Hello Everyone,

My name is Doug and I live with my partner Ricky and our cat in a 1 bedroom apartment in Southern California. You may know me as Lashyn and him as Oliver within the furry community. I lost my job of 8 years in April 2024 due to medical issues. I went on unemployment and began volunteering at a local theater and events (art walks, furry meet ups, pride, aids walk) to help my mental health, as well as the community. Once the unemployment ran out, I got a job at a restaurant before finding a job in my field 6 months later. I took this job, but it was overnight (10pm - 6:30am). I had done an overnight job before when I was younger so I thought I could handle it, but during that time I had a car, and now I do not. I was traveling 2-3 hours one way just to get to work/home. I also didn't know it was overnight, only that it was "night", but I was desperate for something better and went against my better judgement. Not only were the hours bad, and the travel long, but I was also treated like an idiot and barred from doing things that my peers were doing, who started the same time as me. - even though I have more education and experience. I've been called names and worked with toxic people before, but this was the first time I ever truly felt like an idiot. During this time, between the hours and the treatment, my mental health took a dive, and I became suicidal. This is something I'm familiar with unfortunately, but I knew something was different when I stopped feeling the urge to think about it, and started feeling the urge to act on it. I was applying for other jobs, but after months of hearing nothing, I couldn't take it anymore and quit that job. I didn't care what I got, as long as it wasn't overnight and treated me like a person.

Well, I haven't managed to get anything. I have been donating plasma, doing art commissions, streaming. Whatever I can to get a little money here and there for groceries, but rent is another story. This month (December, which is almost over), I am $800 short. Then there's January coming up soon. We have been given notices to pay, and if I cannot come up with this $800, we will be evicted. Possibly tomorrow. If not, later this week

We are looking to move out of the country for our own safety and sustainability sometime this summer, but in the meantime we need help. I will keep looking for a job, and even go part time if need be (I've been looking at full time or close to it, but at this point, anything is better than nothing). Please help us keep our home. PLEASE HELP MY CAT keep his home. If not for us, please for him. I have no one to take him. He's such a sweet boy. I don't want to lose him please

If I can make it to the summer, it would be a DREAM come true. But right now, I'm living in a nightmare. Any contribution and sharing is greatly appreciated.

Thank you for reading. Take care of yourselves and each other.