Help me get out of homelessness

Due to a series of unfortunate events piled on top an already grueling and emotional preceding year, I find myself homeless and alone. Shocking, I know. Unemployed, disowned by my family, almost out of cash, this is the grittiest survival mode I’ve ever experienced in my life. I’ve been, for the past year, trying to find work both locally and elsewhere, but even after some positive interviews, no offers. I continue this path, but without the benefit of a roof over my head. Everything I possess fits my late dad’s rolling suitcase and a my backpack.

I live at the airport. I was in and out of fleabag motels, hostels, a men’s shelter, and after a little cash a close friend loaned me was about to run out, I had the idea of taking the city bus 20 miles north to see if I could improvise a life at one of the busiest international airports in the state. I am writing this from my living room which is Terminal A ticketing and departures. I sleep in baggage claim of any of the terminals after the last flight has arrived and passengers have cleared out. I take the shuttle tram from terminal to terminal to keep things interesting. I have WiFi everywhere so I can still work on my job applications and make calls and text. I know where every single working electrical outlet is in a million square feet of airport. I have plenty of bathrooms, and when I need to shower I take the bus 20 miles to downtown to The Beacon, a day shelter that has showers, laundry, soup kitchen, social workers. I’ve made some new friends, also homeless from all walks of life. They give me a ton of pointers on urban survival.

I just need help from friends to get through this period. I can make a Subway footlong last three days if I have to. I’ve learned how to sleep sitting up. I need to find work first. Then a home. Then the process of starting to rebuild my life. I never thought this could happen to me, but it did. Could happen to anyone. I have my moments of utter despair, but I’m hopeful I’ll get through this. I’m definitely not isolated, I hang out with over 100,000 people every day. I only have my rolling suitcase and backpack, so I blend right in with everyone else. Please contribute whatever you can to keep me afloat, to help keep me positive, to keep me fighting for my future. I would be forever grateful to you. I’m still me. It’s just that my 24 bathroom home is slightly bigger than yours. And mine comes with miles of jet runways.

Thanks and love. I’ll never forget your gesture of support during this rough patch.

More photos at https://instagram.com/atomiota