Snow Gypsy,
I am wondering if it's something even more. If she smokes an estimated pack a day (about $233) and pays $500 rent, that income just doesn't add up to what she's receiving from SSI of $735. We do have to buy other things like toilet paper, dish soap, laundry detergent, personal care items, etc. Something just seems...I just don't think we've got the full story. I hope I'm wrong and she goes for all the gracious help everyone provided. BTW, I COMPLETELY understand how hard it is to quit smoking. I did it 3 times. The last time was in 2001. I don't even think about them and I despise them now. If anyone out there smokes and hates me for what I said about quitting, my mother died from lung cancer when I was 34. (Dad died when I was a kid.) I just said it because I know what smoking does and she's already VERY unhealthy. She needs a health intervention, but she is in control of her own life. It's sad what people do to themselves. No one's perfect, and we all have our vices, but there are limits when you are facing homelessness and very ill health already. If she's smart, she'll take everyone's advice and pull herself up by her own bootstraps so she can be stronger, healthier, and live her dream. I wish her the best...