Hi everyone, my name is Jaylin. I’m a 20-year-old Black gay man who has been on my own since I was 16 after being kicked out of my home. Since then I’ve done everything I can to survive and take care of myself, but right now I’m facing one of the most overwhelming and painful moments of my life.

My leasing agent has already sent out the eviction paperwork and told me that the eviction notice can be placed on my door any day now. I’m currently $2,700 behind on rent and living with the constant fear and stress of losing my home at any moment.

A big part of how things got this bad is because of what I’ve been dealing with personally. I recently got out of a very unhealthy and stressful relationship. While we were together, my ex broke one of the windows in my apartment during an incident. Even though I didn’t break it, my apartment complex charged me for the damage, which added even more financial pressure and pushed me further behind.

At the same time, I became very sick and was physically unable to work. Instead of understanding my situation, my manager put a lot of pressure and stress on me about missing work while I was sick. That situation became extremely overwhelming, and I ended up losing my job because of it. Losing my income so suddenly made it impossible to keep up with my rent and bills.

All of this happening at once — losing my job, dealing with the damage charges from my ex breaking my window, and the constant pressure and instability — has taken a serious toll on my mental health. I’ve been struggling with deep depression while trying to handle everything on my own.

To make things even harder, my car was also towed and has been sitting in the tow yard for about two weeks now, with the fees increasing every day. Without my car, it’s even harder for me to get around and search for work or handle daily responsibilities.

I created this GoFundMe because I truly need help. The funds would go toward my past-due rent, the apartment damages from the broken window, getting my car out of the tow yard, transportation, food, and basic necessities while I work on finding another job and trying to rebuild my stability.

I hate having to ask for help, but right now I am genuinely scared of losing everything. Any support, no matter the amount, would mean more to me than I can put into words. Even if you’re unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser could make a huge difference for me.

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and for any kindness or support you’re able to give during one of the hardest times in my life.