Let me begin by telling you I’m not very good at punctuation and things of the writing nature, probably not the best story teller either as I can see in my mind what I’m trying to write but for some reason it doesn’t always work out to good. My name is Rob I am 42 years old looking at 43 on September 7th and I’m in a position I never dreamed would be the one I’m living right now. I was living my best life I moved from a poor area in Pa. To Philadelphia with a internet friend that convinced me it would be easier than I could imagine because truthfully I was afraid but knew that to move forward with my life and to grow as a person it was a venture that I had to entertain. When I moved to Philly it was exactly the time when the news had picked up and started talking about the corona virus. I didint really give it much thought thinking well I’m healthy and this will be gone and forgotten before you know it. We were staying in air bnb homes while looking for a apartment and I was excited to be starting my new job at a restaurant where my friend was manager. The day before I was to start my new job we got a call about a apartment in center city that was a bargain we looked at it immediately and we’re signing the lease by the end of the day. Now compared to where I come from the cost was something that worried me but I know I’m good at what I do and that working in the city pays better so moving forward I put up my 6,000 dollars for move in and things related leaving myself with 400 dollars to get me to my next paycheck. Well next day im taking things in the apartment cleaning a little bit had to go in for training at my new job in the evening and I get a call from my Roomate saying hey have you been watching the news Don’t worry about training tonight I think we are closing the doors. The Pandemic hit me like a ton of bricks was this happening? Answer as we all know was yes. Now times were tough at first but with eventual help from the government and from the city of Philadelphia we were ok. I applied and got us approved for rent assistance I was making it work. Even though the world was the way it was I was happy believe it or not. Philadelphia was my new home and felt kind of unstoppable had ideas to start a business just really felt I made the right move. Fast forward to the end of the pandemic assistance. We made it I had hurt my leg/ hip and it was bad when I slipped on the steps I went to the hospital to be turned away when it happened because it was ant life threatening but was quite serious as I am still injured today and can’t stand long or even walk up steps properly. I had spoke with a friend who is a chiropractor and he explained what he thought was wrong and explained to me the possible surgery, the stretching and what he felt was relevant to my injury and the downtime I would need for recovery before being able to go back to work. So in finalizing all the rental assistance I was able to get us 3 moths paid rent in advance so now I’m ready to get myself fixed go see the proper doctors get a MRI etc. a couple of days after though is where it all took a wrong turn. There was a pounding on my front door frantic pounding and yelling so when I opened it I was surprised to see my landlord of all people he was yelling in English and in Chinese saying he was owed 7,500 dollars we were going to be evicted etc. No I calmed him down because I knew that the check was cut 2 months prior to him showing up but there were a lot of kinks in the system so I assured him I’d have it fixed by next afternoon. I talked to my Roomate we looked over our emails to the city etc. I didint see anything wrong but he didint have the check so the whole afternoon was spent speaking to various people involved with the rent assistance down to the vendor who distributed the money to the bank and that’s when I found out that yea 2 months prior a check was cut but apparently there was a problem with my landlords bank account so instead of the check going there they chose to deposit it in my roommates account. When I asked him about it he denied it he still denies it but hours and days more of following up it was absolutely certain the funds were put in his account. I didint know what to do the landlord didint answer my calls I sent him a text what happened and he didint care he wanted his money. I knew eviction would be coming my way but I knew I had some time so I knew with the time I had I would turn this around for myself no longer talking to the Roomate actually despising him it was around Halloween still haven’t found out about the eviction waiting on something in the mail but nothing. I was doing the dishes and my Roomate came and spoke to me saying I’m going to Atlantic City with my aunt tonight and will be gone a few days. I told him I could care less and to get away from me. I was annoyed and left went to a friends and stayed the night. Next day I came home to police cars and police everywhere was thinking they were there again for my loud neighbors but when I walked to the building found they were there for me. Said they would give me 15 minutes to gather what I could and go. I told them they couldn’t do that I never even got anything in the mail that it was illegal but they said they were there more than 2 weeks before and served the final paperwork to my Roomate I talked to a lawyer to the sheriffs office it was legit. My Roomate had taken all the mail and notices off the door and I was unaware half hour later I was on the street. It was a bad dream I thought but it was very real I’m still living that bad dream today the whole story is like a bad movie I been sleeping outside I lost my phone my wallet actually when I fell asleep in the steps of a church in the gayberhood someone stole one of the 6 bags I was carrying around that had my phone and wallet in it go figure. I have tried to get help and was so hopefull that the city or the government would help me right out of this only to realize after 2 months of seemingly getting nowhere and sleeping outside I had wore out my welcome staying at friends places and my situation being so extreme that nobody really knows what to tell me. My family has tried to help when they can but they don’t have the means to help financially or the space to help with me being homeless and asking them worries them. I have tried shelters and my experience is that they are no better than the streets and I actually feel safer not being in one. Pennsylvania was not helping me I’ve at that point been robbed and pushed aside so much and felt so unsafe that I transitioned to NJ that’s where I am now I got financial aid on top of my food stamps 180 a month thst was not given in Pa but it’s the same process. I believe from this experience that all social workers should experience the system before they are hired there is no compassion again I’m lost in the system. I’m stuck I need a roof over my head its a lot safer here than in Philly the casinos offer emergency and temporary shelter when needed and that’s literally a lifesaver but I’m still injured i can’t get much help till I get a job but can’t find work with my injury or work at all it’s very hard living this nightmare people don’t generally hire homeless injured employees with limitations that can’t even properly get ready for work bathe regularly etc. I’m so stuck right now it’s day to day and like now I’m sitting on a bench will go to sleep under the boardwalk in a few hours. I need this help to get a place to stay to regroup get well and have a life again. thanks for hearing me out I’m open to suggestions as well but I’m not lazy I’ve tried and been let down so many times I’m at the end of my rope