I'm a disabled 58 year old woman in Michigan. I lost my home to foreclosure, as well as being forced to file Bankruptsy after my husband left me a few years ago. I worked hard in a wide variety of human service positions for many years prior to beciming disabled.
I still had one teen child in highschool when my husband left. After that child graduated last year, found a job and an apartment I find that now I have to find a place for myself again in this world.
I have an opportunity to buy a small summer cabin, on a very small lot from an dear friend. However; I make less than $700.00 per month on disability, and I need help with home repairs. The major emergency is getting in a proper septic tank and drainfield! Other things I need to do is weatherizing the cabin for year around living. I need to upgrade the electric wiring and fuse box, and redo the plumbing as well as some other minor structural: Wood working/handyman... windows, doors a couple of interior and exterior wall/door issues...and some bathroom repairs.
I need a small washerdryer/stacked unit for doing laundry at home. I also need wood for the winter, since there is only a wood stove in the cabin for heat.
I can afford the small house payments, taxes and utilities if I am very, very careful and thrifty with the use of utilities and other living needs.
I need help with any/all of the repairs... and the items/materials to do the repairs noted above. If anyone has a small elec. stove in good condition that works well, I need one of those as well. (The small apartment size.)
I also need a garden shed for storage of the things I can't put in the cabin. (It's very, very small.) It wouldn't take very much of any one thing to do what needs to be done to make it a year around home for me. (Insulation, wiring, plumbing supplies, fencing for the yard for my dog, windows etc...)
I have an old truck. A 1978 F-150 straight 6. It needs 4 good 15" tires so I can search for downed wood for heat, move my things and bring building supplies to the cabin. It could use a good going over, the motor, transmission, etc... It's a junker, but I need a truck to surive in the area I'll be in. (I'll be happy if I can just get a good set of tires!)
I am used to working and making it on my own. I have worked helping others for so long, that I feel ashamed to be asking for help from stranger myself now. I have been so afraid, worried and not sure how to rebuild my life for so long now that I feel totally overwhelmed, and terrified of how to do this, and do it right.
I have always paid my own way, stood on my own two feet and managed to make it through the worst of times. But this time, I have no choice but to put the shame of my circumstances in public view and ask if there is anyone out there... or a few out there who can help with some of the things I so desperately need help with.
I have been blessed by having my basic needs met through the kindness of friends, and even strangers when things seemed impossible for me to accomplish on my own. I believe it has been through the power of prayer and faith that these kind souls have been sent to my rescue.
Now my child is grown.. We have been fortunate to have had rooms to rent in the homes of others while we needed them. But that can't go on forever.
I'm getting older. I don't need much in life. Just this tiny little home, with enough space around the cabin for me to have a few flowers, and to sit under the night sky and know that I again have a place in this world where I'm not in someone else's space.. but in my own little home.
A place where I can grow old, and end my life not being a burden on anyone else.
My story is a long and complicated one. But If I can make this little cabin a home, I feel I can rest now and regain the peace of mind that was once mine.
I'm tired... I'm weary.... and I'm afraid....terrified in fact. I can't afford pride today... I am asking for help, I can't do this on my own. Any help that anyone can give... and this is my vow in return. I will help anyone I can, show any kindness that is needed, and offer any service to another person in need that I have to offer.
Thank you for your time, for reading this.. and for your positive thoughts, prayers and any help you might be able to provide.
