A note from the organizer>>>

Michal's situation is quite dire. She is homeless without food or funds to feed herself and her cat. Her car has been repossessed and she is in need of medical attention. We are collecting donations to provide housing, food, and proper medical healthcare in the hopes of giving Michal the opportunity for some stability as she rebuilds her life. I've been speaking with her daily, and I feel confident that she is doing everything in her power to help herself recover from homelessness. Right now, she needs the support of a community behind her.

Help Michal (Michelle) Rebuild After a Lifetime of Challenges

Hi, my name is Michal—the Hebrew name I’ve been known by since birth but many also know me as Michelle, because it’s much easier to pronounce :)—either way I’m the same person to the core and I’m reaching out because life has become more difficult than I can handle on my own. I’ve been fighting to stay independent for years, but recent challenges have left me in a place where I have to admit that I need help to get back on my feet.

Growing up, I didn’t have the kind of family support that many people rely on. My family relationships were strained, to say the least. I grew up feeling like an outsider, and from a young age, I was made to feel like I was somehow “too much” or not what they expected. My family was quick to criticize, point out flaws, and make me feel as if I didn’t belong. Over time, my family estranged themselves from me and abandoned me completely, but truly I have been on my own for well over 20 years without any family support system to turn to. While others might have family to fall back on during hard times, I’ve had to figure out everything on my own, with no safety net that I could ever rely on.

But despite it, I managed to build a great life. I moved across the country and worked very hard to establish a great reputation in my career as a Real Estate Paralegal. I created a stable home for myself without help from anyone. But as my health declined, everything started slipping away. I have a yet-to-be-diagnosed set of medical conditions that cause me physical pain, fatigue, and unpredictable flare-ups of swelling and edema, sometimes swelling so bad that I cannot walk without crutches. Often the symptoms are invisible to others, but the toll it takes on my body is real and overwhelming. I have been to the ER and was hospitalized in February, nearly escaping my demise in sepsis, and discharged with a PICC line and no closer to diagnosis due to my inability to get the medical care I need because I cannot afford private health insurance. Some days, just getting out of bed is impossible. Working a steady job has become nearly impossible, though I’ve tried everything, from part-time gigs to driving for Uber. But without insurance or a car, even that option is now off the table.

I’ve applied for all the assistance that is available through state and county social services and through non-profit organizations—Social Security Disability (SSDI), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the Emergency Housing Voucher program—yet I’m still on the waitlist for these programs, with no real estimate of when help might come because resources are scarce and being allocated to the most vulnerable, which I am not considered. Additionally, I reached out to local housing and homeless prevention organizations, such as PATH and LA Family Housing, but again, the resources are stretched thin, and the waiting periods are long.

Sadly, I am now homeless. Despite my best efforts to stay afloat, I couldn’t hold onto my home. I’ve had to rely on temporary shelter options and friends when possible, but the situation is precarious. This has been one of the hardest, most humbling experiences of my life, and I’m just trying to find my way back to self-sufficiency.

Through all of this, my one constant has been my cat, Miameow. She’s more than a pet—she’s my family, my companion, and my emotional anchor. When I feel like giving up, she’s there to remind me that I’m not alone. I’m doing everything I can to keep her safe and cared for, even as I struggle to stay afloat myself.

Any help you can offer, whether through a donation or simply sharing my story, would mean the world to me and Miameow. The funds would go toward finding a safe roof over our heads, getting me back into a vehicle so I can begin gig work for income again, and covering our other basic needs, all with the common goal of allowing me to regain stability and my self-sufficiency. Thank you for taking the time to read my story. Your kindness and generosity are deeply appreciated and give me hope for a brighter tomorrow.

With all my heart,

Michal (Michelle)