It would be about $175/month that I would save by getting housing assistance. That's a lot to me right now. For instance: I haven't gotten an oil change for my car in 12 months. Before Christmas, a piece of a tooth broke off and I haven't yet been to the dentist to get it fixed. I stopped putting birdseed out before the summer was over. I don't get haircuts as often as I would like to. I don't eat as healthy as I used to. I didn't have my carpeting cleaned before the holidays as I normally do. I lost my eyeglasses, and I am using old pairs because I don't have money to replace the ones I lost.

To be honest, some of the things above are as much due to worsening depression as to my smaller income. My basic needs are being met. Still, I live in fear of anything unforeseen coming up, which happens to us all from time to time. If I spend money on anything that isn't a basic need, like splurging on breakfast yesterday at McDonald's, I worry that I am getting careless with money. I thought it would be kind of good to have to be more self-disciplined about money. I've lived under tight budgets when I was young and I didn't mind then. This is different, somehow.

I'm inclined to just stay here where I am . . . maybe until I am age 62 and eligible for getting into a senior complex. Places that I could move into next month, and get subsidized for, are dangerous. I don't really love where I am, but I do have decent neighbors. I've always been one to move at a careful pace. I don't suppose I'm going to change.

To be honest, I feel too depressed to even cope with moving. I have thought about going to look at some properties. There might be things I don't know. Senior places will take a certain number of non-senior disabled. Soon I'll be 60 y.o. There is a building nearby that I've been thinking about. In my city the practice is often that you are not allowed to look around, especially to look at a vacant apartment, unless you fill out an application. A good case manager could be a help to me. I just can't seem to get one. I suppose I'm considered too capable a person to need one.

I am getting energy assistance and a few dollars in food stamps.

That's a good idea about asking the police department about crime on a given property. I would never have thought of that. They would be the ones to know.

I really appreciate the responses and feedback. I've read and re-read each of them and will again to help organize my thinking.

I hope you are all doing okay, yourselves.