Help a Former Foster Youth Start a New Life

Hi! I’m Phoenix Ramirez. I’m 23 years old, and I’m a former foster youth currently in crisis and facing homelessness. I’m asking for donations to help get me caught up on rent—I owe about $4,000 to my landlord—and toward a down payment and initial rent on a new place to live.

A little more about me.

For the past five years I’ve been living in Southern Oregon, earning my BFA in Performance and Theatrical Arts. That means I’ve been learning how to tell stories and honing my acting skills. I also love content creation, digital marketing, and social media. One of my biggest goals is to move to L.A. and work in some combination of these fields, doing things like writing scripts and editing videos as I audition for roles. My dream is basically to tell good, inspiring stories.

When the pandemic hit, my already unstable life grew even less stable. The loss of in-person learning and social activities was really hard on my mental health. And while most of my peers had families and homes to return to during quarantine and seasonal breaks, I did not. Balancing college, employment, and my increasing mental health needs became harder and harder, and as a result, I got behind on rent.

I currently owe $3,900 in back rent, and my landlord is threatening to begin the eviction process if I don’t pay him this amount in full. Not only are my two cats and I facing homelessness but having an eviction on my record would create obstacles around housing stability that would follow me for years to come. I’m asking for help with paying off this back-owed rent and accumulating some funding toward my next living situation. Because I am about to graduate college—more on that below—I will be in a better position to get a full-time job. The goal is to get back on my feet with a steady income as I begin this next part of my story.

Graduation rates & foster youth

My story has some wins, too: After five years of hard work, I am finally about to graduate college, which will happen officially on December 10th, 2023, when the term ends…

…Coincidentally, that’s also my birthday. I will not only be turning 24 years old that day, but I’ll also be aging out of the ILP services—short for Independent Living Program—that have aided me on my foster youth journey. Did you know that only 3% of foster youth get a college degree? The statistics have been stacked against me since childhood, and I feel lucky to be a part of this very small number.

With my school schedule behind me, it’s my goal to get a steady job and build some financial stability while I continue pursuing my career goals. By donating to this fund, you’re directly helping me avoid homelessness and set myself up for post-graduation success. Avoiding homelessness—and keeping an eviction off my record—means continuing to write my life story as one of success despite hardship.

Thank you for reading my story. Any amount you are able to give will help me get back on my feet.