February 2023 was a life defining moment for me. I fought to keep my home until I was eventually evicted and displaced, instantly losing my stability and the majority of my personal possessions. The fight itself was a yearlong battle, dealing with hiring freezes after the pandemic while trying to be fully independent. This was an experience that left me with so much shame and embarrassment. With the exception of some friends and family, I suffered in silence. I relocated and found work in Los Angeles. Two years later, I am still rebuilding.

I've been exposed to challenges I never thought I'd have to deal with:

Mental and Emotional Distress

Social Isolation

Barriers to Stability

I was impacted by the LA fires in January (2025) because it put my housing and job at risk. I’ve been relying on temporary stays and was in an evacuation zone at the time. As someone already experiencing homelessness, this was a tough wake-up call for me on how underprepared I was for another displacement. The fires disrupted LA’s hospitality and tourism industry, setting me back financially and increasing the risk of losing my temporary stay as well.

What keeps me going is living life with the expectation that good things will happen. I have been able to find a sense of home and community in Los Angeles where I am planting seeds to start a new life.

The first step has been speaking up about my situation and asking for help. A major milestone has been finally getting a State ID, Medicaid and other benefits with the assistance of The Department of Social Services. Rebuilding is an everyday process, but I am confident that I will get to a point where I can stop surviving and start living.

With this fund I will be able to:

As I free myself from silence and rise above my circumstances, I hope that this will reassure people going through similar challenges that they too can rise and rebuild.

Thank you!