A Fixed Income With Nowhere To Go

Early in February an elderly couple came to my office.  At first glance, you could tell “Ben and Susan” were desperate.  She was carrying a small portable oxygen tank and he had a fistful of overdue bills.  They explained that they had never asked for anything before, but now they were faced with eviction and disconnect notices for both electric (they are all electric) and water services.  Additionally, the phone was due to be disconnected and there were several overdue medical bills.  Both were on a fixed income of SSDI and had been able to make it until Ben was diagnosed with cancer a few months prior.  Since they live outside of Kearney, the added travel expenses for numerous treatments had really taken a toll on a very fragile financial system.  HPRP was the only answer for Ben and Susan’s numerous needs.  Over the next 6 months, the couple was able to re-stabilize with the help of HPRP and budgeting.  Just one week after exiting the HPRP program, the couple received a housing voucher from Kearney Housing which decreased their rent by $68 a month.  Ben’s cancer is now in remission.  I often wonder what would have happened to the couple if they had not walked into our agency.

by Denise Rice

Community Services