Help AJ and Hunter Escape Homelessness

Hello, my name is AJ, and I’m reaching out during one of the hardest chapters of my life. Just a few months ago, I was working as a teacher, doing work I loved. But a series of personal tragedies and medical emergencies left me homeless and struggling to survive.

In July, I had to undergo emergency, life-saving surgery, which left me unable to work for over a month. I returned to teaching in September and was slowly catching up. But in October, everything fell apart. I lost two close friends and my grandfather in a short span of time. I spiraled into a deep depression, started drinking to cope, and became suicidal.

I tried to get help and found a mental health program, but I couldn't afford a place to stay near the outpatient site—it was two hours away. Without access to care and in a fragile state, I had to resign from my job. Shortly after, my landlord gave me a no-cause eviction notice, and I lost my home in January.

Since then, I've been living out of my van with my senior cat, Hunter. I’ve been DoorDashing to survive, but now my van is breaking down and is no longer safe to drive. I’m completely out of work, out of housing, and rapidly running out of options.

What I Need

I’m humbly asking for help to:

• Fix my van so I can work and have shelter again.

• Buy food and basic necessities for me and my cat.

• Secure stable housing so I can begin to heal, get help, and rebuild my life.

One bright spot is that I’ve now

been proudly sober for 9 weeks. It’s a hard-earned victory and a sign that I’m doing the work to recover and move forward. Your support can help me keep reaching my goals and getting back on my feet.

Every dollar you give helps me take one step closer to stability, safety, and recovery. Thank you for reading my story and for considering helping me and Hunter during this incredibly hard time.

With deep gratitude,

AJ