Displacement

I've been accepted to a few Comparative Lit programs, and was wondering if anyone knows how Comp Lit programs specifically view requests for deferrals. This isn't a case of applying before I was ready; I was fully intending to go (and still wish I could). But both my parents were recently laid off in this lovely economic climate and my siblings are both still at pricey colleges, so it seems the only way we can manage is if I work for a year and live at home (really looking forward to that...). Does anyone know how lit departments specifically would react to this? I know it's very frowned upon, but I don't really have a choice - if they don't give it to me, then I guess I'm reapplying next year. Thanks, all.