Our safety net system is so fucked up [View all]

[Marrah_G]

As of january first I could no longer do my job that I had for 12 years. Since then I have lost my home, had to send my autistic adult son to his grandmother in north carolina, lost my car and even had to give away my dog. I would be homeless without the charity of a fried allowing me to stay in a spare room.

I get food stamps and medicaid, but the wait for SSDI and knowing it will probably be denied the first couple of times is slowly killing me. I have had no income in close to 6 months, relying on some charity from my parents when they can afford it.

In the meantime the government is making it harder and harder to get disability and there is no safety net for adults without minor children. I suffer from severe major depressive disorder and social anxiety that is only getting worse. I don't go out and I have a very hard time speaking on the phone, even when it's necessary. I have physical problems that make walking any sort of distance impossible.

All the stress over pending homelessness, in my condition, makes it hard to keep going. I have been on the verge of suicide a number of times, because the thought of dying in the woods somewhere or under a bridge to me is unthinkable.

Even government housing has waiting lists years long.

What are adults without minor children supposed to do? If not for the kindness of my friend I would honestly, probably be dead by now.

We need to fix this. This should not happen in this country of such wealth and resources.

I just needed to vent as I sit here in tears. SSDI says i should finally have a decision in a week or so. I am terrified that like so many others, it will be a denial.