Hi, I’m Bethany, and though it is incredibly difficult for me to ask, I am seriously in need of help. For the last several years, I’ve been living out of my truck in the San Francisco Bay Area, occasionally parking in rented space on private land, but often on public streets. This has previously proved manageable.

Recently, I have been dealing with unexplained health issues, which means I haven’t been able to work much. Lately, I have been experiencing a dramatic increase in fatigue, headaches, dizziness, gastric issues, heat/cold intolerance, and other symptoms, which makes the physical labor jobs I rely on very difficult. All of this has taken a heavy toll on my mental health, which I have always struggled with greatly, even prior to these problems.

My partner, Ryan, gets contract jobs when he can, but has largely been occupied in the role of caretaker, since I am often incapable of ensuring my daily needs are met. Everyday, he continues to amaze me with his patience and care. The two of us have also been searching for remote employment opportunities that fit our skills and availability, and have been working on our own media projects, in the hopes of making that profitable.

As a result of all this, my financial situation is very bad, and registration on the truck I live in has lapsed. Due to the size and type of vehicle, the cost is much more than for a normal car. Since the registration is over 6 months past due, I am able to be towed from the street at the discretion of police parking enforcement. In addition, following the recent Grants Pass Supreme Court ruling that allows cities to ban sleeping in public areas, there have been increasing crackdowns on vehicle dwelling, which has led to aggressive sweeps by local governments.

All of this has made my current situation untenable. Though I have been working with my doctors to diagnose and treat my health problems, the stress of knowing that my home and shelter could be taken away at any moment is not a good situation. It’s especially tough when I have to leave my truck parked on city streets while I go to work, because of the fear that it could be gone when I return.

After a recent incident in which I just barely escaped a tow truck taking my vehicle, it has become clear that, for my health and safety, I need to get off the streets. All the time now, the sound of trucks nearby cause me to panic, triggering fear that I’m being targeted for a tow. My anxiety has become unmanageable, and my lack of options has made my existing depression really, really bad.

If I can raise a little, my goal is to rent space in a lot, garage, or other situation where I can park without fear of being towed. If I am able to raise more, I could find a place to move in to. The rental market in the area is very tight, so I may need to relocate to somewhere with a cheaper cost of living, in order to afford something. Obviously this would mean moving away from my work, so anything above initial move-in costs would be a cushion to help keep me afloat until I could find other jobs.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and for anything you feel you can offer, even if it is just sharing this fundraiser. I appreciate any help you can give so, so much.