Hi everyone,

Life can change in an instant. This year, I learned how replaceable as employees we all are. I’ve also learned just how connected everything is, and how quickly it can fall apart, one thing after another. Right now, my son and I are going through the most challenging chapter of our lives. After I made the difficult and necessary choice to leave a harmful 8-to-9-year relationship, I stepped into full independence again. I knew I made the right choice, but the fallout has compounded everything..

Over the past year, I have lost my job of five years with a company I loved, as my position was eliminated due to a reduction in force. I lost my car, due to the cost of repairs being more than the value of the car, and being unable to afford those. I’ve fallen behind on my credit card payments and utilities, and now we are currently at risk of eviction. Last week, I was given a 14-day notice of intent to file eviction. I have until the 18th of the month to pay my rent before legal proceedings begin. After applying for emergency assistance by the county I live in, we were denied because I currently have no income. All the other emergency assistance programs referred to me are out of funding, due to government budget cuts.

To be entirely clear, being evicted is not something I am willing to do. I refuse to lose the stability I’ve built for us, because losing our home and gaining an eviction on my record, would be incredibly damaging to our future. I have experienced homelessness before, which is why I moved to Minnesota, and I vowed to never be there again. I worked very hard to create stability. Being homeless is not an option, and since I don’t have family here, we are standing entirely on our own feet.

For the past six months, I have been fighting every single day to pull us out of this situation. I'm taking on cash gigs, applying for part-time work, began considering other types of work, and applying tirelessly for a full-time role that can provide the stability we need, but the gap has become too wide to bridge on my own. I’ve done what I can to prevent this. Now, it’s an emergency.

As a mother, my priority is protecting my son's sense of security, peace, and normalcy. That is what my entire world revolves around.

Asking for support is hard to do, but going through this is worse. We need support right now.

The funds raised here will go directly toward (in priority order):

1. Securing our housing and preventing eviction

2. Catching up on overdue utility bills (gas and heat/ac)

3. Covering basic living expenses and transportation needs (if there is any left over after paying rent)

If you are in a position to contribute, any amount means the world to us. And if you aren't able to give financially, sharing this page or keeping us in your thoughts is a gift.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing with us, believing in us, and showing us so much grace during this time. You are helping change the trajectory of our life.

❤️