I live in fear every day. I am in a 90 day drug rehab program and the director has threatened to kick me out 3 times including today!

I received my first SSI presumptive benefit check today and she said I had to pay all my back rent which includes July, August and September at roughly $260 a month! I told her that I didn't want to pay that much money out of an $877 check and that I don't really have an income yet.

The presumptive benefit lasts only until the Social Security Administration decides whether or not to grant benefits. They could make a decision as quickly as 3 months and then BOOM! No more checks.

At any rate, she said I could not pay anything and she'll just ask me to leave. I was about to blow my top, but luckily the assistant director was there and she saved me from going bonkers. The assistant director and I negotiated that I'd pay only for August and September.

I saved some money. But at the cost of my nerves and well-being.

When I get some decent clean time I’m going to lobby the board of supervisors here in San Francisco to create a law that says rehab centers cannot kick clients out to the streets. They’ll have to find the client a shelter bed, another rehab or a detox facility.