Help us keep our home & fur babies

Hello. My name is Julie. I am a 45 year old woman. I live in Portland, Oregon. I am a Bus Operator for a company called TriMet, which is the public transportation for the City of Portland and surrounding areas. I have been with this company for 7 years and 4 months. On August 18, 2015, I injured my back while at work. I thought that maybe I just pulled something, and that it would feel better later on, and I went back to work. I finished out the remainder of my shift. By the time I checked in at the garage after work, my back felt much worse. I decided, against my better judgement, to fill out a "report of injury" form. I turned it in, then went straight to the ER. Since this injury occurred at work, the hospital had me fill out the appropriate paperwork, making this a Workman's Comp claim. The doctor did a super short exam, referred me to see the occupational doctor, and put me off work for two days. After going through everything the doctors, therapists, and what my employer wanted me to do, my claim got denied in December 2015. Unfortunately, because my claim was denied, any and all time off, now count against my attendance, putting me in jeopardy of losing my job. So now, I have been forced to either hire an attorney to fight it so I can keep my job, or let my employer terminate me. We had a hearing scheduled for February, but it was pushed back and rescheduled for May 9, 2016. So my job is secure at least until that date. If I win, my job is safe. If I lose, I also lose my job. I have tried on numerous occasions to return to work, only to realize that I can not physically do my job. I contacted my Human Resources contact today to find out what sort of help may be available for me. I have been sent an application for an ADA (American's Disability Act) job accommodation, that needs to be filled out by myself, and my doctor, and returned to Human Resources by April 18, 2016. Then HR will go over the application, and if I qualify, they will make accommodations for me based on my disability, even if it means a change in positions, or a reduction in hours, or in time spent in the seat. I am making this my priority and have already called for an appointment to do the paperwork with my doctor, so that I can be working ASAP. I have filed for disability as well, in case of a reduction in hours, or the chance my ADA application is not approved. I am just awaiting a phone call for an interview. My significant other has his disability appointment on April 19, 2016.

Today, our rent was due. By tomorrow, we will be served a 72 hour pay or vacate notice. Currently, there is no income coming in, what so ever. I have frantically called every possible social service agency, as well as United Way referral services, seeking assistance of any kind, for help paying our rent, only to be told over and over that "no funds are available." So, here I am, creating this fundraiser as a last resort, and hope. I am trying to raise $1500.00, which is enough to get my family of 4, plus our 2 pets, through this month. That amount would cover our rent with late fees, which is $910 + $92 late fee, as well as $400 that we are behind on from late fees for the past several months. I am not the kind of person who wants a handout, or who would ask for anything unless there are no other options, and right now, there are NONE. I would much rather be self sufficient, earning my money from an honest day's work. Creating this fundraiser is extremely humbling and humiliating, but I am in honest need of help. I am SCARED to death of losing the roof over my head, my family's heads, and our pets (our family aka our babies) heads. With a little help, and lots of prayer & hope, we can and will rise above this! So, please, Friends, Family, and even Strangers, if you can help, with anything, it would be much appreciated, no matter how much, or how little, EVERYTHING helps!

Thank you for taking the time to read this.