For about $20 you can get an external hard drive adapter at most computer sellers. http://www.amazon.com/Drive-Adapter-Converter-Optical-External/dp/B002OV1VJW
Then you plug it into another computer and access the old drive to copy the files. IF the computer hard drive has an IDE interface this might work.
There are other ways but they are expensive or require a lot of technical knowledge. Beer might also be an option.
Very sorry to hear you are leaving your home.
The economy sucks.