Hello my name is Mike, AKA Coach Smith. I work in upstate New York as a physical education teacher. My title is substitute teacher but I've been assigned to a school as a daily teacher assistant in the gymnasium. Substitutes do not receive holiday pay nor any sick pay. Last week was winter break, this week I am sick and unable to go to work. I believe I have pneumonia and have scheduled a doctor appointment for Monday March 2nd. Unfortunately, I won't get paid for any day until then, and I won't get paid for March 2nd as I will be at the doctor. I simply cannot afford to forgo paying rent. I desperately need to secure enough funds to maintain my residence. I have a small apartment with the rent of $1,000 a month. Any little bit helps. I cannot afford to go homeless. I'm terrified of going homeless.

I am currently working towards my certification so I will receive holiday pay in the future upon completing the final step which is a certification exam. I've already completed the workshops necessary to become a certified teacher assistant. I am one step away, the certification exam. There is a fee for that as well. I've survived this long but surviving is becoming harder and harder every year as I get older.