Call the Department of Rehabilitation (or whatever it's called in your state). Since you are unable to work due to a medical condition (your knees prevent you from taking a job at the coffee shop) you qualify for job search assistance. Here in California the Dept. of rehab would put you at the top of the list for a _seated_ job either within the state government, or with big corporations like the phone company.
Depending on your state, you may even qualify for retraining funds, medical reimbursement, and all sorts of other benefits. But you won't get any unless you call them up.
Go to Al-Anon meetings and find yourself a roomate. Lots of ladies out here in L.A. walking out on their "A"'s and needing a roomate. Dunno where you live, but I'd bet there's plenty potential roomies for ya.
Mike :-)