Help Ashton Amezqua Keep Their Home

Hey!

My name is Ashton Amezqua. I'm making this fund raiser to keep my apartment, pretty much. I was homeless for a year and a half, working a factory job out of town and living in my van. In June I managed to secure this apartment, and was looking forward to healing and recovering what I've lost. Things were going well until October, when my van broke down completely. With the assistance of an officer I had to push it over a mile to my house, and that's when everything started tumbling. I negotiated rides for a month and a half but the well dried up and I was forced to quit my job. I'm reaching out because I don't have an accessible means to make the rest of my rent money, and I've already taken the necessary steps with my landlord to let them know that I don't have the full means as of right now. So please, if you have anything to spare, it would mean the world to me. I'm not even 21 yet and I'm already looking at another year of homelessness if things don't work out for me.

As far as work is concerned, I'm getting interviews lined up but they're not going to work out until the new year hits. Its looking like mid January or early February I'll be securing one, and that doesn't work out for the timeline I've discussed here. Luckily I have been a good tenant these past 6 months, still, but still this is scary! Please help!

(me eating a hoagie at my last job)

Update 1/30/2025:

Hey everybody,

Its been a month, I wanted to check in and change some things regarding the fundraiser. I got a horrible upper respiratory illness after Christmas that pretty much halted my progress til the 16th of January. Nonetheless I have been getting things organized, I sent out some emails while I was in bed, and have biked to a couple of interviews and handed out applications in person since I've recovered.

It's still not looking good. I have enough to cover the groceries of course but I got nothing for rent, and there are additional complications with my situation I will detail below:

-Local weather has prevented me from going out and busking (supplemental for food budget.)

-High winds and pressure on the power grid from the L.A fires knocked my power out for multiple days with no warning.

-A several week long case of Bronchitis that left me bed ridden with pneumonia.

I will say that the couple of interviews I attended (On the 17th and the 24th) looked promising, but with repeated mentions of "lets schedule another interview" and a broad lack of responses from the companies I WALKED INTO AND APPLIED AT AND CALLED BACK... Not looking great.

Since I made rent last month my landlord is cool with me getting an extension, so there is still time to work with. I am exploring my available options at the moment and in talks with a family member about securing a job with them. I have also been looking into and applying for temporary work in the area. There are also other jobs closer to me (within biking distance no less) that will open up once I turn 21, but for now this is what I'm dealing with.

As always, anything helps, please spread the word! I'm grateful I have the opportunity to even ask.

UPDATE:5/21/2025

Hey folks,

I'm back. I got a part time job at Lowes which has been keeping me afloat for the most part. With help from my dad, I've been able to keep myself fed. However, I'm still accruing late rent and I have no means of saving up for a car or transportation at this rate, my landlord is definitely not happy with the former.

I'm reaching out again so I can purchase a scooter to make it to work and attend my next job interviews. Then after that, this fundraiser will remain open for donations towards my rent again.

The plan from here is to get a second job or transition towards a full time job within the extra time that this fundraiser money affords. The original plan was to transition towards full time at Lowe's, and that's still possible, but currently I'm not being scheduled the hours I need to make rent.

Oh, by the way, I turned 21! In March.

Thank you all so much for your generosity. I'm planning on hosting a rent party and a pop up event at a local park, that way I can at least give SOMETHING back to the community and the people that banded together to help me out. Stay posted.

One love,

Ashton