Hi friends —
My name is Dr. Rebecca Greene. I’ve known Mannee Shift Orion Hailey-McMurray (“Shift”) for nearly 15 years. He has been my doula, my tenant, my roommate, and my friend. I’ve trusted him with my children, my home, and my family in the most vulnerable moments of my life. He has always been reliable, respectful, and kind.
Shift is one of the most versatile and gifted people I know — a filmmaker, podcaster, musician, actor, and producer whose work is already winning awards. He also has extraordinary gifts for supporting children, elders, and people with disabilities. He brings compassion, brilliance, and resourcefulness into situations where others would fold.
Right now, he needs stability to heal and to keep creating the art and community work that lifts others up.
What I’m asking for is breathing room — the chance for Shift to heal, to focus on his work, and to live without constant crisis. That means covering safe housing, reliable transportation, and basic health needs so he can stabilize for the long term.
Shift has always worked hard. He was a salaried remote copywriter and media director for a marketing company, and when that role ended due to layoffs, his financial pressures escalated. He then worked for a contractor who violated OSHA, retaliated against him for refusing unsafe/illegal risks, and committed wage theft. After that came conflict with a landlord who cut corners and then weaponized legal process. This year, when Shift contracted COVID for the first time and then a second respiratory illness immediately after, the landlord’s lawyer seized on his illness to push the case through on technicalities — resulting in a recent eviction without any trial or evidence ever being heard.
Los Angeles often touts its legal aid as a safety net, but in practice it is underfunded and inconsistent. In this case, it left Shift with the consequences: a fresh eviction record that unfairly brands him as a liability. I know the truth is the opposite. He has lived with me many times and has never once overstayed his welcome. Every time he has respected my space, even when he personally needed more time. That kind of integrity matters.
I’ve also personally witnessed harm done to Shift by people who should have protected him. Losing family as a source of support left him exposed at the very moments he needed stability most. Instead of safety, he was met with betrayal and abuse, and I know how devastating that was. Without that safety net, he has been far more vulnerable to predatory landlords, exploitative employers, and people who mistake his openness for weakness.
And yet — despite everything — Shift continues to create and contribute. He makes award-winning films, co-produces compelling projects, and lifts up the work of others. He is a builder of community and a collaborator who makes every project better. Even while surviving instability and sabotage, he has shown up for others with creativity, compassion, and vision. That resilience is extraordinary, and it’s why I believe investing in him now will have ripple effects far beyond this campaign.
The truth is that it is expensive to not have enough money. If you can only afford a night or two at a motel, that cost eats into what could cover a week. If you can only cover a week, it eats into what could cover a month. Survival drains resources faster than stability can ever be built. Shift has been caught in that cycle for years, working hard but never getting the chance to truly stabilize. And without stability, he’s never been able to focus on his health the way he deserves. His conditions have worsened over time simply because he hasn’t had the chance to heal.
Our Goal
We are raising $36,000 to give Shift one full year of stability:
Breathing room to heal, create, and live without constant crisis
Safe housing (6–12 months in Los Angeles)
Reliable transportation (ideally a donated vehicle, or funds toward one)
Food, utilities, and basic health needs
Modest support for ongoing creative work (film, podcast, music)
Legal and administrative costs to protect him from further harm
Milestone Goals
$4,000 → Moving + Initial Housing Costs
Deposit, first month’s rent, movers/storage, and basic setup for a modest room/studio.
$7,500 → Three Months Stability
Housing secured, groceries, transit, phone, utilities, and health basics for a quarter-year.
$15,000 → Six Months Stability
Half a year of rent, food, and health coverage. Breathing room to focus on work and health.
$25,000 → Vehicle + Nine Months Stability
A reliable used car (purchase or down payment + insurance/registration) and nearly a year of living expenses.
$36,000 → One Year of Stability
12 months of safe housing, food, utilities, health needs, reliable transport, and creative continuity.
Updates You Can Expect
Over the next few months, I will post regular updates so you can see where the money goes. Some will be milestone updates (lease signed, vehicle secured, creative projects completed). Others will be personal stories I’ve witnessed over the years — stories that show who Shift really is:
How he drove through wildfires to support me during childbirth
How he fundraised in the middle of winter to replace life-saving equipment for a disabled elder
How he was the steady presence I leaned on during the pandemic as a single parent
How he continues to make award-winning work in Los Angeles, despite immense obstacles
I want people to know the man I know: the artist, the caregiver, the builder of community.
How You Can Help
Donate any amount — recurring gifts of $10, $25, or more keep him afloat month to month.
Offer housing (6–12 months in LA) or a reliable vehicle if you’re in a position to.
Share this campaign widely, including with your own networks.
Hire or commission Shift (editing, caregiving, creative work, speaking). Paid work is also powerful support.
Gratitude
Thank you for believing in Shift — for helping him land on solid ground and keep creating. Despite everything he has been put through, he continues to make extraordinary things happen and to lift others up. With your support, he can finally have the stability to heal and to bring even more of his genius into the world.
With gratitude and hope,
Rebecca
Here is some of Shift's work:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1HgmDVvvJIN0cGFqv871k6MQf-u1HKnRedgRzy0rrntM/mobilepresent?slide=id.p
https://www.youtube.com/@goodmorningmayberry
Organiser and beneficiary
Shift Orion Hailey-McMurray
Beneficiary