Thank you for looking at my GoFund page. It’s not easy to bare your soul and ask for help, but I thought I would give this a try. I am initiating a fund to raise money for a down payment on a coop in Bronx, NYC. Why should you help me, let me tell you, my story?

2010-2011 was a big year for me in that I was formally diagnosed being bipolar, something I struggled with, and it seemed to be under control through my earlier years, but I as well was addicted to crystal meth. I was working in my chosen field of higher education at the time, and I lost my job due to both illnesses being unchecked. Being unemployed, I became a dealer to support my habit and my lifestyle.

In July of 2012, I was arrested by the DEA and was under pre-trial supervision. I immediately stopped using substances. And I have been substance free ever since. I was able to return to the townhome I owned in PA to stay and live while I waited trial. While in PA, I became gainfully employed and began taking medication for my bipolar disorder.

In February of 2014, I packed all my belongings into a storage unit and had enough money I thought in the bank to cover the cost while I was incarcerated. While in jail, the IRS took all my finical resources from my bank account and my storage unit was sold. Everything I owned was gone.

In September 2014, I was release on probation with time served. I was able to negotiate with probation to return to my townhouse in PA. Upon returning home, I was hopeless and unmedicated. Thanks to a friend recognizing my spiral and need for behavioral health supervision, she brought me to the hospital where I was for a month. Upon leaving the hospital, I was required to return to NYC to be under probations supervision. Before leaving I was able to settle my townhouse foreclosure issue by completing a deed in leu. I had lost my house.

When I return to NYC in October 2014, I entered the NYC homeless shelter system where I lived with no financial resources and barely the clothes on my back. After spending time moving around in the shelter system, I was placed in a congregate house. While there, I was awarded Social Security Disability Insurance for my mental illness. I was accepted into a scatter-site program for individuals with serious mental illness, support housing. This was great opportunity. During the next 5 or so years, I went to therapy religiously and maintained my medication. I was stable.

In 2019, I decided that I no longer want to be unproductive and to get of SSDI but going back into my field was not really an option. I changed careers. I became a substance use prevention professional in September 2019. In 2020, I took a second part-time job and I have been gainfully employed at both jobs since. I work 35 hours a week at my full-time job and 36-48 hours a week at my part-time job. The part-time job is on-call, and I can sleep when I don't have a call. So, it is all manageable.

In December of 2020, I decided to graduate from supportive housing, and I ventured out on my own to be self-sufficient and live independently. I am currently doing that. I recently received a promotion in recognition of my work ethic and performance at my full-time job.

Over the past couple of years, I have attempted to make myself whole again. The last thing I feel I need to do is settle into a home. I have found a coop I would like to purchase. I have begun a savings account and started to save, but it difficult to buy in NYC. My realtor tells me you usually must have 18 months gross salary in the bank, 20% down payment and closing cost before you get to board approval. Well, I have found a great program with Bank of America and the coop is a sponsored unit that does not need board approval or have the same financial requirements. The seller seems to embrace the BOA program as well, but his lawyer has a sticking point that is interpretational and halting the negotiating process.

So here we are with a GoFund request, I need to quickly come up with a down payment or I will have to walk away from the negotiating table and loose the coop. I can sustain with my income my lifestyle, but I can’t save enough in time to purchase the coop. I would greatly and humbly appreciate any help you could give.