I’m Liev, and I’m raising funds for myself and my fiancé, Sebastian, as we try to survive one of the hardest years of our lives. After a string of accidents, both of our cars were totaled. Sebastian was injured in both crashes, including injuries to his hands that still have not healed, and he now lives with PTSD related to driving. He is also chronically ill, and all of this has made it impossible for him to keep doing physical, in-person work. Then in May, I was struck by a car as a pedestrian and injured my knee, ankle, hip, and lower back. I was on crutches, then a cane, and now a brace, while trying to keep working as a tattoo artist. I was also illegally terminated from my part-time retail job after being denied accommodations following my injury, and we have both become more disabled than we were at the start of the year.

We used our insurance payouts to survive, but that money is now gone. We also lost food assistance, and between reduced income, rising rent, and transportation costs, we are drowning. Rent is the most urgent need because we are at risk of losing our apartment. Support will also help us pay for groceries and transportation so I can keep getting to work. If we are able to raise more, it would help with legal fees connected to my accident and job loss, but keeping a roof over our heads comes first. My fiancé and I have both experienced homelessness before, and the thought of facing that again together is terrifying. After the pandemic, I finally chased my dream of building a life through art, and Sebastian stood by me through every step. Now we are asking for help with humility and gratitude. Anything helps as we try to keep our heads above water and hold on to our home.