My name is Dan, my family and I need your help. We’ve had bad luck at a very unfortunate time, when the cost of living is at an all time high. My partner and I both lost our jobs at the beginning of the year and we’re quickly facing housing and food insecurity again, as we did prior to moving into our current apartment. We don’t have any assets to borrow against, big lines of credit, or savings to fall back on as we’ve been living paycheck-to-paycheck (like 78% of Americans.) Our goal is to reach enough to afford us the ability to focus on finding stable work again.

The long story is, two years ago I had to move my family out of California because it was impossible to afford to live there on the wages we could earn. We tried to stay close to family in California and Nevada, but could not find stable housing. We moved to the Midwest in the hopes that extended family might help us. However, that resulted in a falling out, leaving us homeless. There was no stability to be found, it seemed.

We were living in a hotel, just trying to stabilize and save. Working in tandem shifts, we compressed our lives to fit into a small hotel room through winter. It was exhausting and stressful. Even affording everyday life while having no access to a real kitchen and other basic needs made the stress compound. We even came close to losing the hotel room due to additional expenses as our vehicle began to break down.

After a few months, and a lot of help from some great people, we were able to land in a decent apartment. We started to feel comfortable again. Having a little more room to stretch out and breathe changed things for a long time. We started to decorate, customize, reorganize, and create art again; the things we had been missing.

Now, right at the start of 2024, my partner and I have both been faced with lay-offs. We are struggling to cover basic expenses and bills as we find odd jobs to attempt to cover the gaps. I even had difficulties and delays with my final check from my former employer, which just led to more delays and more late fees.

Right now, we just need to cover back-rent and to give ourselves enough space to catch our breath. If you’ve ever been through hard times, you know that a very small bit of financial support in a dark time can make a huge difference.

We appreciate anyone taking the time to read this and I am grateful for your support!