In April, 2023, I resigned from teaching after having accrued an impossible amount of leave without pay due to my daughter’s chronic illnesses. We had struggled before, but not to the extent that multiple years of lost income had impacted. Simultaneously, housing costs soared in Williamsburg. A family member offered us a new start with housing as long as we needed it, but across country. We made the difficult decision to use my savings to pack up our lives and move our family there - an expensive move - only to find out that the situation was not a healthy one. We had been led to believe a lot of things that hadn’t been the whole picture. It wasn’t safely workable. Stranded, I sold my last valuable possession (my car) to fund our return, without most of our belongings, to our previous region where we at least had friends and history, but are left effectively homeless and without transportation, a difficult way to start over again.
I am still self-employed and am applying to full-time positions, but in order to keep my children’s lives on track - one starting kindergarten in August and one in college, I need a modest vehicle and a permanent address. I just can’t pull these together without help, and I have nothing left to sell.
I’m seeking funding for an inexpensive car and a first/last month deposit on a small home for our family and beloved pets. I’ve tried every other resource at my disposal but I know we need big help to make it.
