Hi, I'm Ari. I'm autistic, I'm disabled, I'm queer, and I'm having a very hard time just now.

On January 31st, 2025, I received the message listed in the screenshot. I was at the movies, relaxing after what I thought was a productive week with a guaranteed 6 month contract.

That would prove to be untrue and I had just wasted $31 I didn't have on a treat I couldn't afford. I couldn't have known. I didn't get to finish my movie, I saw the message while I was in the restroom 40 min before the end of the film. I never finished it.

After taking a moment to rest and tend to my shock and horror over all of this, I immediately began looking for another job. The temp agency I was working with had twice proven to not understand what my skills were and the needs of the clients. I had another contract end shockingly on Election night. I don't miss that role, but it was horrible to find out as I was walking to the mall to get a new belt for work I would no longer be doing.

I'd been dealing offline with a very toxic, dangerous housemate situation that has only resolved itself in the last month. I wasn't able to cook or use the washer and dryer at home despite paying for the space.

I lost my job of almost 4 years in April of 2024. Over the time I worked for that employer (a very large, fortune 100 insurance corporation) my mental and physical health declined and my personal life fell apart. I was unmasking slowly and trying to be my authentic self more. People were not responding well to it and I was too exhausted and physically ill to recognize that. In hindsight it was likely due to mild brain fog caused by poisoning myself with a food I'd turned out to be allergic to my whole life and microdosing. My allergies are severe enough that it's likely the dust and general lack of cleanliness in both work places made my productivity poorer. Being told you're basically useless over and over also does not make for a productive headspace. I was dealing with blatant workplace hostility and due to being on contract was expected to just endure it; i'm not capable of functioning in an environment like that.

I have had an incredible, uphill battle trying to find where I belong for employment. Working for the insurer was the longest job I've held and burnout took that from me. I am still recovering from that and trying my best.

And to top everything off, my ten year old cat died suddenly and I found her dead one Tuesday morning in March. It derailed my entire everything, I was feeling pretty OK that week. I lost out on a job opportunity with lower pay but remote because I was so out of it I forgot to reply to the recruiter. I am still grieving this loss among that of some friends who passed that I never fully had the space and time to process (which contributed to losing my job of nearly 4 years).

(RIP Dinah i really wish I knew what happened to you. You were fine and then you weren't.)

The unemployment claim I currently am living on is from that job last year. The funds will run out in less than two weeks and I am unsure if I can get an extension or if there's an option to start a new claim. The Employment Development Department has been extremely difficult to work with or extract information from.

I have submitted an uncountable number of applications for work. I have gotten ZERO replies back, even from the State of California who are supposed to at least reject you with notice legally. They don't care, no one's confirming they're complying with the local labor laws.

I am seeking enough living expenses to get through the month of April while I work on selling things I don't need, finding another job and seeing if I can get a new claim started so I can finish the certificate for my Rx Tech license that I should have had two decades ago. Due to all of the hubbub, I've sadly had to cancel enrolling in a program that was due to start the end of April, I need to guarantee my housing and transportation will be stable while I'm in my course for 20 weeks. I qualified for CalFresh but the quantity is so low as to be a farce.

While the goal is low, it would be amazing if I could get enough money to make it through that program, take care of my basic needs and breathe about my bills through the end of the year but I also understand things are hard for everyone right now.

I'm so grateful you chose to read through this blurb about my life and learn why I am doing this. If you can't contribute financially, that's ok! Thank you so much for reading this at all. Shares are greatly appreciated as my network is only as wide as that of those who see this.

I thank you for your time, consideration and I hope to return with some joyful updates that the goal has been met. I may adjust as we go to extend the runway on my ability to get through 2025 in one piece.