Why I’m Asking for Help

This is not something I ever imagined I would need to do, but at this point, asking for help is the only responsible yet desperate option left.

I have been unemployed since late September and have been actively applying, interviewing, and making it to multiple final rounds. Despite strong traction and recent visibility, I have not yet secured an offer, and my unemployment benefits are ending. As a result, my family is now facing eviction, requiring us to uproot our children from their friends and leave the community we currently call home.

While I qualified for the maximum unemployment benefits available in Tennessee, that amount is approximately $1,300 per month, which unfortunately does not come close to covering rent and basic living expenses.

Prior to my job loss, I was working as a contractor for a large publicly traded financial institution. I was offered a full time role, but it came with approximately a 25 percent pay cut. After careful consideration, I declined the offer. The role was subsequently moved to another team, where someone else accepted it, and because my contract was directly tied to that role, my contract was cancelled.

The Rent Situation

Our base rent is approximately $2,700 per month. Utilities including gas, electricity, and trash are bundled into that amount. Because this is one of the colder months of the year and we have experienced several cold snaps, the overall cost has been higher than usual.

After the fifth of the month, a 10 percent late fee is added. At that point, the landlord no longer accepts partial payments. Rent must be paid in full and must be submitted via certified funds such as a cashier’s check, which makes it significantly more difficult to catch up once the deadline passes.

Our landlord is a large REIT, and all payments must be overnighted to their processing location in Las Vegas. This adds additional cost, time pressure, and logistical complexity when trying to resolve the situation quickly.

After a certain point in the month, the landlord also requires the next month’s rent to be paid in order to stop eviction proceedings. Legal and filing fees are added once the process begins.

At this moment, the amount required to stop the eviction is approximately $7,500. However, because the landlord’s attorney will need to attend court on Tuesday, December 16, this will add an additional $500 or more in legal fees. For that reason, the total amount needed is approximately $8,000.

If possible, help covering January rent as well would be immensely appreciated and would provide critical breathing room while I continue interviewing and pursuing work.

Why We Don’t Have Savings to Fall Back On

Prior to my most recent role, I was unemployed for approximately six months and relied on savings to cover basic expenses during that time. When I returned to work, it was at a lower salary with significantly higher health insurance costs, which limited our ability to rebuild savings before this current period of unemployment began.

What This Means for My Family

Because of the generosity of friends, family, and people in our broader community, my kids will still have Christmas. That kindness has meant everything to us and reminded me how strong our village really is.

What we are asking for now is help keeping a roof over our heads.

What Happens Next

I am continuing to pursue full time work, contract roles, consulting, and short term engagements. I am actively interviewing and doing everything I can to turn momentum into stable income as quickly as possible.

Any support, whether financial or simply sharing this fundraiser, helps more than I can express. Thank you for taking the time to read this and for being part of the community that has already helped my family so much.