I am writing this with my heart in my throat. I am terrified we are about to lose everything.

I live with my 61-year-old mom and our dog, Quinn. My mom raised me and my younger brother alone. My brother passed away in 2021, and that pain never leaves us. I still remember that day like it was yesterday. I thought I heard him snoring in his room, but he was struggling to breathe. When I checked again, he was gone. I called 911 and tried CPR, but it was too late. People say it was not my fault, but the “what ifs” live with me every day.

Since then, I have been doing everything I can to protect the family I have left. I work at a small mom-and-pop shop within walking distance since I do not have a car. I do remote AI testing work in my spare time to bring in extra income. I have applied to every job I can find, and I was saving to get my CDL to build a stable future, but every dollar has gone toward rent and survival.

Once you fall behind on rent, it feels almost impossible to catch up. No matter how much I work or how many side jobs I take, the late fees and overdue balance keep piling up faster than I can pay them down.

My mom’s work contract expired, and she has been unable to find a new job. She is applying for Social Security and disability, but that process can take months. A few days ago, she fell down the apartment stairs because a cement step broke beneath her. She was hospitalized with bruised ribs and a fracture. We are looking into what we can do legally, but that will also take time.

Meanwhile, our landlord has filed a complaint for unpaid rent, and our court date is coming soon. I could survive homelessness if it were just me, but I cannot let my mom go through that at her age. People have even told me to sell my dog to save money, but Quinn is my lifeline. She is the reason I can get up in the morning and keep moving forward.

If we are evicted, donations will go toward catching up on rent if possible, paying for a storage unit for our belongings, a U-Haul truck, and a temporary place to stay so my mom and Quinn do not end up on the street.

Even if you cannot donate, sharing our story or leaving a kind word truly helps more than I can express.

**GoFundMe:** [https://gofund.me/26253835](https://gofund.me/26253835)

From me, my mom, and Quinn… thank you for helping us hold on.

I can survive being homeless, but my 61-year-old mom and our dog cannot… we are on the edge of losing everything