Hello, my name is LaMonté. I received housing a few months ago after being unhoused in Oakland for several years. While I am grateful for the safety and stability of having an apartment, it is in a different city, away from my community. This creates more barriers for me to stay connected to my support network. I don’t want this positive change of becoming housed to come at the cost of being separated from my friends and family. That's why I'm asking for your donation towards a working vehicle that I can use to stay connected to my community in Oakland. Community is a necessity for survival when you’re on the streets, and for me it is a necessity for healing and continued stability now that I have housing.

I used my van to collect and redistribute clothing and other necessary items to people who are still unhoused in Oakland, and I need a car to continue doing that work. Staying connected with community gives me a feeling of purpose that got me where I am now and keeps me going. Without a vehicle I risk losing that connection. I am looking to get a van so I can take my two dogs with me and transport supplies. Thank you for taking the time to read this and getting to know who I am. It means a lot to know there are people out there who care.