I never imagined I’d be in this position, but life has thrown some unexpected challenges our way. I lost my job, and just a week later, my roommate Ian lost his job—which was tied to our housing. Because of this, we were given only two weeks to vacate our home. Ian has since moved to Oakland to be near his girlfriend, while my partner Jay and I stayed in a friend’s guest house for four months, searching for stability and a new place to call home.

We finally found an apartment, but the costs of moving in—first and last month’s rent, security deposit, and moving in mid-month—have drained our savings. Now, we’re facing the reality that we won’t have enough to pay our first regular rent payment. On top of that, we’re struggling to afford groceries, and our mattress is still in storage, leaving us sleeping on a hardwood floor every night.

We’ve never asked for charity like this before, but after being turned down for loans everywhere, we don’t know what else to do. We just want enough help to get back on our feet and into a regular routine. Any support you can offer—whether it’s a donation or sharing our story—would mean the world to us. Thank you for reading and for caring.