We really need your help (and a place to live), very soon

Friends,

I’m really not sure how to write this, but I guess the subject says it all. I guess some explanation is in order…

As readers of my personal blog and recipients of this email list you’ve been aware that I was out of work for a year and a half before landing an IT job last July. That job ended abruptly last month. During that year and a half there was a bankruptcy and a near eviction, and in the process to save my apartment I entered into a settlement agreement with our landlord/management company to pay a certain amount each month over 11 months to catch up on the past due rent, attorney’s fees, etc.

With the recent loss of my job last month and the State of Florida denying my application for new unemployment benefits, I’ve not been able to continue paying under the settlement agreement, even though there is now only two months left to go. As a result, the landlord’s attorney is filing a notice of default, and unless the miraculous happens, Vondalee and I will be evicted from our apartment within days and out on the street (neither of us currently have an income and there’s no place else to go).  My tax refund was seized by the State of Florida to pay child support for the adopted son I’ll never get to see again, so there’s literally nothing available to offer.

The only way that we have a chance to stay in our apartment (which, by the way, is $557 a month plus utilities, plus the $250 a month I was paying on the settlement agreement for the next couple more months) is to raise as much as we can within the next few days that we can offer the landlord’s attorneys in consideration for more time for me to find a job and complete payment of the settlement agreement and get back on our feet.  There are other expenses as well such as internet connectivity and the electric bill that we need to catch up on so I can keep looking for work.

I know that many who read this list have the resources to help (I read your blogs daily; I know at least a few of you by name who are “raking it in”!), and I’m asking begging (yes, begging; I’ve more than lost my pride) to help keep us in our apartment and looking for work.  I’ve put a PayPal button below (or if it doesn’t look right in your mailer you can use this link) to provide whatever you can.

I have a hard time believing that it could get so close to being back on our feet only to be slapped down again, so something has to happen.  It just has to.  There’s no “Plan B.” There’s no contingency plan.  It’s all or nothing now, jump off and fly or crash.  I’m out of options.

I really hate having to send a note like this to my updates list or post it to my personal blog, but I have no where else to go except to those who read what I post.

I thank you so much in advance and I hope that when we get back on our feet I can have the opportunity to pay it forward in the future to the next person that needs the same kind of help.

 

UPDATE 02/11/2011: As of this morning you all have helped with $430 toward the offer I was able to make to the landlord’s attorney; now we’re just waiting for their response.  The more I can offer to them the better the chances we have.  It looks like they want a payment now and more in a few weeks.  This isn’t over yet.