I cannot believe I am doing this but I cannot think of any other options I haven’t already tried.  I find myself in a perilous situation; I am currently homeless, with my ESA certified Italian Greyhound, a broken finger, and a back fusion scheduled in 3 weeks.
I have exhausted every avenue I can think of.  I have called every shelter in San Diego, both homeless and domestic violence.   I am trying to self-refer while tracking down this elusive unicorn of a case manager.  I am in the process of applying for General Relief.  Every friend and family member has been pulling together to help keep me in a motel 8.  I have researched every room for rent, to no avail.  The last option for me is to get to the Convention Center somehow (no car) and hope to get a bed.
I am requesting help to keep a roof over my head until Halloween and transportation to my new life.  I have a friend to live with in another state once I am healed from surgery.  This is still risky as I will be leaving the medical care I have here and starting over but...  I can start over with help!  

Please continue reading for more details on how I ended up in this situation.  ... such a fascinating read.  

My back went out in January, 2016.  At the time I had a job, home, and a car.  I had the support of a loving and giving boyfriend.  I spent 14 visits to the ER that first year alone while trying to get into a pain clinic for my back.  I also applied for disability.  As I continued to battle daily excruciating pain while trying to get actual help and not just a bunch of pain pills thrown my way, my relationship turned abusive.  I had already sold everything I owned, trying to stay afloat; my 401k, car, every bit of furniture and household items.
I did manage to finally escape to another friend in Arizona and commuted monthly to my pain doctor.  This could not continue as appointments and medications were switched and my friend could not afford to keep renting cars for me to get back to California.  As willing as he was to help, enough was enough.
I did move back in with my ex with the understanding that he would help get me to every appointment and take care of me for surgery, as well as pay my phone bill to my stepmom ($50. a month).  
I was eventually referred to a neurosurgeon at UCSD.  I have a fusion with the neurosurgeon and a vascular team the week of September 14th of this year!!  It was originally scheduled this past March until Covid.19 said “uh...  you’re just gonna have to wait a bit longer, my dear”).  Okay.  I waited.  It’s finally time!  and now I am homeless....  ‍♀️
The pain clinic alone has been the biggest nightmare in my life.  They assured me from the get-go they could help me.  They mentioned a fusion at my first visit, in 2017.  They have proven to be much more of a pill-pushing factory than a doctor willing to help.  I am 29 years sober; I am not looking for a life on pills.  I want my fusion and I want to regain my life!!
I had a discectomy in June of 2018.  At that point, my pain doctor removed a piece of bone and my legs have been steadily getting more and more compressed, day by day.  I have no feeling down my left calf and foot, and fluctuating feeling on the right side.  
The situation with my home life was not ideal but not too terribly bad.  I have lived alone for the most part this past year and 1/2.  The ex I moved back in with had somewhere else to stay for all of last year and most of this.  He did get me to appointments and occasionally a grocery store.  That was good enough...  my mantra was just “get my surgery and move on!”  
Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2020 changed all of that.  I was going for a walk and my ex was home.  He had received the pandemic relief fund of 10k and it looks like he was feeling mighty fine...  I was getting my money (what little I had, $600.) so I wouldn’t chance ‘someone’ helping themselves.  He was quietly hovering and sprang into action, grabbing my money, saying it’s his.  I grabbed his shirt to keep him from leaving with all the money I had in this world when he grabbed my hand and squeezed, resulting in a twist fracture.  I was then set up in the shed as my “new home” in Valley Center, 115°.  
I grabbed my dog, my things, and left.  
At this point, I see that I can go back to him or find a tent and join the ⛺️ city.  Neither one sounds like an option I can accept.

I don’t know what to ask for here...  I am looking for help for a room until I am healed enough to leave, I need to rent a car/van to move, and pay these people back somehow!  I am in the final appeals stage of disability.  I have been battling this for 4 1/2 years now with denial after denial after denial.  The doctor notes from the lovely pain clinic, the clinic I have gone to every single month, numerous times twice a month, state that I have “leg pain”.  My new neurosurgeon has been incredibly helpful!  They are helping with prescriptions for a cane and a tens unit as well as 2 weeks in a rehabilitation center after my surgery.  I have a safe home for my baby Cricket girl (love of my life) for that time period.  

I am happy to share any more if people would like; happy to answer any questions.  I would love to pay every single soul back, if I am ever able to!  I am in such a desperate position and just trying to hang in there until surgery and hopefully able to get back to work full-time.  

Thank you for taking the time to read.  Please feel free to forward to anyone and everyone.  I hate asking for a “hand-out” but seems to be what I need in order to get a “hand-up” after surgery!
Any other suggestions, I am open to hearing them!!  
Love, prayers, and healthy, happy wishes to all!!  

~Palmer Fitzpatrick