Help Michael Hamilton Overcome Financial Hardship

Hi everyone.

My name is Michael Hamilton and I live in Orange County, CA (Greater Los Angeles). Thank you for taking the time to read this. Unfortunately, I lost my job in November 2023 and due to the very competitive job market happening now, it has been extremely difficult for me to find a job. I have been actively applying to and interviewing for full-time, part-time, temporary, professional, and unskilled positions. I attend a weekly Zoom networking event through LinkedIn that is helping me get more interviews more frequently, yet it has been difficult to get hired with such a high number of job candidates out there. I am the primary income earner for my wife and me and we are at a point right now where we have to make the painful and literally heart-wrenching decision to start a GoFundMe fundraiser to help our financial situation. We never thought that we would have to use GoFundMe. I now realize that our situation can happen to anyone.

Many people wonder why it is so hard to find work right now. Individual job postings receive hundreds and sometimes more than a thousand applications. Many people have told me that they are in the same situation…more than a year out of work even though they keep searching. Other people have told me that they were laid off during the dot com bubble (around 2000), the Great Recession (2007-2009), AND the pandemic, and that right now it is even harder to find a job.

My unemployment insurance payments ran out in May 2024. We received significant rent assistance for our apartment last year for six months from a wonderful non-profit, but we decided we had no choice but to give up our apartment last October. My mother has been so kind in offering us to live with her temporarily until things improve, and we are still living with her. Even though we have a place to live, we still have bills piling up and keep getting more behind. I have had to request one payment extension after another from creditors, specifically from our auto finance provider, auto insurance provider, our cell phone provider. With so many extensions, we are severely behind due to standard monthly payments plus interest and additional fees.

Some relatives and friends have been gracious enough to lend us money during this difficult time (and I will pay them back ASAP), but we are still in such a difficult situation. We are worried that our car will get repossessed soon, and that our car insurance and cell phone service will be permanently canceled. Without all three of these things, it is practically impossible to find the right job to get us out of our situation and be stable going forward. Any donations received will go toward these bills and bare essentials such as groceries, gasoline, and our monthly health insurance premium.

If you are able to make a donation (even a small one), it would mean the world to my wife and me. If you are not, I completely understand. If you could share this with other people you know, we would be so grateful.

A few donors have asked if I have Venmo or Zelle. (I have both in case you choose to donate and that is easier for you.)

Thank you for your consideration.

Michael Hamilton