Help Me Secure My Goal of Foundational Safety—I’m Almost There! Hello everyone, my name is Christa, and at 23 years old, I’m building a stable, successful life after years of battling chronic mental health concerns: the debilitating effects of living with PTSD, complex grief, and the physical deterioration of my body due to chronic isolation. My journey, including working hard in New York last year, taught me the importance of foundational safety. I’m thankful for the support I’ve had along the way that helped me overcome dangerous situations that nearly led to long-term homelessness.
Now, I'm taking my next crucial step: moving to the Bay Area, CA, and getting out of my current temporary housing situation. I'm proactively working and have diligently saved 2.5 months of rent ($1170/month). My plan is solid: I'll pursue a community college education while working as a Nanny/Caretaker and devoted barista, leveraging my 7+ years of experience in food service, retail, pet sitting, and independent caretaking (through my business, "Welcome Home Care," and as an educator at Seed Song Farm in NY). I'm also CPR certified and have accumulated multiple clients from my nannying business. Another next step is becoming a Certified Postpartum Doula. This significantly increases my chances for securing higher-paying roles and deeply fulfilling work supporting new families. I'm thrilled to share that I've already invested in my postpartum doula certification course through Natural Resources SF! Their standard cost is $699, and I'm now reaching out for support to help reimburse these upfront costs, allowing me to fully focus on my studies and future practice.
 Why the Bay Area? Choosing the Bay Area over Utah is a deliberate decision. California offers free or low cost college for residents and I already spent 7 months in CA in temporary housing. Additionally, I’ll be engaging with an alternative journey to what I was culturally raised in Utah and I’ll finally find the grounded and aligned support I need, including BIPOC (Filipino), queer, artist, academia, and decolonization communities that will truly help me thrive and connect.
Here's how your support will directly contribute to my healthy and stable future:
 * Postpartum Doula Certification Reimbursement: $699 (Natural Resources SF’s course) – Essential for securing higher-paying, fulfilling work. * Emergency Funds/Rent Completion: $350 (to complete my 3-month rent safety net as I transition)
 * Mental Health & Well-being Support: $750 (for sliding-scale therapy sessions and essential personal needs as I stabilize).

My total goal is $1799. Every dollar helps. <3

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for helping me with this transition in my life, transforming from early adulthood into a secure and educated future.

 Best, Christa