Donate to Help Nia Key Find a New Beginning

Hello! I'm creating this GoFundMe account to help a very dear friend of mine, Nia Key, who has found herself in a difficult situation that continues to cycle.

Here's the gist of her story: Nia is a licensed social worker who's worked in various clinical positions and also taught in higher education departments. Originally from Michigan, she found herself traveling out of state to Iowa, then took a position at a university in West Virginia over two years ago. (Believe me, she has a much longer history of experience and education than what I've described - but we're trying to keep this short.)

Once she was settled in West Virginia, she soon realized the position for which she had relocated was NOT ideal, and she lost her job shortly after starting.

For the past two years, she has been seeking employment, both within and outside of her credentials, looking for anything solid.

During this time, she has depleted her savings, spent her retirement, and has relied on temporary, online freelance positions to survive.

She has been looking for work in Michigan (near her family), Ohio, Maryland, and other areas of West Virginia. Some jobs have come through, with long, 2+ hour commutes, which she accepted and soon realized she could not afford.

She would like to move out of the area that she lives; however, finding a new place of residence requires a job. Finding a job in the area she wants to move to has resulted in expensive commutes, while waiting for a new residence to be found.

And the cycle continues.

This is the first month that Nia has found herself at a loss for making ends meet. She's not sure how her rent will be paid as she waits for unemployment aid to cover utilities.

Nia WILL get back on her feet. She has always believed it to be true. She is simply finding herself in this cycle of poverty, over-qualified, over-credentialed, and needing to get out of the area she has moved to, but without the funds to do so or a job to have any rental application be accepted.

She could use a little help to stay afloat until things turn around for her. Whether it be a few dollars to help cover her rent and utilities or an extra prayer for some doors to open - she'll take either one.

Times are hard for everyone right now, so we know that Nia's situation is not exclusive to her, by any means.

Nia initially wanted me to put a goal of just $1500 to help cover this month. However, if she's going to get the heck out of West Virginia, she needs to recover a little of her savings as a cushion so she can comfortably take a position elsewhere AND move at the SAME TIME.

Thanks for reading about my friend, Nia. She's pretty amazing and has worked so hard to build a life for herself. She doesn't deserve this unlucky card she's been dealt.