Present at the 1st day of school Aug 3

Hello family and friends,

I hope everyone is having a good Friday leading into a great weekend. I, unfortunately, am not doing too well. You know, when people always ask, "Hey, how's it going" or something like that? Your response is always, "I'm good! How are you?" Well, I can't fake it anymore. I am not good. Making this gofundme is embarrassing for many reasons. I firmly believe that as a man, you don't ask for help. You just figure it out. Put your feelings aside and do what you got to do. I've always kind of had to figure stuff out on my own throughout my life, and it's often gotten me in worse predicaments. I took someone's advice, however on what to do in my situation. They suggested there's nothing wrong with receiving or asking for help, so this is me taking their advice and asking for help.

About six months ago, while my daughter was with me from Arizona(I live in St Louis) for her birthday December 27th, my car's timing belt went out. I had a nice car, and it was an expensive fix of about 7k. I didn't have that, which in turn made me car-less. I felt terrible because my daughter suffered the most not being able to go and do things like I wanted her to be able to do while she was with her daddy for her birthday. Fast forward a couple more months; it's spring break time. I had only been working at the homeless shelter in addition to my full-time teaching position for about 2-3 months. When I was hired, they asked if I had any trips or anything coming up, and I said yes, in March, I would be gone about a week to visit my daughter for spring break. They said ok, that's fine. About a week before spring break arrived, I reminded them that I would be gone next week, and they informed me that since I hadn't been working there for over six months, I only had three days for vacation. I had already bought a flight, rental, and hotel, so three days wasn't an option. They said well, if you go, you won't have a job when you return. Sure enough, I didn't have a job when I got back. I went from working two full-time jobs to one. My most significant detriment to that was not being able to afford rent. I began to fall behind. I was two months behind on rent, so towards the end of May, my landlord decided to take me to court, and a court date was set for June 9th.

I got a lawyer; My lawyer first said, "Well, have you applied for rent relief?" I hadn't, so we did it the same day. My lawyer assured me I would be approved and have proof of it in a few days when we went to court to show the judge. I was thrilled because rent relief was willing to pay my previous six months of rent plus three months in advance. Any remaining money would be reimbursed to me.

Now, when I first moved into my apartment, my sister was the cosigner for me. So now, when my landlord decides to go to court, she's not just taking me to court but my sister as well. My sister gets word of this and begins to text me weekly about where the money is etc. I'm embarrassed and don't have any money to pay, so I don't respond to her messages. In addition, I think since I've been approved for rent relief, my lawyer says the judge won't evict me or anything like that, so it's all good, and neither my sister nor I have anything to worry about. I should have told my sister that, but I didn't. On June 6th, three days before my court date, without my knowledge, my sister and landlord come to an agreement. My landlord agrees to stop court if my sister pays the $2100.00 plus late fees and relinquishes the property back to my landlord. My sister pays the money. Then the next day, June 7th (My birthday), While I was at work teaching summer school, my sister went into my apartment and removed everything from it, including my dog. I found out from a neighbor who called me at work asking if I moved out.

I immediately called my lawyer, asking if this was legal. She said nothing should have been done without going to court first, so she suggested I call my landlord and sister to find out what was happening. They then explained their agreement to me, and my sister informed me that I would not be getting anything, no clothes, no pictures, no dog until she has the money back that she paid in full. I'm devastated. I had never truly been homeless before. I can't go back to work because my mind is just gone. I definitely can't go back to work because now I don't have any clothes except the clothes on my back. So summer school employment which pays amazing, is out the window for me. Rent relief is unwilling to pay for the apartment because I no longer live there. They expect me to find a new place and are willing to help financially.I am searching relentlessly for a cheap, instant move-in home for the next two to three days. I desperately want a place to spend some summer time with my daughter. I found one! The new landlord said well, I'd deduct your deposit and first three months of rent out of the rent relief check and will send you the remainder, which would be roughly $6000. Looking back on it, I ignored many red flags I should have seen. Long story short, the home wasn't real, and the rent relief money got sent to a scammer on July 7th. I haven't been able to get in contact with them since. I had already planned to give my sister her money so that I could have my stuff and dog back and make it out to Arizona to see my daughter and be present on her first day of school.

I didn't grow up with a dad, honestly didn't grow up with a mom so much either, some of you know my story of being adopted, so this parenting thing for me is huge! So it's already taken a significant toll on me not being able to have my daughter this summer, but if I'm also unable to be present on her first day, it's like what am I here for?

I've been highly depressed for the last six months questioning myself daily. As a black man, mental health is something I try it ignore or act like isn't bothering me, but when people tell me that they can see it on me, I start to wonder if this is too much for me to handle.

If you can donate, I genuinely thank you from the bottom of my heart. If you're not able to, I totally understand. We all have our battles, and nobody can expect anybody else to solve them for them.

I'm asking for roughly 6000 to be able to pay my sister back so that I can have my clothes to go back to teaching with as well as the rest of my items. (roughly owe her 2500) As well as buying two plane tickets to go out to Arizona next week and back home to St Louis. I will also need a cheap hotel and car rental to get around in Arizona with my daughter.

If you have any questions, please feel free to send me a message.

Peace and Love from a desperate dad,

Micah