My mother has bad credit, and wants me to cosign but I dont want to. How else can I help her?

I love my mother but I know if I cosigned or put an apartment under my name she could ruin my credit and I cant take that risk. She has banks/credit cards garnishing her wages and has no money to claim for bankrepcey. I want to help her without having my name dragged into it. She needs me to co-sign because she is also a felon... In oregon you cannot rent if you are one.

Public Comments

1. It is always hard for family, but you are right in protecting your credit. Maybe you could help her find an affordable apartment for herself, where she wouldn't need a cosigner. Maybe even offer to help out financially (if you can afford it) if she runs short on anything. Help her to rebuild her credit without ruining yours.
2. Does she need a co-signer or she just wants one??? The only thing I can say is to (if you're willing) is to possibly provide her with some financial help or maybe if you're living on your own to ask her to move in with you
3. That is a hard nut to crack. I believe the only way you can help her is with hand holding and cash. You are right not to co-sign anything. If you get her to agree to a repayment plan (which of course is very difficult to have anyone sign who is a relative as are you going to take her to court?), it would be very hard to enforce. Good luck.
4. Contact a local credit help agency that will help her for free. You are right, you will just enable her to get deeper in debt unless she changes her habits. Check out someone like Suze Orman for advice http://www.suzeorman.com/
5. Help her pay for the BK
6. You made a smart and hard choice not to cosign for her. What i would suggest is helping her look for private owners in ads or online in your area. Most private owners of apartments or houses do not do credit checks and would only ask that she show source of income and give a security deposit plus first months rent. If she cannot do this then she does not need to have her own place period. Another benefit is that private landlords can also do a month to month rental agreement rather than 6, 12 or 24 months.