Hi, my name is Melinna.

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

For a while now, I’ve been experiencing homelessness and living out of my Toyota with my two cats. They are my family. They are my comfort. And they are the reason I keep going, even on the days when I feel completely exhausted and scared.

I work. I show up. I try. But despite doing everything I can, I haven’t been able to get back on my feet fast enough to secure stable housing. Living in my car was supposed to be temporary — just something to get me through a rough chapter.

Now my transmission is starting to fail.

Every time I turn the key, I feel anxiety in my chest. My car isn’t just transportation — it’s my shelter, my safety, and the only stable space my cats and I have. If it stops running, I lose more than mobility. I lose my home.

I am trying to stay proactive instead of reactive. Instead of waiting for a breakdown that could leave us stranded, I’m asking for help to transition into something safer and more stable: a small camper or RV. It wouldn’t be luxury — it would be stability. A lock on the door. A consistent place to sleep. A way to rebuild without the constant fear of “what if tomorrow is the day everything falls apart?”

I’m not asking for a handout. I’m asking for a bridge. A way to move from survival mode into something sustainable.

If you can donate, share, or even just send encouragement, it means more than you know. Truly. I’m doing everything I can to keep moving forward, and any support helps me and my cats get one step closer to safety and stability.

Thank you for reading my story.

Thank you for caring.

And thank you for being part of the reason I don’t give up.

— Melinna