Hi! My name is Luc, and I am a black queer artist. I am currently facing severe financial hardship that is threatening my livelihood. I have been struggling for a long time, and I am afraid I am at my limit and out of options.

I live with my mother who can't work due to her health, and we live somewhere with extremely limited options for local jobs, no public transportation and limited access to a car. Out of necessity I have been making the most consistent income in the household through my art online. It has never been enough to make ends meet for us and while I am currently in a condition that has made me unable to work at my usual pace we just can't keep up with everything, and I'm afraid we're in danger of losing our home again.

I have been suffering severely from mental illness and living somewhere with nearly nonexistent options for mental healthcare for people on Medicaid has made getting any help a months-long and absolutely crushing process. Having to fight while being very sick and unmedicated to get even the most basic treatment and medication has not really afforded me any chance to get well.

We are on EBT and our support from that has been repeatedly cut while we can already barely afford current food prices. My physical health is now suffering because I am barely eating day to day. I am pushed way past my limit and things are only getting more difficult.

Beyond just not being able to support myself with my art right now, being unable to do the thing I love most has been extremely painful for me. More than just my source of income, art is my passion, and I simply haven't been able to create in my current circumstances. I want to be able to survive so that I can keep drawing.

My current goal is to be able to cover current outstanding bills and rent costs, to be able to have something in savings as we currently have no form of safety net, and to fund getting myself proper mental health care.

If my artwork has made you happy, it would mean a lot to me if you are able to help me in any way to keep doing & sharing it. Thank you so much for reading.