My name is Devin, father of two amazing children, Wendy and Kailen. They are my life, my calling, and recently I got the job of my dreams by becoming the house husband for these great kids. It, for the most part, has been incredible and has been personally healing me after 20 years of customer service. My wife got a very active job, and I've never seen her more healthy and happy.

Sadly, not all of this was for great reasons. Kai Kai, as we call him, is turning 12 and has ASD. He is non-communicative, and needs assistance in daily tasks like dressing and bathing. Harder still, he has trouble with self-harm and frustration fits that when he was small were easily containable, so my becoming the home dad also stems from his ever-growing size. My poor wife who is a tiny 5ft and change, will soon be dwarfed by his height, let alone his newfound pre-teen strength. Even with all the work she puts in at her new ranch job, she still has trouble with him when he gets to his worst.

Kai also has to share a room with this turning 6-year-old sister, Wendy. She is also neurodivergent but does not suffer as badly as her brother with communication. What she does suffer from is having to share a room with a child 3 times her size, who cannot communicate his feelings or frustrations, and having to be careful around him at all times. He has accidentally hurt her, thankfully nothing but mean pinching or hair pulling, some of which Wendy may have even instigated, but I fear for the future if we can't find better space. He needs his own room just as much as she does, but even more so they need safety space.

So, by necessity, I left my management job and became his caretaker after my wife put in 11 wonderful years. Kailen can tend to be, even when he is in school, a full-time job. It's hard to predict if he will need to be picked up, or if teachers will need help with him. And as anyone with a child on the spectrum can tell you, specialty care is more costly than most people can spare. So, until something truly breaks, or I can get a job that gives me specialty daycare money, I'm here. I've looked and tried for home gigs, but either I'm not picked, or the hours/job requirements don't mesh with the dad life. Pursuing anything, income or otherwise, all end up playing second.

We have always lived paycheck to paycheck, even while I was working 40hrs. Customer service is not the most lucrative of careers, and a disabled son is not a cheap endeavor to take on. I wasn't being paid extremely well, to begin with, and after Covid, the hours weren't there. Switching roles, however, put a HUGE hit on our income. We have managed to make our way in Colorado for the last 5 years. This was only 5 months ago, but between the job change (which had an inevitable pay cut) and the times as they are, we are on the verge of being evicted. Even with another adult working and living with us, my wife's sister, we still have had trouble making ends meet. We have tried multiple government aids, are on food stamps, and are hoping a Sect 8 or something comes through soon for a more affordable space, but for now, we are in dire straights.

The money I am looking to raise is honestly JUST to cover the costs of the rent and bills. Or, if it comes to it really, money to put down on a new, cheaper place while I deal with the aftermath of said eviction. It would be better to find more space anyway, but that is wishful thinking for someone in my place. If I could get HOUSE money... the chance at a real place here, boy lemme tell you, you'd see tears rarely shed by me.

Honestly, this is a cry for help, and I only know that 10k kills me to ask for. I feel like a failure. The number scares me, but with over 5k in rent that needs paying, it's the bare min I could need though, just to not get kicked out and deal with any possible extras from this whole thing. I've never been evicted, so I don't know. We may still be in hot water if we have to stay for to much longer, even IF the funds are raised. All I do know is, next month is around the corner with another payment, and I have a 3-bedroom apartment with 5 people that need to stay out of the cold.

I'm not a proud man, and I don't even ask for this without shame. I know there's more I can do, I know I need to be better at this whole adulting thing. Im trying to learn more every day. My kids got their neurodivergence from someone right? Seriously though, I'm only trying to be the best man I can be to support my family. I'm on bended knee, here. If you cant donate, I more then understand. Everyone is struggling. At least pass my story along, if you could. It's nothing new or special, not like ill be making headlines, but if 10k people give 1 doller, thatd work right? I dunno...seems possible for the internet.

I just wanna make a life for my family. At least a CHANCE at life. I tried for 11 years to make it work one way, please help me survive this transition. Help me turn my life around so that I have a shot at the job I really want more then anything: being here for my family.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story. This was/is very hard for me to talk about, and it means the world to me you read the whole thing.