She trained as a teacher, but never had the chance to start working. In the early 2000s, she was involved in two traffic accidents that required five years of rehabilitation. She also has several illnesses, including serious kidney disease.
She was a single mother to a son, who is now an adult, and has no close relatives who could have helped her.
This laid the foundation for the mountain of debt, around 80,000 kronor (about $7,600), that hangs over her and continues to grow. The debt did not come from luxury living or expensive trips, but from student loans, hospital bills, medication and rehabilitation.
“I didn’t take it on because I couldn’t handle it. When you’re sick, you almost have to be healthy,” says Eva-Lena Hultman.
SMS loan denied
In an emergency, she applied for high-interest text message loans, but was denied because she was already so heavily in debt. In retrospect, she may think that was a good thing.
“But you’re desperate. It’s terrible. You’re just afraid you’re going to lose your apartment. It’s the most important thing you have.”
In her case, meeting the Skåne City Mission a few years ago gave her hope. It is not just about financial support, but also about the connection with the staff, whom she calls “her little family.” There is also Veronica, her “angel curator,” whom she meets for a weekly talk.
“You get anxious”
“She’s fantastic. It makes you not want to meet people. You get anxious; you’re not used to it, and many people stare. I’m getting better at dealing with it, but it’s still there a little.”
At the same time, she is in contact with the municipality’s budget adviser, who is helping her apply for debt restructuring. She has been rejected twice, but does not intend to give up and will soon apply again.
Meetings at the City Mission in Kristianstad with others in the same situation - poor pensioners, unemployed people and single parents - also mean a lot to her. After taking part in a TV interview, she has also gained followers on social media who read her updates about the City Mission.
“The guilt and shame must go away, and the best way is to talk about it,” says Eva-Lena Hultman.
