Asking for help like this is not easy, but we are in a short-term crisis and need support to stay housed.

We are a household of four: me, my niece, her boyfriend, and her young son. For the past four months, my niece and her boyfriend have been paying the rent while I’ve been without steady work. They are hardworking and doing everything they can.

My niece cleans houses and takes on as much work as possible. Her boyfriend is apprenticing to become an electrician and works whenever jobs are available. This past month was especially difficult because holiday cancellations significantly reduced their income.

Earlier this year, I was the primary income earner. I lost my job in February and have been actively applying, doing side work, and offering consulting services since then. I’ve had strong leads, and several companies have told me they expect to make hiring decisions at the beginning of the year. Unfortunately, that timing does not help us right now.

We were also forced to move due to smoke damage from the fires and mold issues. Insurance helped, but those funds went toward relocation costs and basic living expenses during this transition. Recently, my car window was broken, creating an unexpected expense at a moment when we have no margin.

Our total monthly housing cost is $4,600, which includes rent and utilities. We are contributing what we can, but it leaves us with no buffer at all. We are trying to avoid a three-day notice, which would add fees and make recovery much harder.

We have to make a decision by January 15 about whether we can stay or move, and we need rent caught up either way. That is why we are asking for $4,600, so we can fully cover housing costs and stabilize.

We’ve actively pursued the assistance options that were suggested, but most were either location-restricted or no longer applied due to our move, leaving us with very limited viable resources. Thank you.

This is not a long-term situation. It is a bridge to get us through a difficult moment while income catches up. Any amount helps, and sharing this truly matters.

Thank you for the kindness, generosity, and support during this time.