I currently live in Ringgold, VA. I have a girlfriend who is the mother of our 2 year old. Recently we both have become unemployed and are unable to make ends meet. I am torn between paying to keep the electric on or pay the rent. If I don't pay the rent how long will I have before I can be evicted. I have already had to have a extension on when the utilites are due and they have to be paid in full by the 6th of June. We already have food stamps and in VA... (now this is what I've concluded between 3 different people at social services... we get a different answer every time) If you take the TANIF UP program (which is emergency assistance) you are no longer eligible for food stamps for 6-12 months. I have a 2 year old you guys... PLEASE HELP... there are no ANY OLD JOBS here! Unemployment rate is in the high teens...

Always pay the rent before you pay anything else. You need a roof over your family's heads. Contact the utility company and see if you can work out something with them where they let you make small payments every week.

A lot can depend on your rental or lease agreement, for my rentals, rent is due on the 1st and late by the 5th, so on the 6th if they don't pay they get a first notice, and would be getting my official notice to move on the 15th. But you may know what your landlord does.

You need to go talk also to your social worker in your area, at least here, they can help with emergancy rent sometimes if you meet certain requirements,a and also help sometimes with utilities.

It could take a month to two months to force you out by going to court. You should be seeking help such as food stamps and rent support from the county. Take any old job you can so that you can pay some rent money.

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mommajen1 disagrees: okay a roof is good but how am I going to see

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A roof is not "good". A roof is "necessary". Electricity is not as much of a necessity. Until you and your partner get jobs you'll have daylight and you can get candles.

If you pay the electricity instead of the rent you can count on the landlord filing for eviction. So you'll have electricity for another month or two. Then you'll have neither a roof nor electricity.

Ringgold looks like a one horse town and I am not surprised to hear that the unemployment rate is high, but if you go to Monster.com and search in Danville there are lots of opportunities. Monster - Search Jobs

I noticed there is a call center in Danville called the Danville Communication Center. As a former call center manager, I can tell you they are always on the look for reliable help. This time of year fast food is begging for help and although burger flipping may seem menial - all you have to do is show up on time and behave responsibly and use your good sense and you will be an assistant manager in no time.

Jobs are out there - they just may not give you the hours you want or weekends off or the holidays you prefer.

If you have to pick electricity or rent - rent comes first. What good is electricity going to do if you don't have a place? Also your local church and Goodwill organizations may be able to assist you.

Assuming your rent is due on the first and late on the fifth, your landlord can file for eviction on the 6th. You will receive a 5-day-pay-or-quit notice (probably the next day, the 6th) which gives you five days to pay your landlord in full. If you pay in that five days (by the 11th), he is required to accept your payment and can no longer proceed to court. If you come to him on day 6 with money, he is not required to accept payment. After the five days, he will file what is called an unlawful detainer and be assigned a court date, usually 3 to 4 weeks away. Could be sooner, if there is room on the docket. The court date will come, you will appear before a judge and more than likely, your landlord will win. An eviction will go on your record and it will be VERY DIFFICULT to rent in the future. At that point, the judge will grant possession to your landlord (sometimes immediate) which gives you AT MOST 10 days to get out. If you don't leave in that 10 days, the sheriff shows up and forces you out, your landlord moves all your stuff to the curb and the sheriff turns the property over. Then you will have no roof, no electricity, no water, no cable, NOTHING.

Pay your rent. You have a kid, the most important thing is having a place to sleep. You have to decide what is more important, lights or shelter. If you choose lights, well, you deserve to be evicted.