Lore writes. Lore sings. Lore yaps. Lore parties. All in all, Lore has a thirst and passion for life—a vigor and quality that people close to them have come to describe as charming curiosity, fervid fire, bewitching banter, vivacious vitality, entropic energy, and relentless resilience. But most of all, Lore quietly loves with their heart, mind, body, and soul. But what Lore doesn't often do is love themself, especially asking for help.
It may come as a surprise to you, but they are really nervous asking for help, so I am doing it for them. But who am I? I am Lore and they are me.
So here’s the unromantic, ugly truth: I’m raising $20,000 to cover past-due rent, immigration legal defense, and basic living expenses while I undergo outpatient treatment to recover from a mental health crisis and rebuild stability.
Last week, I stood in front of my open refrigerator for ten minutes trying to remember the last time I'd gone grocery shopping, done my laundry, cleaned, or even showered. For months, I've been eating one meal a day, battling insomnia, and taking care of everyone else while my physical and mental health quietly deteriorated while I single-handedly tried to manage multiple crises and unprocessed trauma in a single year:
- Starting November 2024, I suffered a cycle of manic and depressive episodes exacerbated by the stimulant medications I was taking for my ADHD symptoms. The onslaught of episodes ravaged my body, kept me functionally frozen, and severely burned out to the point of debilitating physical exhaustion, illness, and severe depression. My nervous system has been in complete disarray, disrupting my ability to work, and even properly taking care of myself.
- At the same time, my mom and I have been entrenched in a 20 year immigration legal battle and need immediate support to reduce the risk of deportation. This is not only for me. It’s for my mom, who brought me here at age 3 and risked everything just so I can live a better, healthier, and safer life. Two years ago, she applied for citizenship, was denied, and is now flagged by the USCIS. We are left with one option: a waiver only available in deportations proceedings. Although we are currently safe and not facing immediate removal at this time, the debauchery of the administration and ICE raids puts us in a high-risk situation and need legal support to stay protected.
- On Dec 10, I was admitted to Kaiser's Intensive Outpatient Program and have been unable to return to work due to my deteriorating physical and mental health. I've applied for disability insurance but my benefits have been severely delayed due to government backlog.
For the first time in a very long time, the universe reminded that I needed to take a pause to prioritize my health and radically take care of myself. But as I near the end of my treatment and prepare a quiet journey towards recovery, one question still remains: how do I build a more secure and sustainable future for myself and family?
Asking for help reflects a barrage of crises and costs : housing & financial instability, immigration legal defense to avoid deportation, basic living expenses, and a big beautiful bill of medical, treatment, and other costs.
I've been fortunate enough to have managed to survive on my own thus far and while my soul is limitless, my body is not. I don’t ask for help easily and more used to being the caretaker—through art, food, family, teaching, and community labor. But today, I am vulnerably unmasking, because I can no longer continue running on fumes. My parents have maxed out their credit cards trying to support me. With your support, I can focus on recovery, rebuild, and keep a promise that I want to recommit to: that you, me, and our loved ones can heal each other and together (And if you are inclined to, feel free to visit me in Oakland in January and February. I'll cook you dinner, pour you wine, and share the latest tea <3).
2025 has been a hell of a year. My wish for 2026 is to recover and build sovereignty not only for myself, but for you, my family, ancestors, and the communities etched on into my bones. I am treating this campaign as collective embodiment, as performance practice, and as living-cultural artifacts of mutual aid. Your support allows me to attend graduate school at The New School in NYC and grow a creative collective that builds the first artist-owned economy.
If you’ve ever loved me, hugged me, kissed me, laughed with me, sang with me, danced with me, cooked with me, made art with me, or simply believe in me—please help me build security to stay housed and protected long enough to recover to see it through.
Let's prove that I not only belong here, but that immigrants, bipoc, queer, trans, neurodivergent, and disabled people deserve to thrive. Because this is how we've always survived—through joy, performance, creativity, perseverance, and soulful resistance.
This is not just for me. This is for my mom. This is for you. This is for us.
With so much love and very little left to lose,
Lore
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WHERE THE MONEY GOES :
I’m asking for $20,000 to cover:
- $4,800 — Past-due rent to prevent eviction
- $3200 — Next 2 months of rent while I wait for disability insurance
- $2,000 — Food, utilities, and dog care
- $5,000 — Immigration legal defense
- $5,000 — outpatient treatment, medical costs, and future medical expenses.
If you can give: Any amount helps. $10 buys a meal. $50 keeps the light on. $100 can pay for rent. $500 covers attorney fees for my legal defense.
If you can't give: Leave me a note of support, tell someone who might care, share this widely on social. You can also support and follow my work & projects on Ko-fi , Instagram , and Tiktok.
A quick note on values: If you’re considering donating while also supporting people facing genocide, detention, or houselessness: thank you! If you are able and have more financial capacity, I greatly appreciate your support in keeping this immigrant, trans, disabled artist alive enough to rebuild their life.
For any updates regarding my situation, please read below. I will periodically check in every week to let know how I'm doing :)
Organizer
