Hello – my name is Emily and I am in dire need of assistance. Thank you for taking the time to visit my page.
I relocated to California in 2020 during the beginning of the pandemic, not knowing that the pandemic would wreak havoc on the whole world and destroy so many families’ finances. Well, I was not infected with COVID thankfully, but that did not leave me immune to the rest of the consequences of the pandemic.
I have struggled to maintain employment due to the required stay-at-home order. I need a traditional work environment in order to thrive professionally. As a result of job loss, my situation has drastically suffered: I am behind on rent and facing eviction, my credit is horribly ruined and I am behind on credit card payments, I live across the country away from the rest of my family, and my job history doesn’t look favorable to employers. After being fired from multiple good opportunities, I have developed extreme anxiety and insecurity and experience frequent panic attacks when I need to perform my professional duties. Further, I have been supplementing my income with gig work and my car insurance has lapsed, so I cannot continue to provide for myself without driving illegally, which I refuse to do. I also volunteer with a local organization, but lately I haven’t been able to fulfill that commitment because I use all my time trying to get ahead.
I have no where else to turn. My family is unable to help as they also severely struggle financially. I have spent countless hours contacting charitable agencies and resources to get some aid, but so many others are in the same situation as myself and there is no way to get timely/urgent help. Because I relocated during the pandemic, I haven’t been able to make any local friends or acquaintances, so I cannot turn to anyone for help. I am all alone.
As I mentioned, I am also facing eviction. I am struggling to find a new apartment, as I have a poor work history, horrible credit, and no local references. I have added myself to several waiting lists for Section 8 and public and affordable housing, but the waiting times for these lists are YEARS. One city told me the waiting list was 10 YEARS. Unbelievable.
I grew up in extreme poverty. I saw my mother struggle so much, and I promised myself that would do all I could to not live like that when I grew up. She lost houses, cars, jobs, had food insecurity, alcoholism… you name it, she suffered it. Well, sadly, here I am, despite being the first in my family to graduate college and trying so hard to get ahead. Poverty really is a generational trauma. Unfortunately, my mom passed away several years ago, only at age 42.
If you are able, please help. I promise to pay it forward when I am able. I am struggling so much and am so saddened and depressed to be in this situation I’m in. I want to contribute to society. I want to get back to who I used to be: productive, active, intelligent, confident. I do not resemble who I used to be at all.
Please help me in any way. Even words of encouragement would make me feel hugely better, as I have no one to talk to and am all alone.
Thank you so much for reading my story, as well as for your time and consideration. I wish you all the best. Thank you.