Empower Enoch to Build a Brighter Future

Hello everyone! My name is Enoch Abraham, a 36-year-old from Chicago, IL. Throughout my life, poverty has been a common theme that I continue to struggle with. However, I felt like it was something I could manage primarily on my own thanks to the important gifts of education, critical thinking, and determination that my parents instilled in my 13 siblings and me. We were raised to be tough, resourceful, and adaptable, skills that allowed me to come this far in life.

Despite this, I've come to a point where financial struggles are becoming a danger to my life. I've been diagnosed with type-1 Diabetes since I was 13, and managing it with low finances has created longstanding health issues that impair my ability to work. Out-of-control blood sugar creates physiological symptoms that greatly deplete my energy reserves, impair my physical and mental performance, and eventually disable my motor and autonomic nerve functions.

I fortunately secured Medicaid to cover medical costs, which has been crucial. However, my SNAP benefits were disabled because the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) continuously sent my materials to the wrong address. Since I did not have the money to secure enough bus fare to receive my mail, my mid-point review for continuing these benefits came to my attention 45 days after it was due. As such, I do not have the capacity to obtain food I need to keep my blood sugar balanced. In fact, I don't have enough funds to average a full meal per day.

I used to work as a freelance writer for TextBroker, an online content mill. However, after three clients erroneously accused me of using AI to write content in late August 2024, the platform removed all of the available work I had in order to sustain a living. I am in the process of attempting to resolve this conflict, but TextBroker's HR has become a shell of its former self. I also rely on public transportation to travel since I do not know how to drive nor have a vehicle at my disposal. As such, my job searches are limited to a 3-mile radius of places where I can walk. Since July, I have personally applied to over 30 places within that radius with no luck (TextBroker's work supply took a huge nosedive during and after the 4th of July, so I started looking for extra/replacement work before the AI accusations).

Aside from my attempts to find work of any kind (I did not limit myself to writing work), I attempted to donate on the less than 12 hours before creating this campaign. However, due to erratic blood sugar, they rejected my attempt. At the time of writing this story, I have 16 cents to my name. The good news is that I have a roof over my head thanks to low-income housing. With only $113/month for rent, I don't have an immediate concern for homelessness. I was homeless from August 23, 2023 until April 15, 2024, but there isn't an immediate threat from an official source. That said, I am 4 months behind on rent due to a depletion of available work as a freelance writer starting in July.

With everything explained, I'm here to raise the money necessary to get back on the right track. I have struggled with suicidal thoughts in the Fall of 2023, but I'm not going that route nor do I want to return to that as an option. Moreover, I do not consider myself a victim here; my life was built by an array of mistakes, arrogance and taking things for granted. Regardless of outside circumstances, I had the ability to prevent this current circumstance from happening. I didn't the actions to manifest a different and more fruitful outcome, so that's on me. However, as I am human, I wanted to do what I can to help myself get a second chance. Moreover, if I died without trying to ask for help, my family would be devastated. That may sound like a drastic projection, but it is a VERY REAL possibility at this time.

With your help, I'll be able to make the following changes:

Thank you to everyone who takes the time to read this and lend their support in whatever way possible! I sincerely appreciate any generosity that you all can share. God Bless!!