Almost on the streets...

Hi.  My name is Catherine and this is my dog Ducky.  A year and a half ago I got
into a bad accident and my car was
totaled.  What preceded this was getting laid off from my job, losing my health
insurance, and going off six medications at once because I could no longer afford
them.

 I was in a zombie-like state and my
brother and sister-in-law stepped in and put me in a psychiatric hospital, since
most of my medications were for depression, anxiety and PTSD.   After discharging from the hospital my brother and
sister-in-law put me in a temporary
housing situation in a group home for
women with mental disorders.

 I was upset that I couldn’t bring my ESA
(emotional support animal) Ducky but
the group home did not allow dogs.  My
brother said he’d care for Ducky but
after 2 months he gave her away to
another family without telling me.  I was beyond devastated.  

I know Ducky is with a good family now
but I am not very functional without her because if my PTSD due to a major
trauma.  My 2 brothers have been paying my rent at the special home but in
October they said they can no longer help me due to their own financial problems.

I am a writer and while I was able to get 
some small gigs last summer and fall, the freelance work has dried up around the 
holiday time and has left me with
nothing.   I’ve applied to tons of jobs of alltypes and have gotten only rejection
letters or silence. 

My dream is to have my own little place again - a place that allows dogs - and
rescue another dog to train as my new
ESA  therapy dog.  And maybe the chance to  see my sweet Ducky again. But for
now, I’m just trying to keep from being
on the streets.  
I applied for  disability (due to my PTSD and a bad  herniated disc in my back) and will not hear from you them for quite a
while. 

On January 1, I was told that I will be
evicted from the group home where I live if I cannot come up with rent. I currently have .75 cents in my checking account.  

I’m in Albuquerque and the winters here can be harsh.  The homeless shelters are
almost all full.  If you’re lucky enough to 
get a spot, they kick you out on the
streets during the day (to minimize covid 
risk) and take you back in at night if
you’re lucky.  

I need funds to get through this rough,
“no work” holiday time and to pay rent 
for January and February.  I am hoping 
that if I can get through this time, I can
find work again, adopt a rescue for my
new service dog, and commence
volunteering at Paws and Stripes, an 
organization that pairs up veterans with
PTSD with rescue dogs.  

There’s a dog (maybe 2) in a shelter somewhere waiting for a home - please help
me get through this rocky, scary  time
and get back on me feet so I can avoid
the streets and have a new home with a new rescue dog to be my Emotional
Support Animal.

Thank you very much in advance.