Sounds rough. Make sure you explore all your options. If the RA thing doesn't work out, can you get loans? A part-time job? Did you fill out a FAFSA?
At the schools I applied to, many of them don't want to offer RA positions in the first year, they'd rather you be a TA, and build a relationship with a professor. Most of them aren't set up to handle new entrants in spring, they don't even offer appropriate classes in many programs.
Maybe if you can you swing 1 year with no funding from the school, you can get an RA for the following year... or a fellowship...
Good luck to you.