Hi everyone,
My name is James, and this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to write. I'm not someone who asks for help easily, but right now, I’m in a place where I truly need it.
Over the past year and a half, life has thrown more at me than I ever thought I could handle. I went through a painful divorce after nearly 10 years with my former partner, and in the time since, I’ve struggled through periods of homelessness, job loss, financial instability, and deep depression. I lived in my car, stayed with relatives when I could, and often just tried to survive one day at a time.
Despite all of that, I never stopped trying to get back on my feet. I’m now working full-time at Amazon. It’s not easy, but I’m grateful to have consistent income again. I currently live in a home shared with five other people, including two children. We help each other where we can, but money is still incredibly tight.
I’m also a father to a beautiful little girl named Juliana. She means the world to me. I want nothing more than to be the kind of father she can look up to — stable, present, and supportive. That’s why this GoFundMe exists.
I only recently found out about a child support obligation that was set without my knowledge while I was going through homelessness and unemployment. I wasn’t served and had no access to my email at the time because my phone was broken, and I couldn’t recover my login. As soon as I found out, I sent $100 to my daughter’s mother — it wasn’t much, but it was everything I had in that moment. (Just an FYI, I am not homeless anymore. I was able to establish stable living.)
Now, I’m being taken to court and facing a hearing where I have to prove I’m not willfully avoiding support. I’m doing everything I can to comply, but I need help covering legal expenses, transportation, food, and basic stability so I can continue showing up for my daughter.
If you’re able to help — whether it’s $5 or just sharing this link — I would be forever grateful. Every bit will go toward building a better, more stable future for me and for my daughter. My goal isn’t just to survive anymore — it’s to grow, to heal, and to be the kind of dad she can be proud of.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for believing in second chances.
With all my heart,
James Welch
Organizer
