A hand-up. Not a hand-out. Help Me Keep a Roof Over My Head
I never imagined I would find myself asking strangers for help.
I have always worked hard and taken care of myself. Even when I was younger and didn't always have a stable place to live, I wasn't afraid of hard manual labor to get back on my feet. Asking for help like this is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.
A few weeks ago, I became the victim of a banking scam. I know people say, "It could never happen to me," and I used to think the same thing. The scammers emptied my account and left me nearly $5,000 in the negative. I filed a police report, but while the investigation continues, my bank is still holding me responsible for the balance.
To make matters worse, I wasn't told to move my direct deposits before the account was frozen. When my disability payment arrived, the bank immediately took about two-thirds of it to cover the negative balance. They also took the financial aid money I had carefully saved for school.
I'm 44 years old and living with congestive heart failure. The medications I take make it impossible for me to do the kind of physical work I relied on most of my life. That's why I returned to college. I'm working toward a degree so I can build a career that fits my health and become financially independent again.
I've reached out everywhere I can for assistance. My utility bills have been covered, and I'm grateful for that. Unfortunately, I'm still short half of my rent, which is due on the 5th of the month.
If you're able to help, no matter the amount, every dollar will go directly toward keeping a roof over my head. The donations will be deposited into a new bank account that is not connected to the compromised account.
If you can't donate, simply sharing my story would mean more than you know.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any kindness you can offer. I truly hope that one day I'll be in a position to help someone else the way I'm asking for help today.