Like so many of us, my household is in turmoil these days. Hi, I'm Champagne, I am disabled but still working, and I am the sole caregiver for my mom, who is sliding further into dementia and osteoarthritis. It's just us and our sweet old man dog, Buster.

My mom and I are struggling but still surviving, and now we need help. The person who cosigned for our current place was a target of the DOGE cuts, and is now dealing with figuring their own stuff out including work. I submitted my income and my mom's Social Security and teacher's retirement, and while we make more than enough to actually cover the rent, we fell a little short of the "must make 3x the monthly rent". Our leasing office is willing to overlook that and give us a new lease without a cosigner, but we have to pay a larger deposit. I've got some of it covered through small extra jobs and have been scrambling for the rest, but we need it sooner than I can scramble on my own, and there's only so much I can work.

It is still cheaper than the cost of moving somewhere, and with my increasing disability and my mom's dementia, moving is just not physically achievable at all either, nor can I afford the time off work it would require. If we don't renew our lease in the next few weeks, I am not sure what we will actually do. Other than lose our housing.

I know everyone is having a hard time right now, but any little bit that you can spare helps. We only need another $3000 (accounting for GFM fees etc) and if you can't donate, please at least share this to whatever social media you use.

In January, I will be hired permanently at the job where I am currently a contract employee, and that will come with a raise, but it isn't soon enough.

Please, help me keep a roof over my mom's head and mine.