Hi friends and family,

I don't usually ask for help like this because I am used to relying on myself to find solutions to problems. But right now, my family is facing a crisis, and I am reaching out because I am in a very tight spot and need your help to keep a roof over our heads.

The immediate goal of this fund is to cover my rent so my children and I do not lose our home.

Over the last few years, I have been hit with a series of challenges that have made it impossible to stay afloat financially. It started with escaping an abusive relationship with my youngest child's father.

In a much more recent, entirely separate family court battle, I was forced to navigate the legal system unrepresented against a heavily resourced opposing party. Because I was financially starved of the resources needed to secure counsel, the structural advantages of the court were leveraged against me. The outcome of this situation was a ruling that shifted tens of thousands of dollars of debt onto my shoulders and caused an unwarranted, heartbreaking disruption to the time I am allowed with my oldest son.

While trying to navigate that situation, my physical health took a massive hit. I was completely unable to work for months due to a severe skin condition that left my hands with painful fissures.

Compounding all of this is an ongoing childcare crisis. My youngest son has autism, and while he is one of the absolute greatest blessings in my life, finding safe and accommodating care has been incredibly difficult. He has had issues with standard daycares, and because I don't have family or a support network nearby, I have been his sole caretaker. I applied for DES childcare assistance back in September but I have been told that the waitlist may be years long.

I have tried everything I can think of to bridge this gap. I even attempted to sign up to deliver for Uber Eats, only to be rejected because of a large crack in my windshield.

I anticipate that we will be in this survival mode for another year. Once my youngest son is old enough to start kindergarten, the logistics will be more manageable, allowing me to fully re-enter the workforce. Until then, I am simply trying to survive.

Asking for financial help is incredibly difficult for me. But willpower cannot pay the rent or override a broken welfarte system. If you are in a position to contribute—or even just to share this page with your network—it would give my family the breathing room we desperately need to survive this chapter.

Thank you for any help you can provide, even if it's just a dollar or some kind words.

With deep gratitude,

Leticia