Help Iden Rebuild After Multiple Crises

Hello, this is Iden. I'm reaching out to my network of colleagues, friends, and family to ask for urgent support. I recently had a trifecta of emergencies and life-altering events. On March 25th, I lost my apartment due to a small kitchen fire. Even though the fire itself did not destroy the apartment, the water from the sprinkler destroyed the walls, carpet, and other appliances. I moved into a hotel and have been here since the fire. The same week, on that Friday, my car broke down in the hotel parking lot. I had it towed to a mechanic this Monday for a diagnostic service. The following week, on a Wednesday, I lost my employment.

I am deeply grateful for the support I have received from some very close friends and my paycheck, the last one I will receive on May 5th. This support has allowed me to stay in the hotel. I am waiting for the insurance company to reimburse me for some of the funds sooner rather than later. I have had to think about my course of action to move on during these trying times and have devised a plan that best suits my situation.

Housing: $2,700.00

I decided to ask out of my lease due to not being able to return to my apartment. The property manager has stated it may be weeks before I can return. I cannot pay rent and pay for the hotel stay simultaneously. The property management has agreed and I will need to be out of my apartment by 4/30/25. Leaving my apartment allows me to be eviction-free and move without penalty. I can use my deposit for April's rent, with any balance payable by May 15th. I will need to rent a storage space for a few weeks until I find a new space and rent a Uhaul to move.

Last week, I contacted Black and Beyond the Binary, a housing organization in Portland that will support me with some housing funds. I am waiting now to hear back from them. I plan to use whatever funds they make available to pay for rental applications, my deposit, and my first month's rent.

Employment: (any leads)

I am applying for positions now in Portland, Seattle and national remote positions. If you have any leads, please send them to me at [email redacted]. I have an extensive background in housing policy, police reform and policy, disaster management, organizational development, and peer support (training, supervision, and direct services). If a position requires relocation, I prefer it be in the DC region, Seattle, Salem, OR, or Maryland, NC, or Virginia, to be close to family and friends. I prefer a remote position to stay in this area for now.

Transportation: $2,300.00

My car had the diagnostic completed on Tuesday. I need several repairs to get the car operating again: my coolant hose needs to be replaced, I need a new battery and a new gear shifter, and I need to pay for the diagnostic.

I am asking for support to help me reach these goals, which can help me get back on track and maintain some routine as I navigate my housing and seek new employment. Please support me with whatever your heart speaks to you to provide. I am forever grateful for the support and am committed to living my life in service to the people that many of us support in the fields in which I met many of you.

In closing, I ask that you not post this in any public space but share it via email or direct message on your social media. I am trying to maintain privacy due to recent attacks on trans people; I have had several searches on my LinkedIn recently by people I suspect are looking at me because I am transgender. For now, I have taken steps to hide my profile, but I will take it out of hibernation with my new job search. Feel free to call, text, or message me on FB or IG.

Thank you,

Iden