Hi folks,

I never expected to be in a position where I’d need to ask for help, but here I am.

I’ve lived and worked in Maryland since 1995 and have spent over 30 years in the IT field, much of that time on federal contracting work. In September 2025 after nearly 4 years with my employer, the primary contract I was supporting was hit with major budget cuts, and my position was eliminated along with others. Unfortunately, my employer had no other contracts available to transition me to and I was let go.

I’ve now been unemployed or underemployed for 4 months in a very difficult job market. Many IT roles in the Baltimore/DC area require security clearances I don’t have, and despite applying for dozens of positions and completing several interviews, I haven’t yet been able to secure full-time work. I’ve taken on part-time IT work and a delivery job to bring in income, but together they are still far short of my previous income and even after cutting expenses I'm still not keeping up. I also had some considerable unexpected expenses last fall that took a chunk out of my nest egg shortly before I lost my job.

I've tightened my budget considerably, but without steady full-time employment, my back will be against the wall come springtime. My goal is to stay afloat while I continue actively searching for stable work and avoid having to sell my home of 14 years or relocate away from my family and community.

I’ve spent much of my life helping friends, partners, and even strangers when they were in need. I've given far more than I'm asking over the years, hoping some of that karma comes back to me and I’m asking for help myself. Any support you’re able to offer will help buy me time to get back on my feet.

Thank you for reading, sharing, or contributing in any way.

— Brent