To quote
kshandra, who was quoting wordweaverlynn, "It's so easy to go from a position where you're working, paying the mortgage, living comfortably, to a position where you're looking at being homeless. It just takes a layoff combined with another big expense." More details and a Paypal button here.
ETA: I just checked the post again -- they made the $10k, plus whatever is being mailed, in five days.
blackperson has taken down the Paypal link; as she said, there was no intent to make a profit, just to save the house.The Internet is a wonderful thing, it is.