Bankruptcy At the Door

A 24-year-old single mother struggles to keep a roof over her extended family.

Meka Payne is living her own worst-case scenario.

As she struggles under the weight of nearly $30,000 in debt and income that doesn’t meet her expenses, the 24-year-old single mom’s rent is soaring 29 percent next month. Even if she could scrape together enough money to pay for a move to a cheaper place, chances are slim that a landlord would agree to a lease after looking at her credit report. If she stays, the added living expense could push her into bankruptcy.

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