Indira Ramkissoon was living the American Dream when she moved to Naples 21 years ago from New York.
She had a good job at Publix and bought a house with her partner in Golden Gate Estates. Her life crashed 18 months ago.
Congestive heart failure and diabetes forced the 54-year-old off her feet and into early retirement. Her partner also has major health issues.
The house went into foreclosure when they got about $4,000 behind on mortgage payments after Ramkissoon ran through retirement money saved from working at Publix.
One rental situation after another went south, most recently an efficiency in Golden Gate they were forced out of when they learned the electricity was faulty and never permitted.
Today Ramkissoon lives in her car and is waiting to learn if she qualifies for disability income from Social Security. She’s on the supplemental nutrition assistance program, formerly food stamps, to help along with support from Catholic Charities.
Her plight is all too common in Collier County where housing costs are exorbitant and many working people and senior citizens don’t have stable rental options.