I am a 61 year-old widow. Unfortunately, my husband passed away 4 1/2 years ago from lung cancer. Losing his income as a retired county sheriff deputy has left me financially strapped. He was diagnosed at the onset of COVID. Shortly, after his diagnosis, I lost my job because of the pandemic. However, since I wasn’t working, I was grateful for the time to be with him. At that time, we lived on his pension and the money from my 401(k). My husband died a year and a half later. By then my 401(k) was depleted. 

Upon my husbands passing I received a letter from OPERS (Ohio Public Employees Retirement System) stating that I would receive 25% of his pension beginning in October 2021. After signing a new lease on an apartment I contacted OPERS because I had not yet received a check as of November. I was then told a mistake was made, and that I would receive his pension, but not until I turned age 62. The monthly amount from OPERS was figured into my budget. I was now in an apartment that did not fit within my adjusted budget.  

Since then I have struggled to keep myself financially afloat. It’s been impossible to pay the debt my husband and I accrued together on one persons income. The high cost of rent for a simple studio or 1 bedroom apartment is unbelievable. The prices for food and every day items have exploded. 

Prior to the pandemic I was working full time and earning a nice income. The company had to close its doors but later reopened in 2023 with a smaller crew. My position no longer existed. Initially, I wasn’t concerned. I have always found employment within my industry rather quickly. But not this time. So much had changed and now I was 59 years old and after 3 months could not get even 1 interview. I also discovered that scammers were active in online job search sites. It was all so disheartening. 

Over the last several years, my own health has taken a turn. In 2019 I was diagnosed with adult ADHD. At first I didn’t accept the diagnosis and refuse to take medication for it. It wasn’t until 2023 when I lost my first job that I began taking Adderall. When I was let go from my position, I was told that I wasn’t “understanding the required job functions“. I never had any issues like this in my 40 years of working. Then in January 2025, it happened again. In a position I thoroughly enjoyed. I was told that I was not a good fit for the position and that it would be for the best if I resigned. I was devastated. As a result, my doctor increased my Adderall and I went back to my neurologist.

An MRI of my brain showed an excess amount of white brain matter which the neurologist stated was more than he should see for a person my age. I was referred to a neuropsychologist for testing and basically the outcome was that my ADHD symptoms were exacerbated by changes in my brain, and aging. Not to the point that I was unable to work, but new strategies needed to be in place to help me focus, avoid distractions, and create a schedule of daily tasks.  

Then 10 years of experiencing difficulty with walking long distances, difficulty going upstairs, experiencing shortness of breath whenever I exerted myself, and heaviness I felt in my legs, I finally received a diagnosis from my neurologist. They found a cyst on my thoracic spine that was putting pressure on my spine and would increase in size if I didn’t have it removed as soon as possible. My plan was to have it done after one year of employment so I would be eligible for short-term disability however, neither recent jobs lasted more than the one year needed. Knowing that the surgery was needed and my condition could worsen I decided to get it done out of the way. I had the procedure on July 1, 2025.  

My recovery did not go as expected. I was still experiencing a significant amount of pain after three months. I could barely manage basic personal activities, such as showering and getting dressed. I lived alone, so there was no one to help me with preparing meals, cleaning up, and taking care of my two Yorkies. The pain was intense. Let me say that at 60 years old I was wanting my mom. It turns out that at some point in my recovery I fractured a vertebrae. Because there was no apparent cause for the fracture and due to my age a bone density test was completed. It turns out that I have moderate to severe osteoporosis. 

Because my recovery was hindered by the fractured vertebrae I was not able to start to a new position as early as I hoped, and physical restrictions limited my choice of Jobs. Therefore, my rent continued to be unpaid, and has brought me to my current homeless status.

What remaining family I have are not able to help me financially. I have a good friend that has tried to help me over the years as much as she can. Fortunately, I have succeeded in obtaining employment through the Educational Service of Central Ohio. I began substitute teaching in December. This is a wonderful opportunity and is very rewarding. However, it is not consistent work and has not generated enough income to get caught up on my rent. I have applied for hundreds of jobs that include remote work, sedentary office positions, and jobs that fall far below what my education and work history implies. I just wanted and needed to get back to work. 

Since my husband’s death, there has been a cloud of uncertainty hanging over me. For the first time in my life I was terrified on what my future held for me. I never have felt so alone as I did after he was gone. Most of my family had already passed by then and an emptiness began to seep through. I have struggled with basic living expenses, lost much of my confidence, and am now homeless.  

I do not know if this is the kind of information you are looking for and I apologize if this is too long. But I cannot ask for help without providing the background that has contributed to my current situation. Many have suggested I file for Social Security disability. I could and could possibly be accepted, but I’m not ready to throw in the towel. I still have a lot to offer. 

I do have a mentor that is helping me. There is a mentorship program that is covered under my insurance that networks with other organizations and researches options. Unfortunately there are not a lot of resources available to me in Ohio. There are long waitlists and a lack of funding here. I don’t have a dependent, the disabilities I do have I’m not extensive enough, most affordable housing for seniors requires you to be 62 years old, which I’m not there yet, and there are no shelters that except pets. There is a strong possibility that I will need to leave Ohio in order to get assistance. Other states have programs and the funding available. My mentor is exploring this option.

Some may think I’m absolutely crazy, but I will not give up my two dogs. I have two Yorkies, Icie Matilda, 15 years old, and Trooper Dan, 13 years old. Icie had an eye removed at age 7 when she was rescued from my puppy mill. She is now going blind in the remaining eye. Trooper gets scared easily and will shake. I will not abandoned them. I need them with me.

With your help I can secure a temporary roof over my head while arrangements can be made. A few resources are working hard to provide assistance.  I can continue substituting, care for my dogs, and be in a safe, secure environment. 

Never in my wildest dreams could I ever imagine myself in this situation, yet here I am. It is scary how easy circumstances can change in someone’s life that leads them to losing everything they hold dear.