Three years ago, I lost my job as a grocery store manager at Albertsons in Las Vegas. This sudden change led to an eviction, and my girlfriend, our three-year-old autistic daughter, and I became homeless. We exhausted our savings and moved back to California, seeking refuge in San Francisco. Thankfully, the city provided us with resources, and through a nonprofit subsidiary of Hamilton Homes, we eventually found housing.

Moving into a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment came with many challenges. Over the past two years, our landlord has failed to address serious issues: our refrigerator has been broken for six months, only 60 percent of the electricity works with ongoing shortages and fire hazards, windows and locks are not secure, the toilet has been leaking for eight months, and there is lead, mold, and asbestos in the unit. Our kitchen faucet and plumbing are not fully functional, there are exposed electrical wires on our patio, and we face ongoing pest infestations, including penguins and spiders. My now five-year-old daughter has gotten sick from the mold and asbestos, and both my girlfriend and I have also been ill. Our landlord has harassed us, even vandalizing our vehicle by smashing the grill and both side mirrors.

I was recently hired for a part-time job, working 30 hours a week. I have a bachelor’s degree, no criminal record, and am actively seeking a more fulfilling career to provide a secure home for my family. The funds raised will help us find a safer place to live, repair our vehicle, and pay for certification to advance my career. We have reached out to every resource under the sun, but with my parents gone and no one else to turn to, I am afraid of being homeless again and putting my girlfriend and daughter through more hardship. We also have five teenage children we had to leave behind in Las Vegas, and it would mean the world to us to bring our family back together. Any support you can offer will help us move forward and rebuild our lives.