We tried to obtain a reverse mortgage, which is now mandated by the state constitution, but found that 1) Both my wife and I had to be over 62 years of age (my wife has another half year to go to qualify), and 2) We couldn't find any lending institutions that are willing to make such loans any longer.

My wife still has a few thousand in income taxes we could get back, if we could somehow get all the paperwork together from a company that is near impossible to reach by phone or otherwise, and we cannot easily get mail without a more permanent address at present.

As the saying goes, it's complicated. Which doubtless is just how the government wants it, so only those who can afford legal help have any hope of navigating their treacherous shoals and deep waters.