Desperate Friend in Serious Financial Trouble - Seeking Advice

Planning

tl;dr - looking for local support services, under the table jobs, etc. for a friend in the Bay Area who is in a quickly worsening situation.

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I have a close friend who has had bad luck and made some mistakes and is now in a tight spot with many things going wrong at once. I’m looking for any advice that anyone can share.

Her: early 30s, immigrant from eastern Europe. Has lived in the US for 10-15 years (not sure). Her family (mother and brothers) also live in different parts of the US, but she doesn’t have a close or positive relationship with them and can’t fall back on them, even though they’re financial stable.

Situation: she has been unemployed for months, with no reference from her previous nanny job which ended poorly, no valid ID (expired passport / immigration papers) so she is unable to get anything but under-the-table jobs. She pays exorbitant rent in the Bay Area, California ($1500/mo). I have been trying to push her to fix each of her problems one by one but they are all intertwined and she has few options and no safety net. For instance, it seems like the first problem she needs to solve is moving into a much cheaper place, but without papers, she says it’s hard for her to find a rental situation that can accommodate her.

What I have done so far: I am paying for next month’s rent and have helped her with odds and ends like fixing her phone screen. I can’t afford to spend much more on her but I also don't want to sit on the sidelines and watch while my friend’s life gets worse.

Problem #1 - Unemployment.
She was a nanny for a while and had a wonderful relationship with her client. She made a big mistake at one point and was fired, so now she has no reference for another future nanny gig. She has been looking online for nanny jobs, cleaning jobs, etc. but no luck yet. Since she is an immigrant and not an American citizen, and since her papers and passport are expired, she cannot get any typical job at a restaurant. She has to find under the table work until her papers are renewed.

  • What are some options for under the table work in the bay area while she waits to get her papers renewed?

Problem #2 - renewing expired papers

The only way she can renew her papers is to go, in person, to the Bulgarian embassy in Los Angeles. She had set up an appointment for this Monday, but had to cancel because she couldn't afford bus tickets or money for passport photos and the fines she has racked up for overdue renewal. I don’t have more detail on this because she is too stubborn to explain it to me to let me help her. She says that once she does make the trip to LA it will still be months before she receives her actual renewed paperwork.

  • Anyone experienced this before? What are some ways to speed up the process?

Problem #3 - negative checking balance

She can’t do any electronic banking because she has over-drafted so many times her bank has blocked her account. She has to do everything in cash for now.

  • I am fortunate to have never been in a position like this so I dont really know what the options are. What services are available for someone in this position? Can she get some sort of loan or financial support, even without her papers?

Problem #4 - friends, family, and support network

She is too ashamed to ask her other friends for help because she knows it will damage her relationships. She is accepting some help from me because I have been pushy about offering. I have begged her to put her pride aside and talk to all her friends - I’ve tried insisting that if she is in dire need, her close friends will help, even if only a little bit. She is too stubborn to do this and either won’t do it or has already exhausted her remaining options. I am looking for other support networks for her.

  • Are there any Bay Area support resources available to people without valid papers/citizenship? Shelters, food pantries, support services… anything to help provide direction, temporarily financial assistance, employment opportunities, etc? She says she went to a food pantry yesterday but embarassingly was turned away for lack of ID.

Problem #5 - mental health
She has broken down many times now and called me at odd hours having panic attacks. It has disrupted my ability to focus at work more than once. I fear that she might try to harm herself if she gets even more desperate. I also fear that her situation could be made even worse if she tries something and someone intervenes and she ends up with exorbitant medical bills which put her in an even deeper hole.

  • Have you ever had a friend in a dire situation and were concerned about their mental health, and what did you do to help them?

I see what a beautiful person she is and I don’t want to give up on her. She is a talented painter and an extremely passionate, caring person, full of warmth and nurturing. I want to see her get out of this hole and thriving. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Posted Jul 23, 2018, 2:16 AM UTC

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spes-bona•

This person is wildly irresponsible and unstable on a level where you cannot/should not take any risks on assisting her further imo- you've already paid her rent. And she's not humble enough to ask for help for herself??? Don't let yourself go down on a sinking ship trying to save her.

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iamabeOP•

I dont disagree with you. From reading a post like this I can understand that reaction. But I know who she is and that there is good in her and want to try to help her within whats reasonable for me to do.

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spes-bona•

How long have you even known this person? To be honest a lot of this seems very fishy/scam artisty

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iamabeOP•

Not long, but enough to care about her. Not scamming anyone. Not asking for money, asking for existing proven resources she can go to (social services, etc). What about that is scammy?

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spes-bona•

Well she's got you paying her rent and other things for her. She's got a convenient reason why she can't work. She's has other resources she could call upon for help(family and friends) but is choosing not to do so, but accepts help from you, a person she's known for only a short time. Its suspicious.

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spes-bona•

If it wasn't clear im insinuating she's scamming you, not that you're attrmpting to scam us

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StarmanPats•

Why did this extremely super human being detonate her relationship with her client?

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iamabeOP•

It wasn't intentional, and thanks for your help.

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juantoconero•

Her immigration status sounds odd. It all sounds odd.

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