A plea for help: I am here asking for help financially. I have lived for years with an insurmountable debt that I can’t resolve with the income I make. I am what our society labels as “working poor.” Some of this is because of conscious choices in my life and some due to circumstances beyond my control. It is difficult for me to type this to you, and I fully understand that there are many people who are in more dire straits than I am. Many are poor, others unemployed, and we are mostly all suffering in our own manner. I have been struggling financially for a long time.
Now I have reached the point of this request for your help. I am at risk of losing my home due to multiple debts, including my homeowners association, the Local Township, medical bills, and outstanding taxes. These debts are more than I can afford. If I could gather enough to pay down the principal, the possibility exists that I can negotiate an affordable payment plan with my creditors. A couple of years ago, I was able to adjust my mortgage to avoid the threatened foreclosure at that time. I would love to be able to do the same with these other debts and retain my home. I do not expect others to bail me out of the entirety of the debt but truly hope to collect enough to reorganize and arrange to pay down the remainder over time.
Allow me to explain how I got to this point. My journey has been shaped by years of hard work, tough decisions, and unexpected challenges. After two decades in human services, I pursued a new path as a massage therapist, hoping to build something meaningful. When the business didn’t grow as I’d hoped, I took on overnight work at FedEx Ground to support my family. We invested in a delivery route, but the Great Recession hit, and my income steadily dropped. Around this time, my wife and I divorced, and I purchased a home nearby so our children could stay in their school and community.
Despite my efforts, mounting business costs and the timing of the housing crisis left me in debt. I stopped using credit cards and eventually filed for bankruptcy, but the financial strain continued. I sold my business, helped my kids through high school, and returned to human services—my true passion—even though it meant starting over in an entry-level job. Health issues and emergency surgery led to more setbacks, including unemployment. I later supervised residential programs for individuals with disabilities, but lost that job at the start of the pandemic after reporting unethical practices.
During the pandemic, I was unemployed for several months and relied on public programs, but never received stimulus checks. One bright spot was being able to help my mother in Connecticut. Another was the support I received from friends and strangers on Facebook when I needed help paying for COBRA insurance. After hundreds of job applications, I finally found work investigating neglect and abuse of older adults. The kindness and generosity I experienced during this time have meant the world to me.
I really appreciate anything you can do to help! You can donate, share this with friends and family, or send good energy in whatever form works. All is appreciated, and I am forever grateful to all of you.
Now I have reached the point of this request for your help. I am at risk of losing my home due to multiple debts, including my homeowners association, the Local Township, medical bills, and outstanding taxes. These debts are more than I can afford. If I could gather enough to pay down the principal, the possibility exists that I can negotiate an affordable payment plan with my creditors. A couple of years ago, I was able to adjust my mortgage to avoid the threatened foreclosure at that time. I would love to be able to do the same with these other debts and retain my home. I do not expect others to bail me out of the entirety of the debt but truly hope to collect enough to reorganize and arrange to pay down the remainder over time.
Allow me to explain how I got to this point. My journey has been shaped by years of hard work, tough decisions, and unexpected challenges. After two decades in human services, I pursued a new path as a massage therapist, hoping to build something meaningful. When the business didn’t grow as I’d hoped, I took on overnight work at FedEx Ground to support my family. We invested in a delivery route, but the Great Recession hit, and my income steadily dropped. Around this time, my wife and I divorced, and I purchased a home nearby so our children could stay in their school and community.
Despite my efforts, mounting business costs and the timing of the housing crisis left me in debt. I stopped using credit cards and eventually filed for bankruptcy, but the financial strain continued. I sold my business, helped my kids through high school, and returned to human services—my true passion—even though it meant starting over in an entry-level job. Health issues and emergency surgery led to more setbacks, including unemployment. I later supervised residential programs for individuals with disabilities, but lost that job at the start of the pandemic after reporting unethical practices.
During the pandemic, I was unemployed for several months and relied on public programs, but never received stimulus checks. One bright spot was being able to help my mother in Connecticut. Another was the support I received from friends and strangers on Facebook when I needed help paying for COBRA insurance. After hundreds of job applications, I finally found work investigating neglect and abuse of older adults. The kindness and generosity I experienced during this time have meant the world to me.
I really appreciate anything you can do to help! You can donate, share this with friends and family, or send good energy in whatever form works. All is appreciated, and I am forever grateful to all of you.
Organizer
