My Ask:
I’m in the process of passing a rigorous background check to become a 9-1-1 dispatcher, with training starting in February of 2027. Assuming I pass their physical and psychological exams in January, I just need to survive the next 4 months until that paid training begins.
At this time, I have to ask you for help to afford my living expenses. If you would be so kind as to contribute to the $1700/month I need to cover my rent and bills – or $6,800 to live until I’m on payroll in February – then I will track your contributions and pay you back once I’m employed!
Below you’ll find the QR code to my Venmo, a goal tracker I will update with every contribution, and my resume! If you know anyone hiring, I am very adaptable – capable of office and logistical labor as well as physical labor – and I’m prepared to do just about any job immediately (just as long as it does not involve bodily fluids, or a company that spends its profits in a way that I’m morally opposed to). I don’t have any dependents, so unusual shifts are not a problem!
Thank you a million times over for helping me while I get back on my feet. I will pay you back!
Progress Tracker: $20/$6800
What Lead Up To This:
I have been looking for employment for over 25 months. I tried to use other services to avoid getting to this financial point. I have been without a job for so long that the Office of Unemployment doesn’t even have a baseline wage to use offer me financial relief.
It’s been an emotionally trying time, amplified by having to go no contact with my family for my safety, and navigate settling into a new city alone. I filed a police report earlier this year in regards to some neighbors in my building who were stalking me, but have been informed by officers that, “there’s nothing that can be done until I’m physically attacked.” I brought the same evidence I submitted to the police to my building manager, hoping to take advantage of the stalking clause in my lease that allows me to move, but she does not believe my claim. While my situation with my family and those perverted neighbors has taken an intense emotional toll, I still could not qualify for disability benefits.
Still, I have not given up hope and have applied for over 30 jobs since February 2026, ranging from an adjunct professor at Portland State University – a perfect step in my career as a senior educator with over 7 years of experience – to a Generalist at Powell’s Bookstore. After an automated message confirming my application was received, I usually do not hear anything back from these jobs (though Oregon Department of Education does consistently communicate their rejections of my now 6 and counting applications to their open positions).
While the weather was warm, I made ends meet by setting up pop-ups to do my hand-drawn temporary tattoos all over Portland. Since the fall has rolled in and cooled temperatures down, I have instead posted flyers offering my more artistic services (temporary tattoos and tarot readings) for those interested in booking an appointment and meeting indoors or for events. Unfortunately, there have been no takers [yet].
Still, I am compelled to be productive. I work on my trauma-mitigation research hub – People Be Peoplin’ – every day. I write scripts that I use to record and edit videos that are posted every Tuesday and Thursday. On Saturdays I go to the PSU Saturday Farmers Market to pass out flyers and spread awareness of the links between quality of childhood and quality of adulthood while also promoting membership to my hub. Memberships ranges from $2-$100/month. However, these are trying times, and the membership count remains at 1. No other products on my shop have sold, but I have accumulated $190 in donations over the course of this year, which is a huge win, but obviously not enough to sustain myself.
I won’t just be sitting on my hands until February. My next big entrepreneurial endeavor will be offering adult-facing writing workshops to organizations that offer healing services and/or work with kids.