This is incredibly humbling for me to write — and not something I ever imagined myself doing. I’ve always prided myself on being strong, resourceful, and independent. But life has a way of testing us in ways we never expect, and today I find myself in a position where I have to ask for help.

Recently, my apartment complex came under new management and is no longer honoring the payment plan I was relying on to catch up on rent. I’ve now been given 30 days to pay what I owe in full — or risk losing my home.

Most people don’t know this, but last year I lost my job after being violently sexually harassed at work. Speaking up cost me everything professionally — but keeping my integrity intact was a price I was willing to pay. It marked the beginning of a very difficult financial season, one I’ve been quietly working through ever since.

This year, just as I was finding my footing, I faced another major setback: a breast cancer scare that rocked me to my core. Thankfully, I’m okay — but I’m still carrying the weight of the medical bills that came with it.

I’ve worked hard to build a life of peace after leaving a 10-year relationship. I’ve created a home for myself, and I’ve poured myself into work that gives back. As a community mental health professional, I show up for others every single day — even though the pay doesn’t reflect the emotional labor it requires.

This ask isn’t easy. In fact, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But I refuse to let shame keep me from reaching out when I truly need support. Because the truth is — I can’t do this alone. I’m not asking for a handout — I’m asking for help to get through a moment that I didn’t choose, but that I’m facing with as much grace and grit as I can.

If you’re able to give anything at all, please know it will go directly toward keeping me in my home and helping me stabilize as I continue doing the work I love and rebuilding a life I’m proud of. And if you’re not in a place to give, sharing this means more than you know.

Thank you for reading, for seeing me, and for holding space for this moment. I’m deeply grateful.