Hello Sheena here.

I am fundraising because I am struggling to pay my bills and rent due to a combination of job changes, moving, and school commitments for both my daughter and I, through the last year.

This has slowly snowballed for the last few months, I was doing my best to avoid, but this is the FIRST TIME that this has ever happened to me with my rent in 13 years.

I would also be willing to pay back any amount of a loan with a solid payment plan! Just reach out to me outside of this GoFundMe.

This is to help us get through this tough time and securely keep our stable housing, and financial stability.

I have exhausted all of my other options and this is my LAST resort, and to be quite honest I’m absolutely mortified I even have to post this…

but Full Story Below:

These last 2 years, I went back to school at Cabrillo for Nutrition, and getting prepped to apply for the Medical Assisting program, with the whole point to move towards work that is higher paying in the long run and more stable than regular customer service/food service jobs.

But this last whole year, has been pretttty freaking ROUGH.

During this time, I abruptly changed jobs from my job of 8+ years, to a new opportunity(Mid-spring semester ‘24). Although it was abrupt, I was a lot happier at the new place.

Right at the beginning of this new job, I got a three-month notice to move from our apartment that we had for 3 1/2 years.

The three months to move out landed at the beginning of school for both my daughter and I.

During summer 2024, I was working many hours, and in the midst of that it took me all 3 months to find housing, that would give me and my daughter a chance, as I have been a single person for 5+ years and landlords don’t like single parents with single incomes, it’s VERY clear.

Both of us starting school and moving at the same time was A LOT mentally and financially.

On top of this, I had a year of school already planned out before I had even gotten our moving notice.

At the beginning of 2025, my hours started to dwindle at this new job, and it has gotten to the point where I have had three full months off with no hours or pay, since January.

Being in school, I had a little bit of financial aid to help, but it wasn’t enough to sustain without my main income.

I do have a couple of part-time jobs, they pay my bills, but don’t fill the needs to live here in Santa Cruz with a kiddo (including groceries, toiletries, gas, etc).

I began looking for a new full-time job during my last month of school, but it was really hard to secure anything with my scheduling at the time(limited because of classes).

Fast forward to mid-June, I still don’t have any hours coming in from my main job.

I reached out to them about cashing out my sick pay, they weren’t able to do it. They offered me to look at my 401k, but the company won’t release any funds without an official eviction notice.

I am trying to avoid raising a red flag about my living situation as my landlord is NOT very understanding of my situation, or lenient in any way.

If you got this far, thanks for reading.

I am embarrassed but doing the best I can. I don’t plan to ever let this happen again. Going back to school probably should have been at a later time, but I am proud of my accomplishments and can only move forward the best way I can.

Much love,

Sheena