For weeks now, many of us have come to Daily Kos and posted about our terrible financial conditions. Some of us have lost our homes, others are surviving by the skin of our teeth, if that.
Some of us have lost our jobs or have had problems finding steady employment for months if not years. Some of us have run out of unemployment (even Extended Benefits). Because of a lack of health insurance resulting in back-breaking out-of-pocket medical expenses (I don't have health insurance myself), some of our lives have been financially devastated.
I've been at Daily Kos for a little more than three years now and recently I have sometimes commented in others' diaries about the ups and downs and vagaries of life. Now I'm posting a diary about my personal situation because I don't know where else to turn.
In August 2007, I was terminated from an excellent position with a union local because I complained of hazardous work conditions; I had been hired into the position in February 2007. At the time I was hired, I was given a year's probation, so when I was terminated, I had no real legal recourse. Though I suspect that the termination contained elements of sexism and, possibly, racism, I had gone through a discrimination case against the University of Alabama Birmingham in the 90s, and was reluctant to deal with the stress and pain associated with such suits again, so I didn't file a complaint against the employer. Besides, I thought I would get another decent job, or at least be able to work temp and/or freelance to continue to live.
Until the end of last year, I was able to work temp and keep a roof over my head - no extravagant living at all - every penny I made went to paying my rent, utilities and basic living expenses such as food. However, because of the tight employment market here in California, I have not had even a temp job since last Decemmber.
I have no place to go, except to a shelter so I will probably not be visiting Daily Kos for awhile after I move. I moved into this place in June 2007 because it was near the job from which I was ultimately terminated.
Given the economic situation and the fact that I've been a tenant here for nearly a year and a half, I thought that the landlord would wait until I got my unemployment restarted, but I was served me with an Unlawful Detainer summons last night around 10 PM. I am really at my wits' end because I have not had any money in two months, and I have not been able to either secure a temp position or find a job this year. As you can well understand, not having any income for 2 months means that all of my bills are now past due - electric, gas, phone, etc.
I have to file an answer to the summons with the court by Monday, October 27, 2008 or a default judgment will be entered against me and I will be evicted within a week to 10 days. This means that today I have to find a lawyer and/or a tenant advocacy group that will help to prepare and file my answer. Since I don't have any money at this time, I will also have to go to the Los Angeles County Superior Court to get a form for waiving the filing fee; otherwise, it will cost nearly $200.00 to file. Not only that but if I do not win the case or cannot settle with the landlord and have him withdraw the UD, it will be on my credit report for the next 7 years making it difficult for me to rent another apartment.
A couple of weeks ago, someone suggested that the Daily Kos community might start a sort of community chest to help indigent Kossacks who are victims of the financial mess, foreclosures and the rising unemployment now occurring. I believe this would be a good deal as there are going to be others of us who face the same kinds of issues on which I've posted here and more. Like many others, I have no family to assist me and there's no place from which to get money; I have no place to go when I am evicted.
I contacted several community organizations for assistance in paying this month's rent and my past due utilities, but to no avail; the agencies that I was referred to were all tapped out.
This life is extremely hard sometimes.