Given the current economy, your plight is topical and newsworthy.

If you don't mind the spotlight ON your 'problem,' here's what you could do...

1) start a blogger (free) blog using your new domain name ($10)...
www.How[name of your town]HelpedMe.com

2) Make your blog be a DAILY diary of your jouney OUT of your dire situation -- starting with ALL the background of how you got INTO the mess -- especially as it pertains to things "out of your control -- ie: the economy."

3) Send out press releases + do interviews. Buy a pay-as-you-go cell phone
($30, incl. 300 minutes at Wal-Mart) -- that way you can respond to the press calling at ANY TIME.

4) Use your blog to document the LOCAL people + biz's that help you out.

The people + biz's who help you out instantly become famous for doing so, via your blog.

You could even give them a 'certificate' they could display -- "I/We Helped [your name], etc."

Maybe the whole thing has enough "legs" to go national!! After the blog gets going + some people/biz's DO help you, send out NAT'L press releases + call Oprah, etc.

Cheers + happy new year!

-- TW