I am a disabled man desperately trying to get on SDI and SSI. I am currently on MediCal and SNAP, but have no cash for essentials or rent. I am suffering from cognitive decline, extreme arthritis, a seizure disorder, migraines and chronic pain. On bad days I need a wheelchair to get around, on good days I can barely walk on my crutches.

My manual wheelchair was taken by a man promising to fix it for free and never returned. My electric wheelchair has dead batteries that won't hold a charge. Now that I have neither, 4 to 5 days out of the week, I stay at home in bed trying to ignore the pain.

Things have gotten much worse around here. This fundraiser started as a way for me to try to pay back rent, maybe get some toilet paper and toothpaste, but now it has become a fight for my survival.

You see, I live in a very precarious untenable situation that has made it very difficult for me to live peacefully, let alone take care of myself.

I have missed doctor's appointments, the rare interview, personal get togethers with friends, and other things that many people take for granted- all because of my landlord/roommate.

Today is the day everything changed and I had to sit down with ChatGPT and try to write out my jumbled thoughts into something coherent and readable for the changes to my Story. I will summarize here, but my latest update has the details.

Yes, I am in fear for my safety.

My landlord/roommate has:

a. Become increasingly hostile to me yelling at me every time he sees me, has recently become more physical by grabbing my arm and preventing me from leaving, so I avoid him as much as I can

b. Thrown away my food I buy with my SNAP benefits, because it's "expired" or "spoiled," when it isn't, leaving me unable to keep food here

c. Turned off the ac/heat and locked the thermostat, because "it's too expensive" while using his own portable heater and fans

d. Disconnected the WIFI and taken the router with him when he goes to bed or leaves so that I cannot use the internet

e. Stolen personal belongings and presumably sold them or thrown them away

All of the things listed above are the reasons why I try very hard never to leave my room or food unattended for fear that they will be broken, stolen, or thrown away. I am afraid of him because he just yells at me, lays hands on me, and makes me feel worse. I am colder, hungrier, more afraid, and constantly stressed all because of him. He does these things now where he grunts loudly, like a throat clear, but it's deliberate and animalistic, and he mutters in a deranged angry way, under his voice, like the person you might avoid, on the street, for fear that they are crazy. All these things he does to startle, intimidate, and harass me is all very traumatizing and I believe, on top of all my medical issues, that I am developing PTSD from him. I jump now whenever someone innocently coughs near me.

The only reason I stay is that the prospect of leaving behind my computer and personal items to live on the street is not better than where I am. I need to get out, safely.

Please, donate. Or if you cannot donate, please, share this to whomever you feel might. And please, read the updates for the full story. There's a lot going on, and it is difficult to communicate with my issues. There are good days and bad days and I try to write the updates on the good days so it is all smart sounding and understandable. Soon, I know there won't be many good days and the time between them will grow longer.

Thank you, every little bit helps.

written with the help of ChatGPT