I’m writing this because we have hit the point of no return: Our car has been repossessed.

For many, a car is a convenience. For us — a disabled couple living in a Wisconsin winter — it was our legs. I have significant mobility issues that require a walker; walking to a bus stop in the snow with nerve pain is physically impossible for me. Without the car, I cannot get to my doctor’s appointments, and we cannot physically transport groceries from the local food pantry. We have been surviving on SNAP benefits and food banks, but we’ve just lost our access to that food. We are asking for help to get the car back and keep a roof over our heads while we wait for the legal system to catch up with our reality.

How We Got Here

My name is Zuri. I’m a 52-year-old artist and content creator. My partner, Rob, is a former middle school teacher. We are educated, hardworking people — I hold degrees in Illustration and Anthropology, and Rob has a master's in Religious Studies. We didn't plan to be here.

After 15 years in Florida, we moved north to escape a political climate where we no longer felt safe. We landed in Wisconsin, ready to build a quiet life with our three cats (Lyta, Guinan, and Neil). But in April, Rob — our primary earner — suffered a debilitating injury to his cervical spine. He went from working food delivery to undergoing surgery to fuse his neck vertebrae. He still suffers severe tremors and an unsteady gait, after surgery.

Rob has been unable to work since April due to tremors, pain, and recovery. We have applied for Social Security Disability, but the waiting list is long and the system is slow.

Right now, our household runs entirely on my disability income of $1,521 a month.

We have tried to juggle every penny, swapping which bill gets paid to keep the lights on and the landlord happy. But the math simply doesn't work anymore. We are currently drowning. To stabilize us so we can survive until Rob’s disability determination comes through, we need to clear these immediate hurdles:

Rent: $950

Recovering our Repossessed Car: $2,100

Electricity (Past Due): $667.34

Utilities: $245

Auto Insurance: $208.38

Phone: $119

Internet: $98.95

We are not asking for a permanent solution; we are asking for a bridge. We need to get our car back so we can eat and get to medical care. We need to keep the power on so we stay warm.

We have exhausted our savings and the generosity of our friends. Now, we are asking for solidarity. If you can help us regain our footing, you aren't just paying a bill — you are buying us the time we need to wait for the Social Security decision without losing everything in the process.

Thank you for seeing us, and for any hand you can lend.

— Zuri & Rob