Hi, my name is Jonah. I’m 22 years old, and on August 5th, I will lose my home.

I’ve spent the last two years doing everything I can to survive—working full time, caring for my younger brother, and trying to keep up with bills—but the hits keep coming, and I’m out of options. I’m asking for help to keep a roof over my head, hold on to my hearing, and get back on my feet.

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How It Started

Two years ago, after my grandmother passed away, I moved to Bloomington to live with my mom under Section 8. I wanted to help her, but instead, she emotionally manipulated me into taking on $4,000 of her back rent and other bills.

Then my younger brother (18) was dropped on her doorstep after being expelled and arrested. Of course, my mom didn’t step up—so I did. I enrolled him in school, covered his basic needs, and tried to give him a shot at a better life. Because compared to mine, the hand he had been dealt as a kid was a lot worse

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My Life Has Felt Cursed Since

It feels like every time I get ahead, something worse knocks me back down:

Car totaled—twice (still paying off a $8,000 loan).

2 months of my own rent to beckpay otherwise I'll end up in small claims court.

Lost my job of 2.5 years after requesting to use vacation time.

Thousands in credit card debt just trying to afford food, utilities, and repairs.

Accidentally flooded my apartment (I can’t hear running water without my cochlear implant). Now my landlord won’t renew my lease.

Right now, I’m $11,000 in debt (credit cards + car loan), my lease is ending in days, and I have no safety net.

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Why This Is So Scary

I have a cochlear implant. Without it, I am completely deaf.

When I turned 21, I lost Medicaid coverage, and I don’t qualify for disability or any private insurance that covers cochlear care. My primary processor already broke, and I’m down to my backup, which could fail at any time. If it does, I won’t be able to hear—or work.

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What I Need Help With

I’m setting a goal of $10,000 to help me survive and stabilize:

$2,000 – Secure housing before August 5th (deposit + first month).

$2,000 – Keep my cochlear implant working so I don’t lose my hearing—or my job.

$4,000 - Help working off just a small portion of this debt so that I don't end up in this situation again

$2,000 - help taking care of my backlog of rent so that my leasing office doesn't take me to small claims court

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I’ve been doing everything I can—working, taking care of my brother, cutting every cost I can—but I can’t dig out of this alone. I'm extremely tired and drained and mentally unstable, I spend a lot of time crying recently which is unusual for me but to no one's surprise I can't even afford therapy to deal with my issues.

If you can help, even just by donating a few dollars or sharing this page, you’d be giving me more than money. You’d be giving me a home, my hearing, and a chance to start over.

Thank you for reading my story.

— Jonah