Years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting and working with Reaca at a program providing clinical support and case management to survivors of sexual assault. Recently, I volunteered for their trans youth organization. I have experienced Reaca to be a generous dedicated helper who creatively finds ethical solutions to support all persons. Reaca is a passionate educator, healer, and advocate.

Since their lay-off from a big insurance company a week after the 2016 election Reaca has been focusing on  their volunteer work for a trans youth organization and full time psychotherapy practice. It can be a struggle to be self-employed, and Reaca has dedicated their life to helping survivors of sexual trauma and complex trauma through their healing journeys, and helping transgender individuals reduce barriers to transition-related care.

In 2018, Reaca continued to offer reduced fee therapy to complex trauma survivors and transgender individuals to increase access for these underserved communities. Reaca, having three kids under the age of 9 years old, became unexpectedly pregnant. During gestation, as Reaca had always done, they continued to work as sole provider for their family. Several financially devastating things happened during this time, including car issues and the furnace breaking which led Reaca to take out the remainder of their IRA.

Reaca worked up until the day they were induced due to pregnancy complications. After 3 days in the hospital, Reaca’s partner had finally found a job after a several-year long search, and Reaca went back to working with clients 10 days later. When you’re self-employed there is no such thing as maternity leave. Because childcare is more expensive than staying home, Reaca and Nate carefully arrange their schedules so that one can be home with the infant and toddler while the other works.

A month after the fourth baby was born, Reaca was emergency hospitalized for postpartum pre-eclampsia and, though medically ordered to stay out of the office, had to go back the same week. At that point, Reaca discovered the tenant in their office space had moved out on the lease without warning. Despite active searching, the office has not yet been rented again.

All of this to say, the past two years have been challenging, and beautiful. Due to all of these challenges, Reaca has fallen behind on their mortgage by 2 months. And, last week, received foreclosure notice. Reaca’s small savings are gone, and they are facing tax penalties. Even with the sliding scale their private practice has several outstanding balances due to other folx having fallen on hard times as well.

It is a microcosm example of how you can do everything right in this country and a few “normal” unexpected expenses and health conditions can threaten to take your home and ruin your credit. Reaca is, and will continue to exhaust all options including having Medicaid insurance for self, partner and four kiddos; and applying for and receiving a bit of heat assistance from LEAP. But right now they’re just trying to save their house.

Please help us help a healer and lend Reaca and their family a hand during this, difficult time. Reaca has given so much to the community and now we have an opportunity to support them.