Can I break my lease agreement if I'm unemployed and file for bankcruptcy and can't afford to pay for the rent?

I agree with the above answer. If you need to terminate your lease early, try to negotiate something with the landlord. The landlord sounds unconventional (knocking on your door on the first of the month). Perhaps the landlord would be open to renegotiating the terms of your lease to something you can afford or maybe they would offer a reduction in rent in exchange for labor? I suggest you contact your local DHS Self-Sufficiency Office to see if there are any temporary housing assistance subsidies that you qualify for. I also suggest that YOU terminate the tenancy before your landlord has a chance to evict you for non-payment of rent. An eviction on your rental history is devastating for tenants. Should you terminate your agreement early the landlord can claim damages up to two-months of rent for early termination plus anything that is owed for past due rent. This would most likely be brought in small claims court since possession of the dwelling is no longer and issue. This should allow you enough time to work out what is owed to your former landlord and secure additional housing. A lot of times, landlords and tenants can reach a stipulated agreement with a payment plan to avoid a court entered judgement. I highly recommend you contact an attorney as soon as possible to advise you on the specific facts of your case. You can schedule initial consultations with an attorney for little or no cost to you.