I’m Darren, and I’m creating this fundraiser for myself, my partner, and our dog as we try to get through one of the hardest times of our lives. Right now, we are just 7 judicial days away from eviction. On top of that, we are dealing with an overdue water bill that became far larger than it should have because of two leaks that my landlord refused to take responsibility for. I have spent nearly 6 years in this house, doing my best to keep things together and even repairing broken things myself when I could. I’ve always tried to handle problems on my own, but things have reached a point where I simply cannot do that anymore.

This past year has been especially devastating. I lost my mom, and then I lost my cat. I also lost a roommate and some business income, and despite trying hard to find part-time work to make up the difference, I have not had any luck. On top of that, a roommate we had interviewed and vetted ended up attacking my dog and then my partner without provocation. We have also dealt with vandalism from neighbors, including bagged dog waste thrown onto our roof and all four of my tires being popped twice. I spend my days working on illustrations and trying to find new business, but after everything that has happened, I am at a breaking point.

I am asking for help to bring everything current, cover our overdue bills, and give us a chance to fight back if I need to take my landlord to court over the water bill. Any support for me, my partner, and our dog would mean more than I can say. If you are able to give or even share this fundraiser, it would help us hold on through this overwhelming chapter and hopefully find some stability again. Thank you for reading, for caring, and for helping us get through this.