Hi, I’m Rachel. I’ve made this Gofundme because I am facing eviction from my apartment of 16 years and need urgent assistance.  

 

Here’s the short version of my story: I have struggled with bills and rent since summer 2023 due to chronic illness and injuries. Previously, I was able to find steady work in my career of 10+ years as a freelance photographer. Like many people, the last few years since the pandemic began have been hard on me in every way. Physically, mentally, and most of all, financially. I’m urgently in need of help to prevent being evicted from my apartment within the next month. I have a third housing court date this coming week and am seeking your help in order to present a plan to pay back my rent debt, and stay in my apartment that I have lived in since 2008. Thankfully, I qualify for free legal assistance and have been working extensively with my lawyer, but I can’t present a good case without income.

 

Please consider donating toward my stability as I get back on my feet.

 

A little more about my situation: I have spent the last 6 months reaching out to every charity and public assistance that I could find. Although I made a little headway, they could only help in limited capacity, and not at all with rent. Unfortunately, NYC rental assistance, emergency grants, and charity help is only available if you are already employed (to prove you would have the ability to pay it back eventually), and as someone who’s self-employed but hasn’t been able to work in the last year, and who hasn’t been able to find a new full-time job, I do not qualify.

 

This is my last resort.

 

I haven’t been able to find steady work because the pandemic destroyed the career I’d spent 10+ years building and then decimated my health. As a chronically ill asthmatic, I was already at high risk in early 2020 when in person photo shoots were paused. My work completely stopped. Once public life slowly resumed and a vaccine was available, my asthma became even worse. My career never recovered.

 

In the last three years I have done over 30 rounds of oral steroids, which help me breathe but come with steep side effects, and I struggle to cope. I’ve been in the ER multiple times and visited urgent care dozens of times. I’ve also broken my ankle—adding additional stress to a permanent disability from an accident that happened decades ago—twice since 2021.

 

During this same time period, my Dad sadly passed away after a brief battle with lung cancer. He had always been one of my biggest supporters. Losing him felt like my support system was crumbling.

 

It feels as if every time I start to get back on my feet, I have another health or major life setback. Or things like emergency vet visits happen. I’ve been able to use previous savings, and when those were gone, sell some of my possessions, but I’m no longer able to support myself with either of these ways. I’ve struggled since the pandemic began to afford what I need to care for myself and my dog, Violet, and repeated health episodes make it difficult for me to find freelance or salary jobs.

 

In late Spring 2023 after extensive renovations to get my building up to NYC code, my landlord was granted permission to raise rent for the first time in a decade, and I fell behind. Since the ruling was retroactive to February, all tenants were required to immediately pay three months’ rent. Because of my situation, I began to accrue rent debt and had a negative balance from the start.

 

Previously, I had been able to help cushion the cost of living by splitting the rent with others, but as part of the building’s legalization process, my 850 square foot 3 bedroom loft apartment was renovated and turned into a studio, and I no longer have private bedrooms for roommates to rent. A silver lining is that this unit is still rent stabilized as long as I live in it, so I am confident that with help to get back on my feet, I will be able to keep my apartment and find a job.

 

All funds (beyond the processing fees) earned from this GoFundMe will be used directly to pay the rental arrears that I have fallen behind on. I am only asking for part of my rent debt, because the full amount is too much to ask for and I believe that I can find work and pay off the rest. I refuse to give up and have continued selling what’s left of my personal belongings to help pay off the debt. Many of you may have noticed me selling my beloved book collection that I spent years building, along with a lot of my clothes. Sadly, this is why.

 

I have also been researching any additional charity help I may qualify for, despite still being unemployed. If by chance this fund goes over my asked for amount, it will also be used directly to pay off the rental arrears. 

 

Asking for this much help makes me feel scared, ashamed, and anxious about my future. If I get evicted, I will most likely have to leave New York City, my home since 2006. The anxiety, stress, and uncertainty has added to my health issues, worsening my asthma, and negatively impacting every aspect of my life. It’s isolated me from my support system and my physical well-being has suffered.

 

My hope is that I can get most of this rent debt paid and find a new full time corporate job to cover any future expenses. I am confident in my ability to use any help you can give, anything toward a second chance, and stay in my home while getting back on my feet. I’m so grateful for you taking the time to read my story and contributing to my future.

 

Love,

Rachel