I have begun to market some of my talents, so I can aggressively attack the debt.

Step 3 Look at other criteria such as migration trends, transportation infrastructure improvements, look at outlying areas of boom towns, areas that attack business startups and jobs, and areas that are transitioning from one economic class to a higher class (gentrification).

Non-payment of rent is grounds for eviction once you do proper paper work of notice and all that legal stuff.Reason, I say is because my tenant, an older lady had a heart attack and was delayed on getting her job, so I am behind by 4 months now...i let it slip past for humanity sake, and now its getting difficult, promises after a while seem distant and goes unfulfilled...So decide if you want to continue with this tenant or not and let it die while you are still friendly with them and not let it play on your emotions where it gets difficult as months pass you by with loss of rent and trust in the tenant. my 2 cents anyways.If i do it all over again, I would have evicted at the first sign of delinquency.

Also look at the threads of owners BEOTCHING about thier PM s  its rampant and while its important to the owner 75% of the time the owner investor has no clue as to reality of being a landlord and unfairly attacks the managers.I have personally witnessed though PM's try to step into C class and totally botch it and create havoc for thier owners..it takes a special management style as i suggested.

You need a team to attack every lead source and not get overwhelmed. 

I'm working 2 jobs right now and I am in attack mode on credit cards.

We’re in Mississippi, so $50k can buy rentals in the right location.Everything I’ve read talks about using leverage and Other people’s money... which way would you attack the situation if you were in our position financially?

What prevents algae from attacking the new roof?

Save some from your income rent, then attack your roof. 

My parents have been through many problems in the past several years - from a kidney transplant, to heart attack, and more, my folks have always paid their rent on time, but their other bills have suffered.