New Housing Support for NYC Creative - ReemahSoul

Hello All! It's Karima here! You may know me as ReemahSoul from Threads or my socials online.

- what's my story: I experienced Homeless in NYC after the pandemic hit. My roommate and I struggled from unemployment and job insecurity, to the inability to keep up with bills/rent, to eventually navigating a lengthy and unfair eviction process. Then, there was nothing left to tackle but homelessness, hunger and broken dreams.

- so I did it. My roommate and I went our separate ways. I entered the Shelter system in April of 2023. Since then, I've faced harsh realizations around the broken housing and social service structure. I've faced underpaid, under qualified shelter staff, directors and security professionals, who take advantage of mentally and emotionally unstable folks in the shelters, while punishing those who find themselves on hard times - by allowing good/compliant people to fall through the cracks, while government shelters maintain a toxic reputation of "degenerates" and "bums" who refuse to better themselves and remain sane and off drugs. But the reality is that, the systems are built and maintained off of depression, lack of belief in oneself and the selfish desires of those who could help but refuse to. So, I've become empathetic towards the folks that endure the system, especially those that are weighed down by the oppression, only to lift themselves up with substances and abuse. It has become my understanding that even i am not *special* when it comes to the economy or my government or the social structure/standards - "homelessness/poverty" has been labeled as a personal failure - something to be ashamed of. something that you shouldn't ask or expect help or encouragement for. Something you shouldn't talk about. But, the American Government will have us believe that "homelessness" and "UNaffordable housing" is a "THEM" problem. Not a community/social scourge, that we CAN help eradicate! WE CAN!

- WHAT CAN YOU/WE DO NOW?

IT MEANS, We support the work of Artists, Writers, Activists and Creators who push the needle towards peace, unity and community.

- IT MEANS, We support our neighbors and friends when they need us most.

- IT MEANS, We don't allow more of our brilliant Artists, neighbors and friends to experience "poverty", "homelessness", and "basic instability" because we refused to care about what really matters.

- What Now? HOW CAN YOU HELP ME?:

Well, since my 3 year bout with Homelessness, I've recently moved into stable housing in Roosevelt Island, NYC as of June 2025. I've managed to qualify for a housing voucher, which covers only 70% of the rent here. That leaves me owning $1,000 in rent every month, beginning July 2025. Even with my Part Time job and Voucher, one thousands dollars a month is a lot to come up with, after fighting for my livelihood in the Homeless shelter, pinching pennies to make limited ends meet and remaining sane and faithful that I'd make it out.

- So I will maintain my campaign, so that I may have help with: RENT, Groceries, Creative tools and supplies, Personal/Housing needs: toiletries, bulbs, batteries, etc.

- the slightest change in my employment or public assistance case, could mean the voucher or my stable housing placement could be in jeopardy. PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN!

- Donate OFTEN, and SHARE updates. Send in encouragement or engage with me via my socials. LASTLY, give a GIFT or DONATE funds directly towards my furniture and household expenses. The link for my AMAZON WISHLIST is linked in the Updates Tab.

- THANKS TO ALL FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT, LOVE AND ENCOURAGEMENT!

IT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED! ✨

Find/Connect: @ReemahSoul33 via Threads, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube, Tiktok, and Substack.

- Karima/ReemahSoul is a Designer, Writer and Creative Director, will skills as a painter, photographer, stylist and visual merchandiser.

For Creative/Journalist/Professional inquiries, please send an email.