This time last year, unbeknown to many of the people who knew her, Amber* came close to losing a secret and "shameful" battle she had been fighting for some years.
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The mother-of-three had been in a bad long-term relationship and she was in danger of losing the house that had been left to her, "unencumbered", by her late father in 2008.
Twelve years later, in February, 2020, the bank was preparing to take it away. She was nearly $200,000 in debt and had no way to pay. All of this before the pandemic had even started yet.
"I found myself really struggling. There was a mortgage on my house," Amber explained. "I was nearly homeless.
Fortunately, a friend recommended Legal Aid and shortly after making the first phone call, Amber was taken aback to learn she had options. "That first step is the hardest part," she says now.
Over a year on, life has turned a corner for Amber.
She has a job again and feels like a different person.
So much so, that when Legal Aid asked if she wanted to share her story publicly, she didn't hesitate.
"If I can help just one person, it will have been worth it," she said.
"Legal Aid have helped me so much. I don't know what I would've done without them."
According to her lawyer Jill Marshall, Amber's story is not unique in the desperate financial situation people will get to before they get referred to their services.
"The sheriff's often banging on the door by the time we get involved," she said.
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Now with the Federal Government set to cut both JobKeeper and the Coronavirus Supplement, Legal Aid is expecting the financial stress to upend those who had been "teetering on the edge".
"[People] often don't realise that in some cases there are legal solutions for financial problems caused by hardship," Ms Marshall said.
"Lawyers and financial counsellors can help negotiate payment plans with financial institutions or negotiate with landlords... Where fines are causing financial stress, we may be able to have those debts deferred, waived or cleared."
"Our message here is - if you find yourself in financial hardship, don't panic.
"Seek advice, and seek it early."
Advice on financial hardship can be sought through Orange Legal Aid on 6362 8022 or Catholic Care Wilcannia on 1800 067 067.
*Surname withheld to protect privacy.