My name is Jerrit, and I’m asking for help during the hardest season of my life.

I’ve been unemployed for over six months. I don’t qualify for unemployment benefits, and despite applying to hundreds of jobs across industries, I haven’t been able to secure stable work that covers even the bare minimum cost of living. My savings are nearly gone, and I’m now at risk of eviction.

An eviction wouldn’t just mean losing my home. It would severely damage my chances of renting anywhere again in the future.

I’ve exhausted every option I can think of. I’ve taken on gig work like DoorDash, cut expenses, applied to every opportunity I can find, and even reached out to churches and assistance programs. But I’ve now hit a wall and I can’t do this alone anymore.

I’ve never done anything like this before, and it’s deeply humbling to ask for help this way. But if you’re able to contribute... even just a little, it would give me the breathing room I need to keep going. And if you’re not able to give, sharing this campaign would mean the world to me.

What This Covers:

I’m asking for $7,000 to cover three months of rent and basic living costs while I continue the job search. That window would give me a real chance to get back on my feet without the threat of losing everything.

Thank you for reading. And thank you for caring.

Author's Note:

I wanted to say something about the book, since it’s no longer a part of the main fundraiser.

When I first shared this page, it wasn’t just about staying housed, it was also about holding onto hope. I didn’t include the book because I thought it would make people more likely to give. I included it because writing it helped me breathe. It helped me survive.

The Phantom’s Folly wasn’t just a dream, creative writing was how I processed grief, loss, and faith when life didn’t make sense. It helped me find light in the middle of a very dark time. Like a candle in the dark. Even though I’ve taken it out of the core fundraiser to make things clearer, that part of me hasn’t gone away.

I’m still that person. Someone who wants to create something meaningful, not just survive.

And if this speaks to you, if you understand what it’s like to feel invisible or misunderstood… then maybe that’s the story I’ve been trying to tell all along. Thank you for seeing it.