I Never Thought I'd Write This Post. Domestic Violence Changed That.

I'm not great at asking for help. I've spent most of my life being the person who shows up for others, as a teacher, as a caretaker, as someone who has always made time for people the world would rather not see.

I work as a special education teacher and direct care provider at a group home for youth. I've spent years volunteering alongside people experiencing homelessness. I recently finished writing a play about chosen family and the truth that survival is never done alone.

I believed all of that, for everyone else.

Now I'm the one who needs to believe it for myself.

What happened

Since September 2024, I have been subjected to an escalating pattern of domestic violence — physical assault, strangulation, financial abuse, isolation, and psychological cruelty designed to destroy my sense of self. I filed a police report for felony strangulation on March 26, 2026.

My abuser has also filed a restraining order against me, a retaliatory tactic that has locked me out of my home, my belongings, and my medications.

Where I am right now

I am currently homeless. I have no access to my bank accounts, my paycheck, or my personal belongings. I have been cut off from life-sustaining medications, including treatment for pulmonary arterial hypertension and HIV antiretrovirals. Missing these medications is a direct threat to my life. My job is at risk because I've been unable to report to work.

This is a same-sex domestic violence case. I am a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

What I need

• Food, gas, and basic essentials to survive day to day

• Temporary housing and deposits

• Legal representation to fight the retaliatory restraining order and regain access to my medications, paycheck, and belongings

• Protection of my employment rights

I am not looking for forever. I am looking for enough to land on my feet, catch my breath, and keep moving forward. I have a career, a creative life I'm building, and a community I love in the Coachella Valley. I am not giving up on any of it.

Every dollar matters. Every share matters just as much. If you've ever had to start over with nothing, you know what this moment feels like. And if you haven't, thank God, and maybe this is a chance to be someone's bridge.

I'm going to be okay, but right now, I need my village.

With love and stubborn hope,

Wil