Keep a Hardworking Driver from Homelessness

So a few weeks ago, I got my car back from the shop. It cost $985, and I barely had savings above that to pay bills. Right away, there's this weird sound. Like loose screws or something? Great. Another problem. I hoped it would be something I could wait on, but it got progressively worse very quickly. When I accelerate, the car has this revving sound from below the floorboard and it vibrates. Transmission? Probably. There's no way I have enough money to repair it. So now what? I've been an Uber Eats driver for the past 2 1/2 years. My sole source of income. I've applied for all kinds of jobs during that time and tried making money other ways, but nothing has really hit.

So through the Uber app, I signed up to get a rental from a company called Hive. What I signed up for was essentially a predatory contract. $163/week + .30 per mile daily + $25 insurance daily. They didn't give me the option of using my own insurance. Looking back, I should have pursued a different rental company, but I was desperate to deliver ASAP because it's my only source of income, aside from small amounts I get from tester apps.

It's been hell. I've been delivering as much as I can. Last week, my online time was 60 hours. I brought in $591 last week, which in the past would have been a great week. Almost all of that money went to the rental company.

I can't pay rent, and I'm afraid I'm going to end up homeless. Right now, I'm surviving on peanut butter, bagels, and coleslaw. I used to really enjoy delivering, too. And now it give me anxiety. I feel like I have to deliver nonstop. If there are long periods of no orders, I panic. How am I going to pay the daily fees? What happens if I can't, and they turn off the car? Then I have nothing. No way to even keep making money.

So maybe the generosity of strangers will help me through. I've had some good encounters lately, actually. An older woman needed help getting back to her nursing home, and paid me to drive her. We had a nice conversation, and she wished me well. It touched my heart. Another time, a guy cut in front of me in the drive-thru line. I was so upset, but he did the most unusual thing. He came back to my car and gave me churros. He said he jumped in front of me, and it was rude. So he gave me food. I thanked him happily.

The amount I chose will cover my missed rent, utilities, and some bills. I'm stuck with this rental for another two weeks. Oh, and on top of this, someone rear-ended me in the rental last week. So I have that to deal with as well. Anyways, any help is greatly appreciated.

I will personally thank everyone who donates. And if you need help with writing or data entry or typing, I can help you out. Any little small project. I'm a lifelong writer, and I used to be a records clerk for Fox Studios before the merger got me laid off at the start of the pandemic.

Maybe someone will help. I'm skeptical, but hopefully you'll all prove me wrong.