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[ingirumimus]

As an adjunct, I don't earn enough to live on, but last week I made a big mistake in paying a bill on-line, and drained most of my funds, and since my brother, who usually helps me, can't at the moment, I'm now facing eviction.  I live in a rooming house and pay rent week to week; my allotment for food stamps is good only for a week and a half, so I've got enough for another day or two.  After that, nada. 

I submit applications for all sorts of things, but have gotten nowhere.  I've looked at the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and I don't qualify for anything, as far as I can tell--50+ single males don't appear to exist in their universe, unless I am just too disoriented or ignorant really to understand.  It's hard to get through to charities of various sorts, and when I have gotten through, I've been told that they have no money.  What can I do?  Is there any federal money for part-time workers whose pay isn't enough to live on? 

Since I got the bad news from my brother, my mind has been reeling, and I've been thrashing about, so I'm not sure I have a grasp on anything.  I'd be supremely grateful for any suggestions. 

[derigueurdaguerrotyp]

This is a long shot--and you've probably already done this--but have you tried filing for unemployment? Under some circumstances, you can qualify for UI if you're underemployed, but not completely unemployed. Whether you quality will depend on the state, how long you've been employed at this level (i.e. if you can claim your hardship is based on the loss of what was normal full employment), and if you've already tapped out all of the UI you're eligible for. Since Obama just signed a new UI extension this week, however, that last caveat might not be such a big hurdle.

Good luck. My thoughts will be with you.

[der_gadfly]

We used to collect scrap metal off the streets - not much, but a few scheckles here and there......

[artsy_122]

Have you checked to see if there are any food pantries in the area?  You might also try contacting some local churches (even if you do not go.)  Many churches are able to help people in need or even point you to resources in your community that you haven't thought of.

Hang in there.

[bud04]

When you call the churches (or better still go by in person), please talk with the ministers or priests or whoever presides at the house of worship. They will listen to you in confidence and I am sure they will help you if it they can. They will also know the other resources available in your area as artsy_122 said. Also are you friendly at all with your Chair? Maybe hu can help you. Could they get you a meal card so you could eat in the cafeteria with the students for this week or longer? If not, can you get an advance on your paycheck? Pay roll can usually give advances in emergencies.

[ingirumimus]

Since I didn't work at all last year, I wasn't eligible this year for any unemployment.  I'll call the local department of labor again to see whether or not any new regulations would allow me to use my earnings from 2007 as a base.

My college does not advance salary to adjuncts.  I'm extremely reluctant to tell my department chairman about my difficulties--for reasons I can't really go in to here.

The charities I spoke of are almost all associated with churches, but I will certainly try them all, and others.

[zuzu_]

It is my understanding that legal eviction is actually quite a long process. If you expect to have your head above water in the near future, the legal proceedings might buy you enough time to get things straightened out. Don't move out voluntarily--use stalling tactics.

Re: food, here is a This American Life story about a "regular" guy who gets free food from dumpsters. It's not as gross as it sounds--he gets clean and unopened stuff. The story I'm referring to is in Act Three:
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=62

I am sorry you have to deal with this.

[tenured_feminist]

If you're really desperate, here are a few possibilities:

-- sell plasma
-- volunteer for medical/psychological studies that pay research subjects
-- see if you can barter services for rent (anything broken you can fix?)

You're not a veteran, are you?

I just did a little poking around, and wow, things have changed. I remember government cheese being a lot easier to get back in The Day. I assume you've checked and you don't meet the standards for TEFAP (the Emergency Food Assistance Program)?

Best wishes in getting through this crisis.

[zuzu_]

t_f's idea about medical studies might be a good one. My mom is a recruiter for medical research-most of the studies are not at all scary and quite low-risk. If I lived closer to her, there are actually a few I would sign up for. Well worth the $$.

[marigolds]

I've sold plasma and it's a piece of cake.  You could also put an ad on Craigslist to clean houses, rake lawns and/or shovel snow, if you are able-bodied.  The medical studies are good, too.  And I second (third?) the notion of the food pantry or even a soup kitchen.  (Or if you can find a short-term under-the-table job washing dishes in a restaurant, they'll usually feed you shift meals AND you'll make extra money.) 

Also, if it's a temporary pinch, could you not talk to your landlord and explain that you'll get caught up when you get paid, on X date? 

I hope things get better for you soon. 

[tamiam]

How about going to work for landscapers/moving companies who gladly pay their guys in cash? Is manual labor a possibility for you? I know that around here, the landscapers can't keep up with the leaves, and all their cheap college labor is away. Cleaning houses?

[knitknat]

May not be useful this week, but helpful in boosting near-future income: Does your Uni have a Writing Center or equivalent? Every school I've been at has one that gladly hires grad students, adjuncts, and anyone that has experience critiquing student writing from all disciplines. I used to review science papers 5-10 hours/wk when my grad stipend wasn't cutting it.

Tutoring? It's late in the semester; desperate snowflakes abound. Put a flier up, see if you get hits.

Echoing tamiam: what about a temp agency? Work today, get paid this week, non-manual labor.

[glenwood]

I'll join the chorus that says tell your landlord the rent will be late and stay put. It isn't easy to evict someone.

Check here first:

http://www.hud.gov/renting/tenantrights.cfm

In the mean time, find a local food pantry & ask for help:

http://feedingamerica.org/foodbank-results.aspx

[obprof]

These are all good suggestions.

One thing to add: if you can, stay away from all those paycheck loan places (e.g., Money Mart) -- the effective interest is just under 60% (i.e., usury).

[lenniel]

These are all good suggestions.

One thing to add: if you can, stay away from all those paycheck loan places (e.g., Money Mart) -- the effective interest is just under 60% (i.e., usury).

Absolutely - those loan places are just awful.

If you have a hard time asking for charity, you can also offer to barter with the church or food pantry for services, such as minding the kids at a service, offering some tutoring to the needy, etc.  This will not only help you, but will give you an entrance to the community.  Most religious and service organizations need help badly, and most also have networks of people who can help in return. 

Landlords hate doing evictions as it is expensive, so chances are you can indeed stall, especially if the timeframe for payment is set.  Keeping a good tenant is important to landlords, so they will work with you if this is the only time you've had this problem.  Barter works well with some landlords, so if you are willing to exchange work for rent, that might also help.

Lastly, if you made a mistake with the online bill, have you not been able to have the funds corrected?  Most companies can and will do this, and they can also put the money back in your account.  Or at least send a refund check, though that won't help you at this point.

Good luck.