I am a proud single mother of one of the most adorable little 2 year olds ever, my son Hosea. Before his birth, I lived a decent life, a little fun and carefree with no real consideration for my future. I have always been responsible and reliable for friends and family, so I never really did anything too flashy or lavish. I worked to be able to cover my immediate obligations and keep a few bucks in savings, so I felt like I was ok. I was single, college educated and have always been able to support myself so where I found myself in life, I was fine with. Aside from a few little savings accounts, I never really planned for my future. I always expected that I would be more concerned with future planning once I got married and started a family, but as the years passed, the likelihood that either would happen began to fade. I never expected that I would meet a guy that I was totally taken with, allow him to move into my home and become pregnant within a few months of dating, but that is what happened. So as I am learning this man, I am carrying his baby! NOT IN THE PLAN AT ALL! Unfortunately, the things that I ended up learning about this man were not very positive and to my dismay, his commitment to his child (later I find this is actually ‘children’) was not as accurate as he implied when we were still early in the relationship. Shortly after Hosea’s birth, his father left and I was alone. Because I had a C-section, I could not go back to work right away, and as my employment during pregnancy was helping to grow a small, minority owned business, I didn’t have any leave time to use, so I lost my job. No income, ineligibility for unemployment and a new baby left me to have my car reposessed and to give up my apartment and move in with a friend. I was lucky in this regard. It was tough moving to a new city with a brand new baby, still healing from a major surgery while looking for work and being a new mother. My friend was a great help but I needed to get back out there and rebuild. Thanks to a family member, I was able to move to a small apartment where I lived for about a month before finally landing a job. At the time, I didn’t really care the pay, as long as I was able to afford daycare and afford my meager bills. I felt like I was finally on my way to rebuilding! Then the daycare costs began to take its toll. I went to social services for assistance, but was denied because I was working full time and making more than $11 hour with only one child! I had to cover daycare on my own so I found the cheapest and most qualified person that I could, but at the time my baby was a breast fed infant and that demanded a certain level of care. All I could do is pray that something changed soon.
Although I was over qualified for the job I had, it was with a university so I figured the opportunity to secure another position would be easy. A little over a year, nothing changed and so I began my search for employment outside of the university. In the meantime, the little apartment that I had was severely mismanaged and became infested with mice. This was not a good place for me and my curious little infant who was beginning to crawl and get into everything so it became a priority to move.
All this time, I was not (and still am not) receiving child support! Because I went to social service and filed for child support, they began to search for his father whom last I heard was in VA. (I still don’t know where he is!) The last time he saw his son he was 8 months old. Apparently he was living with another lady who contacted me to inquire about my experience with him. She leaned about my son and I from the child support documents that were sent to him. It was from her that I learned that instead of my son being his second child, he is his FOURTH!! Emotionally I was done and I sincerely needed a change!
Through it all, I was able to find a lovely apartment for not much more than I was paying before so I was excited when I qualified for the space. Because the move was, at this point, necessary, I got a payday loan to help with the deposit. This was the beginning of the end! I was already stretched thin and living paycheck to paycheck but the payday loans ravaged my account and has been wreaking havoc ever since! I have since gotten in touch with an agency to help me manage them, however at this point I am behind in rent with no real way to catch up. And though my rental company has been very patient, I understand this is still a business and they need to be paid or they will have to put us out. I don’t want that to happen. Winter is upon us and I’d hate for us to be out on the street, especially here in Baltimore! I have reached out to family and friends as much as I can and I have been very fortunate that they have been very supportive when they can be, but we recently buried my grandmother so folks are still recuperating financially from that. At this point, everything has come to a head financially, mentally and emotionally and I just need some help! I don’t live a lavish life and I don’t spend frivolously. As an unexpected single parent who lost it all and then had to rebuild with limited resources and an additional responsibility, I truly think I have been doing a bang-up job! But it is too much for me to continue the bare right now. I just need a little help lifting this weight off of my back so that I can focus on making a better life for my son and I. I am actively seeking more gainful employment, but anyone who has to look for a job these days knows how long this process can be! So this money will help me catch up on rent and not be evicted, catch up on utilities so they are not cut off, (both which are a few months behind) and keep Hosea in daycare so I can continue to work and job hunt effectively and efficiently. Ask anyone who may know me, I truly hate to ask for help and prior to the baby, I was the go-to for assistance, but now I am humbled by a life more important than my own, and now I am in need so I must at least ask!
So that is my story. I am greatly appreciative of anyone who has at least reads my story and can sympathize. Even if all you can do is say a little prayer for us, I truly appreciate the sentiment. If you are able to actually assist, I pray God moves you to be a blessing to my beautiful son and me! We truly could use it right now! Peace & Love to you all, all the same!!
Although I was over qualified for the job I had, it was with a university so I figured the opportunity to secure another position would be easy. A little over a year, nothing changed and so I began my search for employment outside of the university. In the meantime, the little apartment that I had was severely mismanaged and became infested with mice. This was not a good place for me and my curious little infant who was beginning to crawl and get into everything so it became a priority to move.
All this time, I was not (and still am not) receiving child support! Because I went to social service and filed for child support, they began to search for his father whom last I heard was in VA. (I still don’t know where he is!) The last time he saw his son he was 8 months old. Apparently he was living with another lady who contacted me to inquire about my experience with him. She leaned about my son and I from the child support documents that were sent to him. It was from her that I learned that instead of my son being his second child, he is his FOURTH!! Emotionally I was done and I sincerely needed a change!
Through it all, I was able to find a lovely apartment for not much more than I was paying before so I was excited when I qualified for the space. Because the move was, at this point, necessary, I got a payday loan to help with the deposit. This was the beginning of the end! I was already stretched thin and living paycheck to paycheck but the payday loans ravaged my account and has been wreaking havoc ever since! I have since gotten in touch with an agency to help me manage them, however at this point I am behind in rent with no real way to catch up. And though my rental company has been very patient, I understand this is still a business and they need to be paid or they will have to put us out. I don’t want that to happen. Winter is upon us and I’d hate for us to be out on the street, especially here in Baltimore! I have reached out to family and friends as much as I can and I have been very fortunate that they have been very supportive when they can be, but we recently buried my grandmother so folks are still recuperating financially from that. At this point, everything has come to a head financially, mentally and emotionally and I just need some help! I don’t live a lavish life and I don’t spend frivolously. As an unexpected single parent who lost it all and then had to rebuild with limited resources and an additional responsibility, I truly think I have been doing a bang-up job! But it is too much for me to continue the bare right now. I just need a little help lifting this weight off of my back so that I can focus on making a better life for my son and I. I am actively seeking more gainful employment, but anyone who has to look for a job these days knows how long this process can be! So this money will help me catch up on rent and not be evicted, catch up on utilities so they are not cut off, (both which are a few months behind) and keep Hosea in daycare so I can continue to work and job hunt effectively and efficiently. Ask anyone who may know me, I truly hate to ask for help and prior to the baby, I was the go-to for assistance, but now I am humbled by a life more important than my own, and now I am in need so I must at least ask!
So that is my story. I am greatly appreciative of anyone who has at least reads my story and can sympathize. Even if all you can do is say a little prayer for us, I truly appreciate the sentiment. If you are able to actually assist, I pray God moves you to be a blessing to my beautiful son and me! We truly could use it right now! Peace & Love to you all, all the same!!
Organizer
LaLonnie Travenia
Organizer
Baltimore, MD