My name is Jose, and for the past six months, I have been homeless, living in my car in a Walmart parking lot. My car has no heat and is facing mechanical issues on the front driver’s side wheel, making each day a struggle. I receive a monthly allowance from social security, but it’s impossible to find even the smallest space to rent in New Jersey. Unfortunately, the government believes this is adequate for me to live on, but the reality is much different.

I want to share how I ended up in this situation. Last October, my girlfriend lost her benefits because she worked a few hours over the limit set by the social security administration. Our monthly budget dropped, and we quickly fell behind on rent. We were eventually evicted from our apartment. My girlfriend was able to move back in with her mother, who has dementia, but because of her mother’s condition, I was not able to join them. Since then, I’ve been living day to day, trying to figure out what comes next.

Your support will help me repair my car, cover food costs, and pay for hotel accommodations whenever possible. If anyone has ever experienced what I’m going through at this moment, you can appreciate the challenges I face. If you are fortunate enough not to have experienced this situation, count yourself lucky and blessed. Any amount you can give is greatly appreciated, and may God bless you for considering my plea.