For many the difference between security and homelessness is just one paycheck. Here is the story of one couple.

Last September Donna worked at Sam’s Club. She and her companion of 35 years rented a house on Violet Street. During a checkup she was diagnosed with stage three cancer and was forced to stop working. A year ago Donna lost her Mother to the same disease.

Months passed waiting for disability checks that never arrived. The focus was fighting the cancer. First the rounds of chemo and their side effects. Later loss of weight and hair. Weight dropped down to 85 lbs.

The landlord was asked for a lease. With a lease or eviction an agency might help. The landlord filed the eviction. After the hearing the majority of the $3400 judgment was paid. Donna went through a double mastectomy. The operation went well. Hope was resurrected and on Monday radiation treatments began. The rest of the judgment was paid.

Unfortunately the landlord contacted the sheriff and even though the judgment was paid, all back rent caught up tomorrow morning the landlord will take her judgment and back rent and evict them. So much for compassion.