oh @phoenixwren, I am sorry to hear you feel like that, it sucks and I am in the same boat as you and nothing ever seems good.
Bad days always seem more that the good days and I don't care what people say either when it comes to their potrail over things.
Regarding the food situation, have you thought about asking a food bank to help you. we have church run groups over in the UK and as long as you get someone to contact them for you and say you don't have any they help out. I have used the food bank once a month for the last 2 years.
Regarding your electric bill, contact your supplier and ask them to put you on a pre payment meter, and add the debt to that, so when you top up 10$ they take $2 for debt.
I nearly had to go bankrupt because of owing the energy suppliers over a £1000, I looked for help on line and found out my human rights. they can't just cut you off and they have to find a solution to meet both of your needs.
Just a few ideas that I can put forward to you. and I hope that your day gets better.
My mum used to say a problem shared is a problem halved. I am hoping that with what I have put helps you.
God bless. and stay safe
The problem is that I'm allergic to so many things, I can't eat most of what's in a food bank. I can't eat most of what's in a grocery store, either - but food banks are 95% processed food that I am allergic to, and almost no fresh food that's just a few ingredients instead of twenty or thirty (and ergo, more likely that I can eat it because it won't have six different allergens in it). I had used one a few times back when I was first getting diagnosed with the allergies, and already by then when only some of the tests were done but not all so I didn't know the extent of it yet, I couldn't eat most of what was available.
And there is no such thing as a pre-pay electric setup in the US - and then it would just get turned off faster, anyway. :(
Thanks for the empathy, though. I'm sorry you are also struggling. <3
Gutted, I would have thought with america been a country that is so much more advanced than some countries that they would cater for people like you.
Sounds to me like your human rights are getting neglected and that to me is unexceptable.
Sounds to me like the energy companies need to look at there code of practice too, not supplying pre payment meters is crazy. we have pay points all of, 90% of shops give you the option to pay at their stores.
I don't know what else to suggest, is there any family members you could ask for help from?
America is advanced for people who have money - and a terrible place to live if you're poor. There are reports now finally hitting the news where studies show it's a first world country for the middle class and up, and a third world country for everyone else. The UN has said that how we treat homeless people is a human rights violation. The only reason we don't have proper slums like most third world countries is because the police arrest the homeless and/or throw away what little they have by way of shelter like tents and blankets - in the freezing cold, even, in the middle of the night - and tell them to "move along." Move along to where? If they had someplace to go, they'd be there.
Every now and then we get an "encampment" where several homeless people have pitched tents together for safety, and the police "sweep" them and throw everything in a dumpster.
I am selling my most recent Steem and PAL earnings and going to make a payment toward the electric with that. Usually it is true that if you are at least making payments they won't turn you off. Usually I carry two months past due and am fine - three is when you start getting shut off notices, which is why I was freaking out.
It's always so wild to me when I watch BBC shows and someone talks about topping up the power meter. That just doesn't exist here!
I will ask for help if I can't see any other way. But thank you for being a listening ear when I needed to vent! <3