They verbally volunteered that they lost their job, ran into financial difficulties, moved out of their apartment and in with family, and ended up declaring bankruptcy.

Ask that they list a work or volunteer related reference instead. 

Thats a good idea volunteering my timewould definitely help me learn a lot faster.

As far as the marital issue, counseling or not, really listen to your wife about why she feels it is important to help this person, then see if you can come up with a compromise, like have him move but agree to volunteer with her at a homeless shelter nearby or something else that fulfills both her need to help with your need for privacy.  

My now ex tenant, the one detailed in earlier posts concerning his drug dealing, has been in touch. I had written a demand letter for over $5k of damages to the unit, backing this up with invoices for painting and flo...

A person who volunteers to defend your homeland against enemies foreign and domestic is not someone to fear.

You might be able to find some retired person who volunteers at the Small Business Administration who will be an honest mentor to you. 

It was noted, which is probably why she volunteered to buy a new one. 

Of course, the other sources only have asking rents or received rents that were volunteered by a user (could be fictitious). 

For several years I volunteered to teach classes with a "ready to rent" tenant education program there.