Goal: $3,500

Description:

I’m in a spot where I need a reliable daily driver that I can also use as a temporary living setup while I get back on stable ground. A van budget of $2,500 would give me something consistent and affordable to maintain while I work and rebuild.

This is simply about having steady transportation and a safe place to stay while I get my footing again.

This past year came with a lot of major losses at the same time. I went through a rough breakup, lost my home, lost my job, and had to rehome both of my dogs, Winter and Jenny. Winter passed a few months later, the day before the first community suicide-prevention training event we organized. I spent months couch surfing until a friend let me start renting a tiny home at the end of September, but I’ve been late on rent both months and they’ve been extremely generous. It’s just an expense I can’t reliably afford right now.

Part of this is also about simplifying my life while I rebuild. A van gives me a quiet, simple space to stay close to myself and keep learning how to live from a calmer space.

I’m bartending now and rebuilding, but I’m still one setback away from being stuck without transportation or a safe place to stay.

The $2,500 van budget plus an extra $1,000 covers:

• GoFundMe fees

• Insurance

• Registration and taxes

• Basic repairs and an oil change

• A small buffer for livable essentials like a heater or simple storage

Having something stable to drive and a safe place to sleep would help me stay steady at work and continue the mental-health and suicide-prevention work I’ve been doing through The Uncarried. That work will continue no matter what, but dependable transportation and a secure place to sleep would make things a lot more sustainable.

If you’re able to help in any way, sharing this or pitching in, it means more than I can say. I’m just trying to get back to a stable foundation so I can keep moving forward and keep doing the work.

Thank you for reading and for even considering helping.

— Tyler