I’m an educator working with high school students in the Boston area, and my partner is a former educator turned “bike shop bro,” and we live with our two delightful cats. We have been having financial difficulties over the past year due to various injuries and health reasons. My partner suffered from a severe back injury last summer and was unable to work full-time from the summer of last year to late March. In addition, I contracted COVID at work and am suffering from long-COVID symptoms. In December of 2022, my physical and mental health symptoms exacerbated by long-COVID got so bad that I had to go on sick leave so I could get treatment. Between my partner’s and my health emergencies, not being paid full-time, and many bills piling up, my partner and I have drained our savings. We have also tried to pursue many avenues of government and community support, but because my former income is “too high”, I was found ineligible for many of the programs that can help.
We found out that we cannot stay in our current apartment after our lease ends in August, and we need to move and find a place before then. However, the rental market in Boston is absolutely ridiculous in its competitiveness and unaffordability right now. As we are applying to places, many want first, last, security, application and broker fees – all of which can add up to four months of rent that need to be paid before we even move into a place we get approved for. My partner and I are trying to aggressively cut spending, get more side gigs, and save more money, but it’s hard when we’re currently living paycheck to paycheck and falling behind more and more each month.
Our current goal is to save $3,000 for move-in and rental application costs. I do understand that this is a HUGE amount, but any little bit you can donate helps us bring the cost down. If we are able to secure and pay for an apartment in the fall, that would be a huge load of stress off our backs. My partner and I would be able to better address our physical and mental health, and I will be able to go back to doing the job I love supporting students. Thank you all for reading and donating. My partner and I, and our two kitties, truly appreciate it.