Several Issues

I have several issues going on at once and I need help FAST!! Little back ground - recently divorced and have aquired a few of our "joint" credit cards as my own. I have not paid anything as right now I am trying to figure out my finances - I have found it is really hard going from a double income down to a one income family. I have kids and we sold our home, however we took an extreamly big hit and got very little of our built up equity back. I had to use the money I did get to rent a place that is extreamly over priced. I am finding that the rental community is all extreamly over priced...to keep from bouncing a bunch of checks and to keep a float, I took out several PDL's. The are taking $782.00 from my paycheck every two weeks..I make $940 - therefore, I cannot afford my rent and to pay my ligitament debts - car payment, electricity, Credit cards, gas...etc. I have heard Debt consolidation really does not help and knocks your credit score way down. I eventually would like to get these issues cleared up so I can purchase a home for me and my girls...what can I do to get relief FAST!! I have gone from a 720 credit score to a 580 in a matter of three months....this is serious.