After caring for my mom while she battled cancer and trying to cope with the aftermath of her death, I was extremely depressed and despondent. Two months later my very sweet German Shepherd Jack died from the same horrible disease. It was like a nightmare I couldn't wake up from. It was hard to just get out of bed. Today, I'm currently in a place I never thought I'd be. I’ve found myself on the brink of homelessness in the state I grew up in, California. Last night, I slept in my car for the first time, and it was one of the most frightening experiences I’ve ever had. The grief from losing my mom has been overwhelming, and now, without her and without a stable place to stay, every day feels like a struggle just to get by.

I’m doing my best to find a way forward. I always thought the homeless were addicts and mentally ill people that have been ignored by the system. Now I know how wrong I was. With just a little help, I know I can get back on my feet. Unfortunately, there are very few resources available to people in my situation, and I don’t have family or friends who can help right now. I don’t have a history of addiction or crime—just a deep sense of loss and a real need for support. I'm at the end of the road. Stuck.

If you’re able to help, even a small amount would make a huge difference in my life. I’m reaching out because I have nowhere else to turn, and your kindness would mean the world to me. Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any support you can offer.

(The pictures with the little boy are of my nephew and me. He and my mom would occasionally join me on my hikes. Unbeknownst to me, she would take a picture every time. I found them on her iPad after she passed. From the time he was a toddling 3-year-old until he was taller than both of us.)