Mike Needs a Room!
Donation protected
The short-short version: I need a place to heal, and I'm asking for your help to get me there. Please read the full story below.
A bit over two years ago, I started living in my car, a 2002 Prius. The first few weeks were scary as hell. I didn't know what I was going to do or how I was going to pull myself out of this hole, but I was firm in my belief that I was going to find a way, and I still am.
Through the grace of some old work friends, I met a petition organizer who hired me and sent me out gathering signatures. This was temporarily lucrative for me, and brought me more out of my shell than I had been in years. After that temporary position, which helped me get my feet under me a bit (car repairs, insurance, etc.), I had to figure out what to do next.
Lo and behold, I found an awesome job at Sprouts Farmer's Market in Camarillo, where I was introduced to a wonderful group of people, who I very much enjoy working with. I was hired as a cashier, and within five months had been promoted to a head cashier position.
About seven months later, I woke up with an agonizing injury to my left shoulder. I had saved up the money to rent a room, and was actively shopping around for one, but other expenses around the injury made that impossible, and my disability payments could not cover the cost of food, insurance and housing, so I chose insurance and food. No clear cause has been established, and due to the slowed pace of medical treatment caused by COVID precautions, I've been waiting for about 10 months for sufficient treatment to return to work. An epidural seemed to be my ticket out of pain and back to work, and we initially scheduled it for the last day of 2020. But due to a problem with my insurance, we had to wait to schedule it in the new year.
The same week of my insurance problem, my mother disappeared. There has been no news of her since.
Once I got all my insurance ducks back in a row, I was able to re-schedule the epidural for January 14th.
On the 11th, on my way to shower at a very kind friend's house here in Camarillo, someone turned left in front of me as I passed through a greenlit intersection. He was speeding, I was going below the speed limit and had the right of way. He totaled both of our cars. My brother took me straight to the ER. Turns out that I have a broken arm and broken ribs.
I have had to cancel my epidural again, and my return to work has been delayed a second time until at least the middle of March. While I have been reluctant to ask for help throughout the past two years, and even now it is very difficult for me to do so, I would like to ask your help in getting me back on my feet.
At this point, I simply need help with housing. I am extremely grateful to have been able to replace my vehicle, and I have current medical insurance that meets my needs, but finding a permanent place to lay my head has proven elusive. My current injuries require greater care than I can give myself in a car, and I believe that having a roof over my head will help me heal, physically and emotionally, with everything that has happened, especially over these past couple of months.
I am looking for a room in Camarillo, with either a shared or private bathroom and kitchen access. Housing here is expensive, and rooms tend to range between $750-$1000 a month, utilities included. I will also need a bed, and a few other pieces of furniture. I have a little bit saved, but knowing that I will have a few months of rent in the bank, and possibly a little to supplement if my rent is at the higher end of that range, would be an immense help to my health and well-being.
I long to be self-sustaining again, independently in my own place, and I know I will be soon. Thank you so much for all your love and support, and if you can donate to this fund or share this fundraiser, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you, friends.
A bit over two years ago, I started living in my car, a 2002 Prius. The first few weeks were scary as hell. I didn't know what I was going to do or how I was going to pull myself out of this hole, but I was firm in my belief that I was going to find a way, and I still am.
Through the grace of some old work friends, I met a petition organizer who hired me and sent me out gathering signatures. This was temporarily lucrative for me, and brought me more out of my shell than I had been in years. After that temporary position, which helped me get my feet under me a bit (car repairs, insurance, etc.), I had to figure out what to do next.
Lo and behold, I found an awesome job at Sprouts Farmer's Market in Camarillo, where I was introduced to a wonderful group of people, who I very much enjoy working with. I was hired as a cashier, and within five months had been promoted to a head cashier position.
About seven months later, I woke up with an agonizing injury to my left shoulder. I had saved up the money to rent a room, and was actively shopping around for one, but other expenses around the injury made that impossible, and my disability payments could not cover the cost of food, insurance and housing, so I chose insurance and food. No clear cause has been established, and due to the slowed pace of medical treatment caused by COVID precautions, I've been waiting for about 10 months for sufficient treatment to return to work. An epidural seemed to be my ticket out of pain and back to work, and we initially scheduled it for the last day of 2020. But due to a problem with my insurance, we had to wait to schedule it in the new year.
The same week of my insurance problem, my mother disappeared. There has been no news of her since.
Once I got all my insurance ducks back in a row, I was able to re-schedule the epidural for January 14th.
On the 11th, on my way to shower at a very kind friend's house here in Camarillo, someone turned left in front of me as I passed through a greenlit intersection. He was speeding, I was going below the speed limit and had the right of way. He totaled both of our cars. My brother took me straight to the ER. Turns out that I have a broken arm and broken ribs.
I have had to cancel my epidural again, and my return to work has been delayed a second time until at least the middle of March. While I have been reluctant to ask for help throughout the past two years, and even now it is very difficult for me to do so, I would like to ask your help in getting me back on my feet.
At this point, I simply need help with housing. I am extremely grateful to have been able to replace my vehicle, and I have current medical insurance that meets my needs, but finding a permanent place to lay my head has proven elusive. My current injuries require greater care than I can give myself in a car, and I believe that having a roof over my head will help me heal, physically and emotionally, with everything that has happened, especially over these past couple of months.
I am looking for a room in Camarillo, with either a shared or private bathroom and kitchen access. Housing here is expensive, and rooms tend to range between $750-$1000 a month, utilities included. I will also need a bed, and a few other pieces of furniture. I have a little bit saved, but knowing that I will have a few months of rent in the bank, and possibly a little to supplement if my rent is at the higher end of that range, would be an immense help to my health and well-being.
I long to be self-sustaining again, independently in my own place, and I know I will be soon. Thank you so much for all your love and support, and if you can donate to this fund or share this fundraiser, I would be eternally grateful. Thank you, friends.
Co-organizers (2)
Mike Humfreville
Organizer
Camarillo, CA
Britta Phillips
Co-organizer