Help Rafael Recover from Grief and Sudden Job Loss

Hello all, My name is Rafael. On Monday morning September 23rd, 2024 my loving girlfriend Erica Meltzer tragically passed away after I awoke to her unresponsive and not breathing. Upon discovering her in this state I called 911 and performed chest compressions until the EMTs arrived. They took her to the emergency room where they were unfortunately unable to revive her after extensive efforts.

I am still crushed.

This was highly unexpected as we had just had a lovely restful day before. Erica seeming in high spirits and exhibited no overt signs of anything being wrong. Erica was my best friend. We talked everyday all day and spent time with each other almost every other day. Erica and I had just moved in together a couple of days before she suddenly passed.

My heart has been broken since that day and I have been dealing with an intense amount of deep grief, emotional instability, depression and trauma.

Following this awful event, my mental state and need to grieve caused me to miss many days at work and on October 17, I was unexpectedly terminated from my full-time job- my supervisors citing my absences as the cause or firing even though they knew very well that I was deeply grieving. I was terminated a week before ending my 6 month probation period which would have allowed me to receive any severance or protection from my job's union as a member. Also, being let go in this manner has most likely left me unable to qualify for Unemployment benefits. Currently this is pending.

I am a single dad to a child on the autistic spectrum living paycheck to paycheck while paying NYC rent. Losing my only mean of income while actively still going through the grieving process has caused me a great amount of stress. Currently I am scrambling to find any kind of employment in order to make next month's rent and meet food and living expenses for my son and I.

I am reaching out to you all for any assistance in providing support for rent, food and living expenses as I navigate this deep loss, attempt to gain mental stability and search for gainful employment during this difficult time. This is the first time I have ever reached out to the public this way as I am a very prideful person, however the situation I find myself in at the moment seems almost to much to bear on my own at the moment. Anything at all will help and I am extremely appreciative.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and I hope you have a wonderful and blessed day!