Starting Over at 60 & Disabled

This sounds like a really bad country song, but it is the way it is. Three days after my Dr's release ( of being down for 3 months) from one of three back surgeries needed, as well as putting my much loved old dog to sleep...My husband of 11 years, left for "work" April 15, 2016 and never returned. He wiped out our bank accounts all but $44.09. He also took our joint tax refund. (Illegally) I am on disability because of my back and other issues. My monthly income from Disability is $729 a month after taxes and insurance are taken out. Who could possibly live on that???

Three days later I find a note from him telling me he was sick of it all, didn't ever want to hear from any of his family or me ever again. He was leaving the state and never coming back. He had lead me to believe that everything was wonderful between us and we were going to think about downsizing and maybe move to Florida or at least become Snowbirds. Sounded good to me! Little did I know it was a big cover for him planning to dump it all on me. Yep, I discovered he'd been planning this for nearly 2 years.

He left me an over 3,000sq ft house over 100 years old and in need of repair and that I will be forced to sell at a loss. I'm well over 1hr 45minutes from my family, which is too much with their own responsibilities. It goes without saying that I want to move closer. But I need physical help that I can't pay for, as well as, financial help to do it. I'm praying that with this money that I'm hoping to raise plus any money from the sell of the house, I can raise enough money for a smaller home closer to my family and not be a financial burden to my family. It's my biggest prayer in the world right now. I do not want to be a financial burden to anyone. I may be diabled, but I am not an invalid, I can take care of myself and daily things, thank God!

I've been advised that I need to be able to get out of this house within the next 2 months and to sell it as is, it needs to be completely empty and no staging, so that it's atributes will shine above it's many, but not unreasonable faults, in order to sell before winter, as I cannot afford to heat it, and to get the best money. But without at least half down there's no way I can get a smaller home.

I can't rent an apartment because of my two often noisey Macaws and little dogs. They are my much needed therapy animals. I can't part with them, they are what's keeping me sane right now, because they NEED me is what is keeping me going. It's what gets me up in the morning. I have lived with a horribly mentally abusive man for so long that Im actually, to my surprise, glad he's gone. I'm so much happier, but so overwhelmed with what he's left me that and without that somedays I just want to hide in a corner and wait to die. I didn't even realize the severity of the mental abuse until it's now gone. I could go on and on about the past, but that's not my priority. I simply want to cut my losses and get on with my life, a happier, quiet life. I need out of this house asap and away from a bad past.

I want to move closer to my family in a modest little home that I can live the rest of my life in. But... He left me with a $650 house payment, utilities and other household expenses all to do with my $729 a month. I can't even afford to pay for the divorce or a lawyer.

I also have a very small animal rescue that has had to come to a screetching hault and most of the animals have been and are in process of being farmed out to other rescues as I can't even feed myself, much less them.

So here I am at 60 years old starting over for the 2nd time in my life. Only this time I can't get a job. Ive sought out all the legal help possible and taken advantage of all the benefits I can. I just need to be able to purchase a small home of my own and I know that I can make it on my own. I know I can!! PLEASE PLEASE help me get that home so that I can keep what few animals still depend on me, but most of all not be dependent on anyone, ever.