Hi, my name is Katrina and I’m 43, currently living in San Jose. Right now I don’t have a home, a car, or steady work. On cold nights or when I’m sick, I’m lucky to crash on a friend’s couch. Most nights I sleep in my friend’s car just to have a safe place to close my eyes.

I’m not asking for a handout—I’m asking for a tool to work. If I had a car, I could start working right away. I’m ready to sign up for DoorDash and use my scooter until I can afford something bigger, but a reliable car would let me take more jobs, work any shift, and get to interviews I can’t reach by bus.

Here’s my plan:
1. Work: Use the car to do delivery gigs and apply for steady jobs I can’t get to right now.
2. Save: Every dollar I earn goes toward a deposit for a small room or studio.
3. Grow: Once I’m stable, I want to go back to school and level up my skills.

I’m tired of feeling stuck and like I have no future. I miss making music and I want to get back to it, but first I need a foundation. A car isn’t just a car for me—it’s a way to get to work, a safe place on rainy nights, and the first step toward housing.

How you can help: Anything you can give will go directly toward a reliable used car, insurance, and registration. If I get this chance, I promise to pay it forward. I know what it’s like to have nothing, and I want to be someone who can help others when I’m back on my feet.

Thank you for reading my story and for any help you can give. Even sharing this means the world to me.

— Katrina