Help Me Rebuild After Addiction and Loss

After 8 years of drug addiction and 9 rehabs, I've been clean since October 18, 2024. My wife died January 10, 2022, after throwing me out of my own home in January 2018 in Nashville. I have a new job selling insurance from home. I have been homeless since December 21, 2024. The 2 sober living houses I was staying at in and near Jackson, Tennessee, were allowing residents to drink and use drugs and embezzling rent money. The first kicked me out at Christmas for "cooking too much," and the second in Cedar Grove took 2 weeks' rent check and put me out 4 days later. The owner, Trish Moran, refuses to answer my phone calls or return Amazon and Walmart packages that have been delivered there. I had been staying in Jackson at Room in the Inn, sleeping in churches.

I'm trying to raise $60 for the application fee for an income-restricted apartment in South Memphis, $596 for the first month's rent, $596 for the deposit, and $863 to pay my old MLGW bill. I've applied for over 100 temp and regular jobs in the last 2 months. I need $99 for a 20-hour course, $69 for state licensing, and $39 for fingerprinting to start my job as an insurance agent at Symmetry.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rachelwells/2024/07/31/25-companies-hiring-the-most-high-paying-jobs-in-2024/

My EBT (food stamps) have run out as of 1/2/25. I lost $300 in food when I got booted from The Mustard Seed sober living in Jackson, and the last sober living house owner stole $100 of food as well as an electric blanket and all my toiletries from me when she kicked me out of Bill's House in Cedar Grove.

If I can start this job, I can get more food stamps as soon as 2/2/25. I applied for a job at Kroger in Bartlett, Dollar General in Bartlett, and at Amelia Gene's in the Caption by Hyatt in Memphis and am waiting to hear back from them. Between November and December, I applied for over 100 jobs and did not get one phone call because of the holidays and timing. I was scheduled to start a job serving at Cracker Barrel in Jackson, Tennessee, the Monday after Christmas, but while living on the street, I had all my belongings stolen, including brand new work clothes, and was unable to start.

There is no homeless shelter in Bartlett, and although I can stay at the Memphis Union Mission for $7/night, I can't work past 6 p.m. if I stay there, and the $100/head restaurant (I have 15 years of restaurant experience) is only open at dinner. I've been staying when I can with my girlfriend, but often I sleep in park bathrooms or outside when it's less cold.

Anything you can do to help a 3-month clean recovering addict to get back on my feet is much appreciated. I'll work anywhere doing anything for any pay while I wait for a better job or cash to become a licensed insurance agent for a Forbes top 25 employer.

Thank you in advance! Please share with anyone that can help. I just want to work and be a productive member of society. I've completed 12 steps in Narcotics Anonymous, I have a sponsee that I'm taking through the 12 steps, I attend meetings when I can get to them, and I am clean of drugs.

I had to go to the ER last weekend and was diagnosed with a mass in my right lung and possible throat cancer. I can't get a ride to get a biopsy 10+ miles away to have my throat tested for cancer. A bus ride there is 3.5 hours (can't afford a bus pass). It's a 4.5-hour walk in the winter weather.

I'm starting an MBA online March 24 and just want to work and get paid and get a place to live for $596/month. I'm ready to get my life back after 8 years of addiction. I now have no food, no money, no food stamps, no permanent place to stay, but I do have a job that requires about $200 in training and license to get started.