A little help to keep me moving forward

Help Me Get Back on My Feet After Job Loss and Hardship

Hi, my name is Eric, and I’m reaching out because I’m in a tough spot and need a little help. Life has thrown some unexpected challenges my way, and I’m doing everything I can to stay afloat, but I’ve hit a wall.

In November, right before the holidays, I was laid off from my job. The company cited a lack of funding and let most of us go. A few months before that, due to work in the factory slowing down, they started sending me and a few others out to different job sites to install glass and windows. One of these sites was a Union job site with prevailing wage. After a few checks, I had started noticing that I was most likely dealing with wage theft, working on a union job site but not being paid the proper wages. Despite constantly bringing it up with HR and payroll, I was met with endless runarounds and I fell behind on bills months before the layoff due to making normal wages but not normal hours. We would only work 5 1/2 hours here, six hours there, occasionally seven hours, but never a full 40+ on this site.

During the layoff, I applied for unemployment benefits, but my claim has been stuck in limbo since November. Every time I inquire about the status of my benefits, I’m told it’s on hold waiting for a specialist’s approval. In the meantime, I’ve had no income to rely on.

I started a new job about 2 weeks ago, but I won’t see my first paycheck until the 24th of this month, and it’s not going to cover what I need it to cover. In the meantime, I’m behind on rent, utilities, my phone, car payments, Internet, and credit cards. I’ve tried reaching out to churches, social services, and organizations like the Salvation Army, but I either don’t qualify (I’m not in a qualifying ZIP Code for social services to help with what I need help with) or they’re out of funds.

I’m doing everything I can—applying for assistance, borrowing from family, my girlfriend, selling off what little assets I have trying to make ends meet—but it’s not enough. I want to start DoorDashing to bring in extra income, but I don’t have enough gas to get started. I am currently waiting to attended apprenticeship classes for the glazier’s union in September. I’ve already been through orientation and am waiting to be placed on a job but I am told work hasn’t picked back up in that field yet.

This GoFundMe is my last hope to keep a roof over my head, keep my car running, and provide for my kids. Every little bit helps, and I would be incredibly grateful for your support.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story. If you can’t donate, sharing this with others would mean the world to me.

—Eric