. When have you contacted your local Area Agency on Aging? Your mom certainly qualifies...

…for their advice and assistance.

You have a computer — just type in Area Agency on Aging.

[mvd]

19. Today I also had to pay a new lawyer

One who specializes in these transactions. This may take some time to look into though and I only have this hotel for a few more days

[XanaDUer2]

21. You told us you have finally gotten a social worker

A year ago. You must interact with them and all the agencies available in your part of the country immediately. Call United Way as people have been telling you for a long, long time to get into some type of housing.

[bluestarone]

22. AGREE!

I feel This person is using different forum to get away from people that KNOW his background. Used to be in the DU Lounge ALL the time! I would like to see this site put a number by the persons that use go fund me's! Like it will stick with them no matter what forums they use? (If the used go fund me 8 times, it would follow them all the time) Just my thoughts here. I don't like giving this person a kick, but THIS needs to be said!

[debm55]

23. I think he is using PayPal not go fund me

[Omaha Steve]

36. About the DU

There is no rule against fundraisers but that DU does not endorse them either.

[mvd]

24. Hi Xana

I agree - been trying to find housing for over a year. Sold the house but the house buyer was worse than thought and led to horrible circumstances. I need the lawyer as well as social worker. I am on my 5th hotel and it is urgent. The street could be the breaking point for us.

[XanaDUer2]

25. If you need your social worker

Then contact them. As an aged person, your mother will get help. Call United Way.

Google Council on Aging in your area.

Do this asap before you end up on the street.

[mvd]

26. Excellent advice

The advice here has helped to keep me going for sure. Mom called the Office of Aging and they want to work with our new lawyer. They think there may even been a criminal element removing mom from the home and keeping her in hotels since June.

[Hekate]

27. How long has the money here kept you going? You used to post in the Lounge.

[XanaDUer2]

31. !

You may want to check in with Legal Aid.

What do you mean, a criminal element?

https://www.lasp.org/locations

Here's the number. I would call them asap if something illegal is going on.

[mvd]

32. They can hopefully help for free

Appreciate it. Current lawyer thinks the house buyers were scammers and should never have had us in a hotel all that time.

[XanaDUer2]

33. Okay, well that sucks

Why couldn't the lawyer you had on retainer to keep the foreclosure at bay vet the buyers? Why even bother to pay him then?

Can the house be sold at auction if you can get the equity out of it?

Okay. Good luck. If you can't afford the new lawyer, definitely contact Legal Aid.

[mvd]

34. That lawyer doesn't specialize in real estate

I got a new lawyer who does and that took about all my remaining money. This lawyer might be able to get us back in the house but there is a Sheriff Sale in October to worry about

[XanaDUer2]

35. Call them today

https://www.lasp.org/housing

[mvd]

37. I did

I think they can be as helpful as the other lawyer. The house buyers did this scheme where instead of directly buying from us they had a real estate lawyer sell it to a third party so they could make more money. I may be able to get back in the house since they have not closed with the third party buyer yet.

[XanaDUer2]

38. This whole situation confuses me

But do you mean open the door and physically re-enter your old house? I'd check to see what rights you have or no longer have at this point.

[mvd]

39. Yes indeed

It is such a convoluted situation really. Never use house buyers.

[XanaDUer2]

41. I'm too poor to ever have a house to sell

After 38 yrs of work, I'll never have a house. Or a new car.

[mvd]

43. That shouldn't be

Working so hard and so long should pay off more

My dad was such a hard worker but he lost his job and by then was old enough he wasn’t wanted. This is the type of thing that makes me a progressive Democrat.

As for the poster above, that wasn’t helpful. I know DU is a great community that cares and this is really a time of need.

[XanaDUer2]

44. Yup

Sucks to be me. I chose a low-paying field, so that's on me

[XanaDUer2]

47. Poor patrons found rooms on Craigslist nt

[XanaDUer2]

49. I cannot imagine being homeless at 75

The homeless patrons I worked with in the library were struggling in their 20s, 30s, 40s.

Like, really struggling. The shelter would kick them out at the crack of dawn, bus them to the library for the day, some had to work cleaning to stay there...then head back around 6pm to get a place for the night. Trundling all they owned in bags. Using the food pantry which they purposely moved far away to keep tourists from seeing them.

The city shut down the soup kitchen a pastor opened to feed them. It was nonstop hostility towards them

[XanaDUer2]

51. I got burned out, compassion fatigue

And CPTSD seeing this and dealing with scant resources for help for ten years. Legal Aid was underfunded in this purple state, so services were skimpy.. we were, pretty much, defacto social workers.

Surely, bagging groceries and collecting shopping carts is better than this.

[Ptah]

28. $10,000. WTF!!

[mvd]

29. Been much higher GoFundMes than that

It is not a short term problem so I went higher. I can always lower it with different curcumstances.

[debm55]

30. Matt, I am not a lawyer. However, I will say you have to pay a good price for one. Lawyer's fees are

well beyond the amount you currently have. Please contact you country Service for the Aging. They will help you with a lawyer for free.I live in PA, Allegheny County. We have all sorts of programs for seniors. They may want your mother to contact them as she is the senior. She or you can apply on line. How is your food situation? Please Matt, contact Senior services.They are there to help you. Best of luck and I wish you and your mom well.

[XanaDUer2]

46. I've told you this ten times

But you really should, now that your backs are up against the wall, consult with a good SSDI attorney. They step in usually at your first denial. They take over, do the paper work with you, meet the deadlines. And represent you if you go before a Judge.

Theyre paid if you win from a percentage of your back pay. You should have done this over a year ago when you were housed. Of course, I don't know your work history, but you need 40 quarters . You might get something based on the disabilities you mentioned in your past fund raisers.

I happily paid my lawyer because I never would have been awarded SSDI without him or his office staff. Just food for thought.

[mvd]

53. Been responsive and consulted one

Yes, my doctor thought I had the disability and even wrote it in her notes. But it is being recommended I take the test to ensure approval.

[mvd]

52. Update

It is getting really scary now. Yes, I can try to get back in the house but there could be a legal battle, and I would rather get suitable housing. So your donations couldn’t be more important.

[XanaDUer2]

54. You've been updating over a year

About getting Social Security for hearing impairment. These tests should have been underway months and months ago. For whatever reason, The Social Security Administration determines you do not meet the criteria to receive SSDI. So, since this is now an emergency, you may need to let that go and move on to a plan b.

You need to find a steady, reliable stream of income. What is the social worker saying about all of this? I'd be applying for grocery-store stocking jobs, data entry, anything to keep a roof over your heads.

This is crunch time. Do everything you can to keep from hitting the skids, because, in this country, it is near impossible to right your ship once that happens. I saw it up close. Homelessness is ugly, brutal, grinding. While you're in a hotel, you can sleep, shower, have clean clothing for interviews. These are all obstacles homeless have to gaining a job.

I don't mean to scare you, but you really need to start applying for full-time jobs right now. The library has computers and staff help with applications, but you seem smart enough to be able to handle online job applications. The library will have "street sheets" with all social services locally available. See if the library has on-site social worker.

I would worry less about the house and more about immediate food-housing issues, and getting a steady stream of income. Your salary plus SS maybe you can get a long-stay hotel with a kitchenette so you can keep shelf-stable food.

[mvd]

55. I do understand

The social worker thinks we might be better getting assisted living but we have been determined to try on our own. She does look over things which is a help. I lowered the goal to $1,500. The original amount still would be ideal due to housing availability and lacking any money right now. But maybe that scared people off.

I wish we had family, closer friends, etc. it is like a job taking care of mom.

Food actually is not a problem as I just got the EBT. Everything else is a problem.

[XanaDUer2]

56. Well ok. Incipient homelessness is an emergency

Winter is coming. You'll still need some type of income. You will. You'll have to do what millions of others do and get a job. It sucks, but it is what it is.

40 hrs a week at McDonalds is far preferable to bouncing between a crowded, noisy shelter you'll have to clean to stay there/ panhandling in the elements/ hanging out at the library to have a bathroom and water, fighting with other homeless over a limited number of electrical outlets to charge devices and protecting your few valuables. Because this is all reality.

You can get vocational rehab for free through the state for job training and placement, even WFH now. Do you understand why you have to take the bull by the horns and do these things? Do you get it?

[mvd]

57. I do

I am going to have to try because going on like this isn’t feasible. I know you care because you know what being poor is like. I haven’t given up on disability. Lawyer thinks I have a case and it could take time. I almost met the criteria based on my hearing alone. Will keep you updated.

[mvd]

58. Night all

Your generosity is still greatly needed.

[mvd]

59. I can't sleep tonight

Just up worrying. Not trying to be manipulative - just the truth

[mvd]

61. Any donation will be a huge boost right now

I have ideas but need money to buy time.

[mvd]

62. I may post this in a bigger forum soon for visibility

I thought this was a good place but this is so important. I do want to leave the house - that is why I used the scammer house buyers - but I also want a place to go.

[Hekate]

63. Do you know any DUers in your region who could check in on you & your mom?

Not to be intrusive or anything by checking in, but you seem so alone.

Last time around (can’t quite recall when) I remember several of us here came up with many ideas about how and where to get help. I remember that the roll-call of the compassionate included everyone from professionals like clergy and social workers, to people whose extensive work with their own elderly family members had given them an abundance of experience on how to contact and utilize various agencies.

You were polite and eager to please, as you are now. But “trying” and “thinking about it” don’t seem to be working as a strategy, and in the normal course of things, money has a way of draining away, leaving you where you were before.

I worry.

[XanaDUer2]

64. Money does drain away

That is why people who need it get jobs, even part-time ones, esp to keep body and soul together.

[mvd]

65. Through my lawyer I found a solution

She declared bankruptcy for me which allows me to stay in the house. House buyer lawyer realizes they were stupid. The only problem is bankruptcy lowers odds of finding a new place, but it is the only thing to do.

In the interests of honesty I am closing this thread. Thank you for the support getting me to this point