Help Cass of Salem Cat Aid Keep Their Long-term Home

The short version: I have been one month behind on my home rent payments for a few months now, and my landlord is officially and understandably out of patience, and has given me this final week to catch up before further action is taken.

The long version: 2024 was a continuous financial struggle, start to finish. I am a year and a half after leaving a ten year relationship wrought with domestic violence, starting over, rebuilding, etc. So much of this has been a success! I started tattooing again in April, I started the Salem Cat Food Pantry, and Salem Cat Aid blew up (in a positive sense) towards the end of the year.

But, the recession is hitting everyone, so while the unpaid part of my life got busier (Cat Aid), my paid jobs (tattooing, making/selling/vending art) have been far, far slower.

My landlord has been gracious for the better part of the last year, but cannot keep waiting for me to catch up. My problem is, I make enough monthly (although barely) to cover home and tattoo shop rent. But that one month behind is crushing me. There has also been the unexpected grief and expenses of losing my two older cats last year - Bear in June, and Pineapple on December 29th.

I’m asking for help catching up.

This feels shameful and embarrassing because the community is already so good to me in helping me care for the fosters I take in, and donating to the cat food pantry, AND so many folks helped me when the aforementioned DV relationship ended. And the world is literally on fire! But the current prospect of losing my long term home, and the destruction that the anxiety is doing to my daily mental health (and thus my physical health, thanks to an autoimmune disorder), is outweighing the shame and embarrassment.

The amount I’m asking for is what I need to catch up on my rent payment, and cover the GoFundMe fee. Any additional raised will go towards February rent, and the ER vet debt that I owe for Pineapple.

I’m here without expectations, and am already grateful to you all for even reading this, and for supporting me/Salem Cat Aid. Please know that I’m working to help my situation behind the scenes, including applying for an additional part time job in the shelter/veterinary field.

Thank you for reading, for existing, for showing me kindness.

-Cass

[P.S.: Yes, I understand that it is hard to evict a tenant. But this has lovingly and peacefully been my home for over 10 years, and I would like to continue *peacefully* residing here without any further tension with my landlord. A roommate is not an option due to space, and moving would be an far greater financial hardship.]