Hi, my name is Ember. I’m a 19-year-old college student working hard to stay enrolled while trying to secure stable housing.

Right now, I don’t have a permanent place to live. I’ve been couch surfing and relying on short-term arrangements while attending school. Although my parents do have a home, they live over two hours away. Moving back would mean transferring schools and losing my opportunity to graduate early with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology, an opportunity I’ve worked extremely hard to earn. Staying near my campus is essential if I want to remain enrolled and on track academically.

I have approximately two years left of school and am on a path to graduate a full year early. Having stable housing during this time is critical for me to maintain my academic progress and continue working toward my degree.

I was denied government assistance, leaving me without a safety net. I do have a job and work consistently, but my income isn’t enough to cover the upfront costs required to secure housing. Where I live, rent is roughly $900 per month, and most places require first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and a security deposit upfront. These initial costs, along with basic move-in expenses, are more than I can manage on my own while also paying for school and daily necessities.

Despite working hard and doing everything I can to support myself, these upfront expenses have made it extremely difficult to secure a stable place to live. I’m not asking for long-term assistance, just help covering the initial housing costs so I can move into a safe, stable home and focus on my education and job without the constant fear of not knowing where I’ll sleep.

Stable housing would make an immediate and meaningful difference in my ability to stay enrolled, maintain employment, and continue building toward the future I’m working so hard to achieve.

Any support, whether through a donation or by sharing this fundraiser, means more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for helping me work toward stability and independence.