My own definition of charitable intervention...my own mother is an example. Her social security is just over $600/mo. Her house needs a new roof, new heating system, and part of the plumbing replaced. The house is paid for, but she doesnt qualify for an equity loan because first, her income is too low, and second, because she is splitting the property with us, her children, and third, because she puts her medical and her basic needs that she cant afford on credit cards, and her income and debt ratio is too high. The plumbing repairs, she's been told 8 to 10k to replace a sewer line, 6 to 8 k for the roof, and as much as 10k for the heating system! None of the state organizations will help simply because (and in their own words) she owns the home! And the really bad part...we have a local habitat for humanity, and THEY can give brand new houses away to people who have never even tried, and you can drive by these new houses 6 months later, and they've been destroyed by their alcoholic or drug addicted owners (there's 3 habitat homes within 5 miles that I wouldnt take if the owners gave them to me!) yet there's nobody to help out anyone who already owns their home! Im not saying that some people dont deserve a habitat home...Im just saying that if there is no real way to check a background, then maybe we should either spread the help out fairly, or stop it altogether! My own situation...on the job injury, went through surgery 3 times, was out on medical leave, got a bill from the hospital for 36k, and a collection notice giving me 30 days to pay. A lein was put on my house, wife couldnt deal with it all, and walked out sticking me with it all, so I had to file bankruptcy, or lose my home. Home equity loan for me? I dont think so! Spent almost 3 months with plumbing that actually had a broken line spliced together with a section cut out of a garden hose, and two clamps. Oh well...it worked! Spent half a winter in the cold because the furnace broke. If it wasnt for our own former vaplumber who use to be there for everyone, I wouldve had more broken pipes that winter, but thanks to him, the heat was fixed, the plumbing was fixed, and he wouldve never taken a dime even if it were shoved down his throat. His own son is a lot like him, and has his heart in the same place that his dad's was. (I think this young guy is going to keep the shop right on track with where his dad put it)...His idea...To be a lawyer here, you have to donate so many hours of your time as pro-bono, or else you dont get a license. Vaplumbers son says that he thinks the same thing should apply to any business owner, be it a plumber, electrician, garbage collecter, doctor, or mechanic....material recovery with a legit profit margin, of course, but donate so many hours of time a year! Just my thought on the subject.