Urgent Help Needed To Maintain Stability and Recover Losses

Dear Family, Friends, and Compassionate Strangers,

This past April I signed a new lease and moved my belongings from a storage unit into my new apt after living a 9 mo long nightmare, homeless and severly depressed. Luckily, I had a car though, was able to work, and always had a warm place to sleep. It was only when a friend offered me a safe place to sleep at night and a job, that I was able to start saving money and focus on some much needed healing. I was so grateful for this opportunity, but as hard as I worked, I have yet to fully unpack or enjoy a solid night's sleep in my bed. I am now once again staring homelessness in the face. I'm terrified.

After three months of working day and night, taking only an occasional day off... I had to walk away after my "friend" made multiple inappropriate comments and requests to be intimate, which I had made clear from the get go, was a line not to be crossed. He was not happy with my decision, and so in retaliation, he has been playing games and witholding monies I'm still owed. This has kept me in a perpetual state of panic and frantically stomping out fire after fire, barely maintaining my stabilty. I am emotionally and mentally exhausted.

Besides being late w/rent and my cell ph gettimg suspended last mo (and will be again tmrw, 6/22), the witholding of my pay prevented me from getting a complete break job on my car. I begged and pleaded for payment so I could get rotors too, even sent pictures of them grinded down to dust...expressing my concern about break failure. I was ignored. I skipped that night of work as I was only able to get a partial break job...but I had no choice to set out for deliveries the following day so I could buy groceries and rotors. Unfortunately, I didn't even complete my first delivery. A driver who was in a standstill to exit the freeway decided they didn't want to wait in line to exit and pulled out right in front of me. There was no way I could have avoided hitting her. Luckily, no body was hurt, but my cars radiator and everything in front of it needs to be replaced. Full coverage insurance is a luxury I was unable to afford and Im at a total loss. Over the 18mos I have invested A LOT of money in repairs and new parts. It's impossible for me to imagine dumping it knowing the monetary loss. Regardless, I have no money and as of right now, no way to make any.

I did give one last push, however. I confronted the man who owes me back pay, face to face. I was hopeful he would see the severity and urgency and do the right thing so I could piece my car back together with salvaged parts and have a full week to work and make rent on time. But as I asked to talk to him, he pushed past me, already yelling "no" repeatedly. I followed him to his door, refusing to leave until he talked to me. He then got in my face and yelled he wasn't going to pay me another cent, grabbed me, picked me up off my feet, and slammed me to the ground. Im shook, heartbroken, and in some physical pain. I did call the police but all they could offer was a case number, police report, and a ride home. It's hard to grasp how absurd this all is, I know. And so for my safety and sanity, I think it's time I let this one go and just take the L. Sadly.

It's taken a couple of days to process everything and I've considered/explored the resources that have been kindly sent to me, but because of the urgency and time constraint, as difficult as this is for me, I am asking for your help. I have been pushing and fighting... tirelessly. But this time, I have nothing left to make another go at it without a hand up. With your support I will be buying groceries, getting my cell service restored, paying my rent, utilities, and fixing my car. If I am able to get this months bills paid, I will also be afforded the time to secure gainful employment as well, which I know is a must! Im confidant and hopeful... I just need some room to breathe and recharge.

I do know life has become increasingly more expensive and challenging to navigate for the vast majority of us. Asking for help is really, really, hard and yeah, not something Im comfortable doing. Yet, I do know for some, like myself, helping others is innate, and we realize the positive impact is made by the gesture alone. No matter how big or small should you decide to contribute... or even if you're only able to share this with your network of kind folks, please know you are a blessing, I appreciate you and I thank you.

<3 Layla