Hello, and thank you for taking the time to hear my story. 
 
I am a first‑generation Latinx artist and caregiver living in New York City. I come from a lineage marked by poverty, trauma and family instability, and for years I have been doing my best to break those cycles. My mother brought us to the United States in 2004 and raised me on her own. Now, at 58, she is diabetic, arthritic and suffering from severe mental illness. She has been deeply affected by childhood abuse and, more recently, by a predatory online romance scam. Over the past few years strangers posing as suitors convinced her to send them gift cards and money. The transactions were untraceable, and even after I deleted her accounts and changed her phone number, the scammers persisted. She opened new bank accounts, racked up debt and stopped paying for groceries and rent. There were nights when we went to bed hungry because she spent all the money meant for food. When confronted, there is no reaction. Any and all attempts made at conversing, addressing became even more volatile than the next and felt it was saner to let it fade, I was proven so wrong. 
 
The dysfunction in our family runs deep. Since childhood I have endured emotional abuse and the projection of my mother’s own unresolved wounds. At times it has felt like a curse handed down through generations. But I refuse to let that define my future; I believe that this cycle can end with me. And I hold on to memories of who my mother once was: a woman of faith whose love for gospel shook walls and hearts. The echo of my childhood resonates differently now 

within her voice. I still long to hear her sing again and to see her regain the joy she once found in her spirituality. Everyone deserves a chance to heal from the things that have broken them, and I hope my mother will have that chance too. 
 
I am only 22 years old, and for the past few years I have been the sole caregiver and provider for my mother. I was a full‑time college student on a full scholarship when the pandemic hit. Classes moved online, my campus community disappeared, and my mother’s mental state deteriorated rapidly. Suddenly I was juggling remote coursework, working to pay for basics, and caring for someone with complex medical and psychiatric needs. It has been incredibly hard to witness my mother’s illness without absorbing it myself. The stress eventually triggered my own mental health crisis; I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder II. I simply could not keep up with everything at once, and I lost my scholarship because my grades suffered. Even with a job, my income could not cover the household expenses created by the scam. 
 
I do not qualify for housing assistance or city aid. To be eligible you must show a history of making partial payments or adhering to repayment plans, something I cannot do because I was never on the lease and my mother stopped paying entirely. Family members who could have helped instead took advantage of the situation; my uncle stopped contributing once my mother fell behind. I do not have another parent or guardian to rely on. Friends have offered emotional support and occasionally food or supplies, but their resources are limited. 
 
Earlier this year I came home to an eviction notice. We have until August 31 to leave the only home I have known for 21 years. I am working with legal services to contest the eviction and to address the scam, but time is running out. I am also exploring the possibility of relocating my mother to her home country where extended family can care for her, while I remain here to rebuild my life and continue my art. Though I dream of a future where I can thrive as an artist and contribute to my community, that dream cannot move forward without safe housing and stability. 
 
I have created this campaign as a last resort. Funds raised will be used for: 
 
First and last month’s rent plus a security deposit on a modest apartment. 
 
Moving expenses for myself, my mother and our three cats. 
 
Payment of past‑due utility bills that are in my name. 
 
Basic necessities such as groceries and medication. 
 
Legal fees associated with the scam and eviction. 
 
Travel and resettlement costs to return my mother to her home country when it is safe and feasible to do so. 
 
I feel immense shame and vulnerability in asking for help, but the situation has become too large for me to manage alone. Any contribution, no matter the size, will make a meaningful difference. If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign with others is also invaluable. I still have faith that we will get through this, and I am surrounded by friends who remind me that I am not alone. With your support I hope to provide my mother with the care she needs and continue building the life and artistic career I have worked so hard to pursue. 
 
I am holding on for dear life the same way she did for me when I came into this world and into the city. I am surviving the ignorance of people who are supposed to care but I've been holding it all together all because I don't have any means whatsoever. 
 
I have tried for so long to save but I feel like I've been cursed and I spend more money on surviving a life I am deeply struggling in. 

I am led by blind faith but most importantly I VIBRATE at the highest frequency in love. 
 
Thank you for listening. Thank you for sharing. 

I hope this reaches the right audience. 

Thank you for your time, generosity and compassion. 
 
I love you forever. 
 
B

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Help Bellamy and Mom Overcome Eviction Crisis

Help Bellamy and Mom Overcome Eviction Crisis

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