Disabled Former Government Employee Seeks Grant To Regain Independence

by Denice Streeter
(Birmingham, Alabama, USA)

I am a 51-year-old single female. I am the youngest of six girls. My Mom worked as a Nurse's Aide and Dad is a retired Contractor/Insulator.

They were loving, hard-working role models for us. I started working at age 14 in 1973 because I wanted to show I could be just as independent as everybody in the family.

My first job when I moved to Alabama was in 1982 and I continued to work until 2005. I was a Mail Processor for the United States Postal Service Distribution Plant for six years until I suffered a back injury in 2003.

I continued to work on limited duty until 2005. The chronic back and knee pain (I have severe osteoarthritis) hinders me from doing normal everyday activities.

My SSDI is $1,134 and the agencies that I applied to believe that this is too much for any type of assistance. I had to move in with my sister in 2007 because I had no income to continue to live on my own. (I received SSDI in 2008.)

I want my independence back, or as much as I can get back with my chronic pain. Tell me where and how to apply for assistance with housing, utility bills and college costs (applying for online courses).

Every time I call, the list for any assistance is always closed. I am a Community Volunteer at the County Hospital, and I hear about these Assistance Programs, but I never seem to qualify for them.

I am still helping others and now I need a little help to live on my own again.