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Two seniors find sharing apartments helps with finances

Editor's note: The Time is Now to Help was founded by a local businessman who knew extreme poverty as a child. With the help of donations from the community, The Time is Now is able to help local residents in need.

Dear W.C.,

I am a widowed senior citizen about to become homeless. I have struggled to keep up with my bills ever since my husband passed away several years ago.

My niece and her husband lost their home last fall, so I let them move into my one-bedroom apartment to help pay the rent. We were getting by fine, even though we were somewhat cramped. The landlord found out about the extra people living in my apartment and made them move out.

This really hurt me, since they not only helped with the rent, they drove me to my doctor’s appointments and church and helped with laundry and cleaning. Now I can’t keep up with my rent and medications. I liked the company they gave and miss them here with me. Can you please help me out of this situation?

— Another struggling senior

Dear readers,

This senior woman did not leave a telephone number because she did not have one. She had to have it disconnected due to her inability to pay. I drove to the address on her letter and arrived at an older apartment building. I immediately noticed the stairs and how run down the place looked. It was not in walking distance of any grocery stores or other conveniences. I wondered how a senior citizen could live here all alone.

When I knocked on the door, a very petite woman answered. She gave me a big smile and invited me in. She said she knew who I was from the newspaper. Her apartment was very small, so I wondered how her niece and husband had shared this tiny space.

I asked her how she was getting by and I saw the tears forming in her eyes. She showed me her empty cabinets and barren refrigerator. She showed me her prescriptions for a heart condition and high blood pressure, and how expensive they were. She was behind in her rent and her landlord was ready to evict her. She told me how her landlord had already sent her an eviction notice. She said he was a heartless man who showed no compassion for anyone in her building.

After speaking for a while longer, I had a wonderful idea for this kind woman. I only hoped she would like it as well.

I told her how The Time Is Now to Help assists many senior citizens. I assured her she was not the only elderly person in this predicament. I told her about another widower who I had just contacted who was living in a similar situation. I knew this woman was lonely as well. I asked if she would consider possibly sharing an apartment with this other woman. She looked surprised and then smiled.

She said, “What a wonderful idea.” I immediately called the other senior woman and she was excited as well. We agreed to all meet together the next day and look for an apartment they both could share.

The next day we all met. They got along right from the start and had many similarities as well. They both lost their husbands several years ago and were struggling to get by. Neither of these woman had children of their own. One had lost her son to a drug overdose many years ago and the other sadly said she was never able to have a child. They both liked to walk daily and attend church. I could tell this was going to work out wonderfully. We started looking for an apartment they could afford together.

They were able to move into an apartment in a senior-friendly building. We provided them with a security deposit. One of them still drove, so they could go to doctors, grocery shopping, the library, etc., together. We had some repair work done to her older car. We also provided them with gas vouchers for their car.

This assistance and change of living arrangements really improved their financial situation. The money they saved from paying two rents was used to buy healthy food and create a positive budget. They take turns cooking frugal meals. They walk together daily, and this has improved their health, to the point where one of the women has been able to reduce her prescription medications — under her doctor’s direction. They take turns attending each other’s churches. They now claim to be best of friends.

After my last visit I left feeling happy, knowing what an improvement we made to these women’s lives. Alone, they both were in constant financial fear. After bringing them together, and with all of us helping, they are happy and thankful for their new life. Thank you for your caring and sharing to help bring these lonely, struggling senior women together. They are extremely grateful for our assistance.

Together, we have eased the daily struggle in poverty for many with your generous contributions. Thank you.

Health and happiness, God bless everyone, W.C.

Please help: Make checks payable to The Time Is Now to Help, P.O. Box 70, Pell Lake, WI 53157. The Time Is Now to Help is a federally recognized 501(c)3 charitable organization licensed in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois. You will receive a tax-deductible, itemized thank-you receipt showing exactly what every penny of your donation provided for the poverty stricken.

A very special thank you to: Paper Dolls, Richard and Ruth Hanson, Terry and Karin Collamore, Laina Papenfus, Roundy’s Supermarkets Inc., Landon and Mary Petrie, James and Marilynn Dyer, Pamela De Roy, Donald Baumgart, William and Jean Isaacson, Robert McDonald, Richard and Loverta Dille, Leo and Mary Ann Kmiec, Martin O’Brien, Marie Kerkman, Oasis Salon, W.C. Family Resource Center/Food Pantry volunteers, all of you who support The Time Is Now to Help donation boxes, and the businesses that allow our donation boxes. Anyone who would like a Time Is Now donation box in your business, please call (262) 249-7000.