Life for a single father of two daughters, one of whom has autism, has become a daily battle against mounting financial pressures. After my divorce, the burden of paying alimony and child support has been unrelenting, making it difficult to keep up with basic necessities. With only one income, now significantly reduced due to fewer hours at work, making ends meet has become nearly impossible.
Rent is $974 per month for a cramped one-bedroom apartment. The situation is so tight that I father has had to make the painful decision to sleep on the floor for the past year and a half, allowing his daughters to have the only room. The small space is just another reminder of how far I have fallen from the life I once knew. The constant struggle to provide for my daughters weighs heavily on me. With school starting, I worry about buying new clothes and supplies—expenses that seem insurmountable when every penny is stretched to its limit.
Finding a part-time job has been a frustrating challenge. Despite numerous applications and inquiries, nothing has materialized, leaving me feeling desperate and trapped. The reduced hours at his current job have only exacerbated the situation, with less income coming in and no prospects for additional work on the horizon. Every month is a tightrope walk, balancing rent, bills, and groceries, with little to no room for anything unexpected.
Food on the table is not always a certainty. There have been nights when I have gone without a proper meal to ensure that his daughters are fed. The guilt of not being able to provide enough for them gnaws on me daily. I know that my daughters deserve more—a stable home, enough food, and the small joys that other children take for granted, like new clothes for school. But the reality is that even these basic needs are hard to come by. The thought of failing them keeps him awake at night, staring at the ceiling from his makeshift bed on the floor.
My daughter with autism requires special care and attention, adding another layer of complexity to my already overwhelming life. The extra costs associated with her care further strain the limited budget, leaving even less for other essentials. Despite the challenges, I try to remain strong for my daughters, but the weight of it all is exhausting.
After crunching the numbers, I realize that to gain any sort of breathing room, I need at least two months’ rent saved up. This amount would allow him to catch up on other bills and buy the necessities my daughters need. But even as I dreams of that relief, I know that at this moment, anything would help. Any small bit of assistance could be the difference between sinking further into debt or keeping his head just above water.
If any wants to donate here is my PayPal link
paypal.me/fastedddy