Hello guys! I am a recent first-generation college graduate and child of an immigrant struggling to make ends meet. I spent the first five years of my life in homelessness and continued growing below the poverty line, and somehow managed, but it's reached a critical point for my family and me. The truth about living in the US is that life is unsustainable without a car. Lyfts and Ubers cost more than what I get paid. I wake up every morning at around 5:45 am to commute to work, which costs about as much money as my entire morning shift. There is no place closer to home for me to work.

Because of the cost, I can't afford to commute back home and come back for the noon shift. So, after the morning shift, I walk 2 miles (~1 hour) to the library for somewhere to stay until the noon shift, and I walk 2 miles back to work. Lately, it has been raining a lot so I walk with wet socks and shoes.

Every cent my brother and I collect has been going towards keeping a roof over our heads, bills paid, and going to work. Whatever is left goes towards trying to purchase a used car. In addition, I have to provide for my disabled sister and mother who cares for her around the clock. Therefore, I've cut all unnecessary spending. I have considered food to be an unnecessary cost, so I've stopped eating.

I don't want to rely on others to keep me alive, so all I'm asking for is enough money for a stable source of transportation so that I can work to keep myself and my family alive.