Help Malcolm Maintain Housing and Health Amid Job Hunt

Hi. My name is Malcolm, a Black, disabled, queer blue collar worker. And I am tired.

For the last 6 years, I have worked as an inventory maintenance specialist and stocker over two employers, where I've had the pleasure of combining my disdain for math with my ability to be one of the few people in the room with a decent grasp of it. During that time I've battled a right leg that hasn't been the same after having a tumor removed in addition to worsening chronic conditions. Fun times!

In October of last year, I was terminated from my job after 3 years of constant harassment and bigotry from my direct supervisor. Where he saw fit to array personal insults, ableist language and threats of violence against me and my fellow team members, I refused to allow myself to be disrespected or denied my essential dignity as a person with disabilities who nevertheless delivered consistent results every time I stepped on the floor. Unfortunately, my concerns about said harassment, safety and proper etiquette often fell on deaf ears, with retaliation frequent and endorsed by the HR department and general management. My shop steward, my best witness and advocate besides myself fell ill soon after I was let go, and this past March passed away. Without him, I had little choice but to abandon my pending case with the NLRB against the company, and with it the last hope I had to rectify what I believed to be an unlawful termination on their part.

As of this week, I have exhausted my unemployment benefits and in danger of losing my housing. I currently rent in a rooming house, where I've resided since 2019 after leaving a homeless shelter and would prefer not to lose what little I have and be forced to start all over again. I've managed as long as I have by being extremely low maintenance and rationing my meds, of which I only have insulin left as I've not be able to make appointments with my specialists and get my prescriptions renewed. In addition to my own health issues I've been helping my mom out as she goes through chemotherapy and waits on her disability determination. As much as I'd like to begin the process of filing for disability benefits , with a severely limited support system and the fear of a denial, I can't afford to take that chance at the moment.

I have no doubt that I'll be back to work eventually, but a already rough job market combined with the efforts of the current administration's efforts to disenfranchise and roll back protections and funding sources for people of color and queer folk have left me wanting. With your help, I can continue my job search without the loss of my housing, which, while not perfect, connects me to the vast majority of public transit in my state and allows me access to more job opportunities than would otherwise be viable.