MONTREAL – A single diagnosis at 18 months irrevocably altered Alexanne McKee’s life, culminating in a tricky decision at age 36: to leave her job to provide full-time care for her severely autistic son. The financial strain of that decision has led McKee to seek debt relief.
“I was exhausted and unable to balance the care my son needed, appointments with specialists, and my perform,” McKee explained. “I resigned, initially thinking it would be temporary, but quickly realized a 9-to-5 job was no longer feasible.” The decision has significantly compromised her financial stability.
McKee, residing on Montreal’s South Shore, is solely responsible for covering all household expenses, including a $1,729 mortgage and a $385 car loan, totaling $3,819 monthly. With minimal income, she struggles to make ends meet despite receiving the Canada Child Benefit and the Quebec Family Allowance.
To stay afloat, McKee has relied heavily on credit cards, accumulating a debt of $21,000, in addition to a personal loan of $13,000. Bills mounted, and her financial situation continued to deteriorate.
A glimmer of hope emerged as McKee’s sister offered her part-time employment at her company, increasing her income while allowing her to remain highly available for her son. Yet, she was unable to make significant headway in repaying her debts.
Marilyn Désir, an insolvency counselor at Raymond Chabot, analyzed McKee’s case and explored potential solutions. “She wanted to keep her home and thought refinancing was an option. But with a very high outstanding mortgage balance, that will be very difficult, if not impossible,” Désir stated.
Désir recommended a consumer proposal for her credit card and personal loan debts, allowing her to repay them over 60 months. After considering the proposal, McKee urgently contacted Désir when a bailiff appeared at her door. “We prepared her proposal file the same day and sent a suspension of proceedings notice to the creditors,” Désir explained. By adhering to the proposed payment plan, McKee will be able to retain her home and vehicle, essential for attending her son’s medical appointments.
McKee’s financial situation includes a home valued at $347,000 and a financed 2018 Kia Forte. Her total debts amount to $329,000, comprised of a $284,000 mortgage, $21,000 in credit card debt, a $13,000 personal loan, and an $11,000 auto loan.
Her monthly income consists of $1,944 from part-time work and $2,175 from child and family allowances, totaling $4,119. Her monthly expenses are $3,819, encompassing the mortgage, municipal taxes, phone, daycare, medication, electricity, gas, groceries, permits, insurance, and the car loan.
According to Psychology Today, finding autism therapists in Midtown, Latest York, can be filtered by specialties like addiction, anxiety, and ADHD, and by insurance coverage. Alexanne McKee, a Marriage and Family Therapy Graduate Student, is listed on LinkedIn, with experience at the Minnesota Autism Center. Bierman Autism Centers in Princeton, New Jersey, offers ABA therapy, emphasizing a child-led discovery approach and building confidence through individualized programs.
