Help Michelle Overcome Housing and Health Crisis

Hello,

Thank you for taking a minute to read my story. I am seeking help for defeating my housing crisis. My current financial adversity involves a ripple effect of the pandemic, dual autoimmune disease diagnosis, and losing health insurance. Despite the economic hardships of the past few years, I continue to push forward to achieve my goal of being a self-sustaining, productive citizen again.

After rental costs nearly doubled in 2021, I gave up my marketplace health insurance in order to pay rent. Unfortunately, that was NOT beneficial to my health. Determined to rally, I gave up renting and moved into a tent in Jan 2024 in order to afford health insurance for my acute psoriasis and rheumatoid arthritis debilitating symptoms. I have also been using an e-bike for transportation in an effort to downsize all expenses with owning a vehicle.

I've also enrolled at First Coast Technical College's culinary program in order to make a stable platform for earning a living that will sustain me. I have had the blessing of finding a safe place to camp since April on private property (law enforcement officers). My hosts have been gracious enough to defer the agreed amount of rent while I secure funding while attending culinary school. I was able to receive a Pell Grant which will help with school expenses. At this point, I am still unable to work with my condition still being acute. I was able to achieve patient assistance with AbbVie in order to receive my biologic shots (retail costs $25k/shot) needed to improve my activities of daily living and enable me to be a productive, independent chef upon graduation.

I seek help with the variable shortfalls of this situation which has taken many more months than anticipated. I am extremely grateful for the small amount of social services I have received, but living in a tent for this year has also put up some barriers with my diseases. I do utilize the food pantry when I can get there. My shortfall has depleted any financial resources I had, and I am now severely desperate for the simple things such as toiletries, hygiene products, socks, bottled water, etc. I still need non-slip black shoes for school and some other supplies such as good rain gear.

My goal with the fundraiser is to pay my rental deficit, outstanding medical bills, and supplant my needs for school. I am of an age that I do NOT qualify for Medicaid, and I am too young for Medicare. I've started the process of Social Security disability but cannot count on it being approved. I am determined to not let this economic hardship deteriorate me further as I know I will once again find indoor housing!

I have been an active member in my community with the "pay it forward" motto by sharing food, giving away usable items, and random acts of kindness with elderly neighbors. However, without sustainable income, I am now desperate for financial support. I am extremely frugal and will make even the smallest amounts work to the greatest benefits of my needs. I also am new to this sort of thing and intend to be able to validate all of these facts with complete transparency. With your help, I will achieve success! I dream of being a successful independent chef in the private sector!

With gratitude,

Michelle