Hello, my name is Iris,

At the end of 2023, I was laid off from the corporate job I had been with for five years. A few weeks later, my 14-year-old schnauzer fell very ill and passed. Four months after that, my 16-year-old cat also passed.

After my layoff, I struggled to find stable employment for 10 months, until August of the next year. Two months after starting my new job, Hurricane Helene devastated Asheville, and I lost my job again. I spent another eight months surviving on the meager earnings from my small art business and desperately looking for full-time employment.

I finally received a job offer in May and felt like things were about to get better. I waited until my 90-day probationary period was over, and then signed a lease on a shared art studio in the River Arts District. I was feeling very hopeful that things were starting to turn around and I would finally be able to get back on my feet.

Two weeks after moving into our studio, I was laid off. After two years of tragedy and unstable employment, I am about to lose everything. If I do not come up with $1574 by Wednesday, October 15th, my landlord will file for eviction.

Please consider helping me keep a roof over my head and that of my 4 pets. All donations will be used to pay my rent while I continue to work on my small business and look for employment.

Thank you so much!