I've had a really rough year, but I'm two months away from stability. I just need help getting there.

I've accepted a position that starts within the month, but with delays as I wait for it to be available and a two-pay-period wait after I begin, I won't receive my first paycheck until late February or early March. Right now, I'm facing a financial gap I can't bridge alone. I need to cover rent and utilities for January and February—to keep a roof over my head and my phone connected for work while I wait for that first paycheck to arrive. I've set the upper goal for this fundraiser to $2600.

This year has tested me in ways I never imagined. In March, I lost my mom to cancer. Within months, I came out as transgender—each requiring its own kind of courage and rebuilding. Then I was let go from my job of two years, and I've been scrambling to find work ever since.

I've done everything I can to help myself. I signed up for FoodShare to handle groceries. I've taken every gig I could find, though work has been scarce during the holidays. I even kept working after suffering a concussion from falling nine feet down an elevator shaft on Halloween. Some clients didn't pay me for that work, which depleted the last of my savings.

I've been steady in my job search—applying to countless positions and interviewing at 37 companies. I'm genuinely grateful that some of those were remote interviews; when you're this broke, even gas money for a round-trip interview becomes a real consideration. The truth is, when I presented as male, I could find work consistently enough to survive and help others. That's not the case anymore. This new position represents someone willing to see my skills and experience for what they are.

But it's more than just employment. It's a transition away from tech work toward something of more substance: peer support work that allows me to contribute meaningfully to my community. The schedule for this new job gives me time to study for my peer support specialist certification and work toward my GED. These are important steps toward the life I want to build.

I'm so close to making it through this. Your donation will keep my lights on and my phone connected until my first paycheck arrives.

Thank you for reading my story and considering helping me get there. Your support means everything.