Hope for a New Beginning: Help Us Escape Homelessness

Dear friends, family, and compassionate souls,

Get ready for a book, but I want to be as detailed and accurate as possible.

I find myself in a desperate situation. I am homeless, struggling to survive each day without a roof over my head or a warm meal. Life has dealt me a harsh hand, but I refuse to give up.

My name is Bailey, and I'm sharing my story with vulnerability and hope. Last year, I was diagnosed with mental health issues that really took my whole life down. My husband and I lost our jobs, our savings dwindled, and the safety net vanished. We spent most of Fall and the beginning of Winter homeless, staying at truck stops and Walmart parking lots. We tried to stay on our feet, but we lost both vehicles that were a few months shy of being paid off. We lost our beloved RV travel trailer, which most who know us, know we worked hard to get what we had. Our spirits dropped after that, and we worked odd jobs until we were forced to move again. This past month, unforeseen circumstances led to our eviction from a relative's landlord. The environment we've been living in has been extremely volatile, degrading, humiliating, hostile, and I'm afraid it will have long term effects on our psyche. It's the worst I've ever been treated and that's all I'm going to say about that. We are to be out of the property at the end of April. Neither of us have any family we can stay with and no financial help with everyone struggling nowadays. I have applied to every grant, and government service I could, i.e. Social Security, Disability, Unemployment, Relief Debt Assistance, Food Stamps Homeless Preventative Initiatives, private charities, FAFSA for a school loan to go back to school... The processes on these take weeks, and months, and I have had struggle with every single program, or denied. We have two dogs in our family, a husky, Luna and a basset hound, Birdy. We are looking at having to go a shelter or get a tent and live on the street. I can't imagine it will be long before our dogs are taken from us when we're in the bad of a situation. So, we hatched an entire plan to move out to Arkansas with nothing and get on our feet and start over. Arkansas is our happy place and it's cheaper cost of living. I was to receive a $3,000 tax refund any day now, and we were going to use this money to buy a cash vehicle. With the brand new eviction, I found out quick, any apartment or house not being managed by a private owner, will not accept us...no matter how good the explanation of "It's not because of unpaid rent or being bad tenants" was given. We were looking at van conversions, small drivable RV's, small trucks and truck bed campers or pop up campers that we could live in for a while. We found several lined up ready to sell to us in the next couple of days. We have spent the last couple weeks applying for jobs in Little Rock, packing and condensing all our belongings (fits in about 5 totes), looking for a vehicle. I already have a bartending job lined up at a bar in Downtown Little Rock and my husband has secured a job in his profession as porter at Jayco (Reputable RV Brand), and is set to start next week. I found a Camp Host position available with the National Forest Service, that if I hired, would provide a FHU site and utilities for us both.

Today the bomb dropped.....

Employment......Check. Vehicle.....Check. Money to move.....Nope.

I filed my taxes this year as filing jointly because TurboTax told me my refund would be bigger. I have always filed separately. Little did I know, that because my husband's child support payments have been paid only while he is working, that back owed money accrued and the government decided I'm responsible for it. I have filed an Injured Spouse Relief form and e-filed it to the IRS, but it will take up to 8 weeks to process this mistake and I only might possibly be awarded half of the refund. This leaves us with nothing else saved, no vehicle, no money to get to Arkansas and no jobs because we recently left them to mo. All that on top of having to leave our current and only place to stay in just a few days or we'll be in violation of a court order.....

This is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

We've been trying so hard, trying to keep our heads up. I feel worthless and defeated. This is the lowest I've ever been.

Everyone who knows me, knows I am a hard worker, I take care of my family and I fight desperately for what I want. I was doing so good for so many years, finally making something of myself. I lost it all in a few months. I have a plan. It's heartbreaking to have hope, change, opportunity, freedom, dangled in your face and you think everything is about to get better. Everything you've been through is almost over and it'll all have been worth something because now you've been giving a chance to change your entire circumstance. All of that was just taken from me due to a tax filing error. A tax filing error just cost me a roof over my head and job. I need help. WE need help. Without my community, any community, support, help of some kind....we will not improve or get better or have a chance at what every human needs out of life more than anything....a peace of mind. I'm scared. I don't want to live on the street. I don't want to stay in a shelter. I don't want to be forced to give up my dogs, or have them taken from us. We won't be able to maintain jobs without a vehicle or place to live. It will spiral so much worse and I'm, honestly, afraid for the future and what else could possibly happen. Please, we need your help to literally survive.

**Why We Need Your Support:**

*1. **Shelter and Transportation**: Every night, we will sleep on cold streets, exposed to the elements, in unsafe environments. A small donation can help us get something reliable to live in.*

*2. **Food and Hygiene**: Hunger will gnaw at our stomachs, decreasing our energy and health. Our hygiene will deteriorate which is necessary for job seeking and to feel human! With your help, we can buy a meal and maintain basic hygiene.*

*3. **Job Search**: We will continue to actively seek employment no matter what happens, but it's challenging without a stable address. Your contribution can help me access resources and transportation.*

**Our Goal:**

The goal is to raise $3,500. This amount will provide immediate relief and allow us to take steps toward rebuilding our lives. We can continue on with our plan, and avoid a lifetime of more problems.*

**How You Can Make a Difference:**

*1. **Donate**: Any amount, no matter how small, will make an impact. Your generosity can be a lifeline.*

*2. **Share**: Spread the word about my campaign. Share it on social media, email, or with anyone who might empathize.*

*3. **Offer Resources**: If you know of job openings, housing opportunities, or local support services, please reach out.*

**What You'll Receive:**

*1. **Gratitude**: Our heartfelt thanks for standing by us during this challenging time.*

*2. **Updates**: I'll keep you informed about our progress—how your kindness is making a difference.*

*3. **Hope**: Knowing that you've helped a young family find hope and stability.*

Together, we can turn despair into possibility. Let's create a path toward a brighter future. One, where we all are safe when we rest of our heads at night and have a chance for change, knowing we are still living in a time where people truly still care.

Thank you for giving us our peace of mind.

Plan is to use $2000 to buy the vehicle. Best we can find for that low. We were looking for camper vans or small rvs. $200 for new phone and phone plans so we can communicate with employers. $150 for gas to get to Arkansas. $150 for groceries when we arrive. $200 or less for rent to park our rv or van. Save the rest to get by until we get established at work.