**This GoFundMe is not meant to shame Yuna’s ex. As painful as this has been, she simply wants to move on with her life, but she cannot without the funds to pay her attorney and her rent. I am providing certain details so that people who want to help can understand what she is going through. Although we disagree with him having an order of protection out against her, Yuna has no intention of violating it and fully respects court orders. **

Hi everyone,

I’m writing this on behalf of my best friend Yuna because she’s going through an unimaginable situation — and she would never ask for help herself. I’m starting this GoFundMe to help her protect her housing, her cats, and her career, all of which are now at risk because of one man’s decision to weaponize the legal system for financial gain.

Earlier this summer, my friend’s long-term partner abruptly ended their relationship. Just two weeks before, they had been talking about wedding dates — so the breakup alone was shocking. But nothing could have prepared her for what came next.

They shared a 2-year lease (March 2024 – March 2026) on a rent-stabilized apartment in New York City — a legal, binding contract separate from their relationship. They had agreed to split rent 70/30 (him/her) because she was finishing graduate school and earning only $20–40k per year, while he made over $130k annually.

When he left, he promised to pay his portion through August, then said he wanted to break the lease in September. She explained that doing so would leave her unhoused — especially since the apartment was rent-stabilized and finding comparable housing in NYC is nearly impossible. He knew her traumatic history with eviction and housing instability and how hard she had worked to finally achieve stability.

A week later, the landlord emailed her saying they’d received an inquiry about breaking the lease. That’s when she realized he might be trying to break it unilaterally. She reached out calmly, hoping to resolve things peacefully, but when it became clear he wasn’t cooperating, she began researching her legal options. She even told him transparently that she might have to pursue legal action if he refused to pay his share out of necessity.

When her ex came to collect his remaining belongings, he showed up with two friends and a bodyguard who appeared to be armed (potentially with a gun). My friend and the friends who were there were terrified — especially since all were people of color, and they feared the situation could escalate. She emailed him right away, asking if the man had brought a weapon into her home. He never responded.

Then, in late July, she was served with a temporary order of protection — a restraining order filled with false and baseless allegations, including harassment, menacing, stalking, and attempted assault.

There had never been any history of violence or threats between them. After consulting an attorney, she learned that in New York, alleged victims of domestic violence can legally vacate a lease. It became clear he was exploiting this law to get out of his financial obligations.

His so-called “evidence” included her emails asking about rent, asking about the potential gun, and even having friends over when he moved out — all framed as “harassment.” These claims had no legal or factual basis, but fighting them required immediate legal representation.

Despite her innocence, his false narrative worked. He successfully vacated the lease under domestic violence statutes — leaving her behind with:

    •    $10,000 in legal fees and counting

    •    $20,440 in unpaid rent

All of this, while she earns $45,000 per year working as a doctoral intern, a job that offers no paid sick leave, holidays, or vacation. She started that job just one week after her mother passed away, because she couldn’t afford unpaid time off. She hasn’t stopped working since — through grief, financial strain, and legal battles.

To make things worse, he also abandoned two cats they had adopted together and left her with more than $4,000 in veterinary and adoption costs.

My friend is one of the most compassionate and hardworking people I know. She has dedicated her entire career to helping children and families as a psychologist. But a false order of protection — even temporary — can destroy a professional license.

Everything she has worked for — her career, housing, and stability — is on the line because of one man’s calculated misuse of the system.

If you’re able to contribute, your donation will go toward:

    •    Covering legal fees exceeding $10,000

    •    Paying unpaid rent ($20,440) he left behind

    •    Supporting ongoing care for the two cats he abandoned

    •    Allowing her to take a few unpaid days off to recover physically and emotionally

Every dollar helps, truly — and if you can’t donate, even sharing this page can make a huge difference.

My friend has shown unbelievable strength and grace through something that would break most people. Please help me make sure she doesn’t lose everything she’s worked for because of someone else’s lies.

Thank you so much for reading, sharing, and believing her story.