My name is Alina, and I am an immigrant.

Earlier this year, my life was turned upside down. My husband left me, and suddenly I found myself alone in this country — with expensive rent, in the middle of the immigration process, without documents, and without any outside support.

I hesitated to ask for help for a long time, because I always believed I could handle everything on my own. And for a while, I truly did — as long as I still had my savings.

When my savings ran out, everything collapsed at once. I reached a point where I simply cannot manage on my own anymore.

I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression earlier this year, and I am currently on antidepressant treatment. The lack of stability, therapy, and support makes it extremely hard to function day to day. I used to work with a psychotherapist and I was finally seeing real progress. But when I ran out of money, I had to stop my sessions and found myself back where I started — overwhelmed, exhausted, and almost ready to give up. I have very little strength left to keep fighting, and this fundraiser is truly my last step, something I never imagined I would need to do.

I am terrified of losing my housing and even more afraid of falling out of legal status. With the current immigration climate and the policies of the current administration, this possibility scares me deeply.

I have a French bulldog named Morty — the only living being who depends entirely on me. The responsibility I feel for him is one of the main reasons I am still trying, still pushing forward, even when everything feels impossible.

Right now, I urgently need help to pay my overdue rent, pay for my studies to keep my legal status, and cover the costs of filing a new immigration case after the divorce. I also need to pay off the debts I had to accumulate simply to survive these past months, since I cannot work legally without documents.

Asking for help is extremely difficult for me, but I have reached a point where I cannot do this alone anymore. I am scared, exhausted, and trying to hold on. Any support — even the smallest — will help me stay housed, stay safe, and continue my path toward stability and legal status.

Thank you to everyone who chooses to help. It truly means more than I can express.