Disabled single mother with disabled children pleads for help

The following letter dated June 23, 2016, was sent to U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-PA), representing Pennsylvania's 10th District:
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Francine Barone. I have lived in Pike County for eight years now. I currently live at 117 Hemlock Road Milford PA, 18337. That is located in Gold Key Lake. I am a disabled single mother of three multiply disabled children. I suffer from mental illness that is currently under control. I see a local therapist and psychiatrist on a regular basis and have been taking my medications. I am considered to be a high functioning autistic adult. I am disabled and cannot work. My plate is full caring for myself and my children. Their disabilities are severe and I have very little assistance. My children’s disabilities range from Autism, Mental Retardation, Hydro nephrosis (kidney disease), Celiac Disease, Processing Disorder, ADHD, and Lactose Intolerance. My children use iPad to communicate and sign language as well because two out of three are completely non-verbal. I spend a lot of my time at evaluations, doctor’s appointments, meetings and specialists. With everything going on with them as well as the expensive diet they have to be on I am always in a financial hole. They have severe behaviors that come along with their conditions and often times I have to repair their iPad in order for them to communicate, I spend most times over $1000 in groceries a month. My kids have severe texture issues with food and color as well. Gluten free/lactose free food is very expensive.
My rent is $1,200. I have been living in this house since November of last year. I chose this house because it has the appropriate space my kids needed, at the time it was the cheapest house I could find and most importantly the landlord specified that he accepts housing. I believe I have been awaiting housing for over two years now. I call once a week to see my status. My only source of income is my children’s social security and child support. My monthly income is $2,300. I normally have a huge monthly deficit. If my rent is $1200, monthly groceries are $1000, then let’s not forget, phone, internet, cable, car payments, insurance, electric, gas, medical co-payments, iPad repairs, etc. it’s impossible for me to keep my head above water. My divorce left me with heavy duty debt. So much that I was in college and had to quit when I was about to get my degree in early childhood special education. I could no longer afford the gas or sitter to continue to go to school. I have tried to apply to get food stamps several times and have been denied. I know other families that have much higher income than myself and get food stamps and housing. I’m not sure why it’s been such a problem for me.
I have no family support. My mother lives in New York and is in no position to help me. My father died 12 years ago. Unfortunately, I don’t really have any friends because of the situation with my children. I do not go out for fun, I have never used drugs, I do not drink and I have never been arrested. I am a good member of the community that was simply dealt a rough hand. I have been homeless before with my children and it was the worst time of our lives. My children took that very hard. We ended up living at Mount Haven (the hotel that recently closed in Milford) for 3 months. Soon my situation will worsen if I do not get any help because my ex-husband went on disability due to kidney failure and I will no longer get child support. That will cut my monthly income down by $1000.
My huge complication is that my one son who has the severest conditions is violent and very loud and has aggressive outbursts daily. He had a major regression stage when we became homeless because the transition terribly affected him. I was hoping and praying to get help to stay at my current rental to avoid any more regression in my children. They were all terribly affected in different ways. My youngest son stopped speaking.
The house is absolutely perfect for us. If I move it will make matters worse for my children and they desperately need the security of the roof over their heads. The upside to my current house as well is the fact that my landlord already accepts housing. The other downside is I do not have the option to downsize. My older son used to share a room with my other son and he use to bite him as he slept. He cannot share a room and we cannot live in an apartment because my son has multiple daily melt downs a day and we would be evicted just because of the noise alone. My current home has 4 bedrooms which is perfect because I don’t have to worry about one hurting the other.
It took me years to get my children all of the help they need here in the Delaware Valley school district. It’s the main reason I left Queens, N.Y., to move out here. They are in great schools and getting all the help they need. I have many people that can vogue for me, my parenting and my children.
I am desperately looking for help to get my Medicaid turned back on, get food stamps, and get housing as soon as possible before things get worse. I am desperately trying to keep my children from being homeless again. I have gone through hunger many times to feed my children and have already sold most of everything I had of value. I currently owe my landlord two months’ rent for the amount of $2400. As of July 5 I will owe another $1200 added to that, totaling $3,600. I fell behind on my rent because I had to make several repairs on my car and repair iPad 3 times and I’ve been trying to catch up on my electric. (My landlord) is still willing to let me stay IF I get housing but he is still asking for the past due balance. It would be impossible for me to pay what I owe him in one lump sum and still feed my kids and pay all my other bills. I was hoping someone would help me catch up and get back on my feet. For the month of July, I have to pay my car insurance, electric, gas and phone. Plus, my car is due for some more repair and an oil change. Once that is paid I will have a bit left for groceries and no money toward the rent. Feel free to contact (my landlord) if you’d like. He is a very nice guy. I am hoping you could help me. I’m doing my best.
Sincerely,
Francine Barone
Milford