My name is Zia Herrmann, and alongside my partner Katherine Goodwin, we have been experiencing one of the most difficult, stressful years of our lives. The issues have been piling up, and we are on the brink of homelessness without serious positive news very soon.

In May of 2025 my longtime workplace closed down, laying me off, and I found new work only for that to close in August as well, leaving me out of a job for months. The job market has been brutal, with hundreds of sent applications, dozens of interviews, and still no calls back or job offers, all while I have received no help from unemployment and other human services. This has led to my savings going up in flames, bill collectors calling every day, and me getting thrown out of my home.

My partner has tried her hardest to support me through this struggle, but hard times have sadly befallen her as well. She worked 2 jobs for years, but was laid off from her main full time job in September, causing a significant disruption to her own income. On top of that, her car was totaled, leading us to have to rely on transportation via the Denver metro's unreliable RTD service, expensive rideshares, or rides of good will from friends.

We are both very close to being employed again, but we have simply bled out too much money to get a foot forward without receiving some kind of help. With your aid, we can safely afford rent and groceries for a little while, start paying for the bills we've fallen behind on, and be able to stand on our feet again. This year has extracted a heavy physical, mental, and financial toll, but all we ask to have some stability back in our lives after the brutal chaos we've been enduring. We also understand things have been hard for a lot of people, which is why we take no help for granted, no matter how big or small; and we promise to pay the kindness forward when we're able to do so.