Need help/advice.

I'm at a complete loss as to my next step, and am desperate.
Three years ago, I sold my Tucson home and moved to Atchison, Kansas. Using some of the proceeds from the sale, I purchased a 140-year-old church and set about converting it into a small theater for live performances and classic films. I'm retired, living on a pittance of $950 monthly from Social Security, after Medicare deductions. Unwisely, a loaned a friend $8000 shortly afterwards. He has never re-payed me. Income from the theater is small, and I have been living on my savings. As you can imagine, this is not a good course of action.
A few months ago, I began the process of applying for food stamps and help with utility costs and meds. The various agencies have been terrifyingly slow in response. They sent me expense and income logs to fill out on December 23...with no information on how to fill them out. They were due on December 30. On December 29, they actually sent me the needed information, with only 24 hours left to get them in. Somehow, I managed to get them done in a somewhat shambolic manner, and took them to our local office.
But now, I have nothing left in my savings or checking, online utility bills coming up, and I have no way to pay them and no hope of assistance from the state or feds.
I fear that I'm going to have to plead bankruptcy, sell out and leave.