Help autistic woman looking for a place of her own

Hi, my name is Ashley Downey. I am 31 and I am on the autism spectrum. Until July 12, 2023, I was employed part-time at Dollar Tree. I had been employed there for a month when I was fired for something that wasn't a fireable offense. I found out later, that the real reason was because of my disability. My boss didn't like having someone on the spectrum working for her. I am currently looking for another job. But I have had difficulty in the past finding and keeping employment due to a lack of employers willing to hire me. I don't drive currently due to anxiety and PTSD. So, I rely on public transportation, friends, or Lyft. Not having a job has made it incredibly difficult for me to pay my bills. I have gotten behind on a lot of bills. And have had to sell things just to pay my rent, phone, and Internet bill. I have been living paycheck to paycheck for 6 years now. And my savings are long gone. I don't know how long I will be unemployed. But I am asking for help because I have nowhere else to turn. My family can't help me out due to financial constraints. I would use to the funds I receive to pay rent, pay my cell phone bill, and order a monthly bus pass. So I can continue going to job interviews and also use the funds to buy groceries. My rent is currently $190.00 a month. I also have a prior Spectrum bill from 2020. That I was in the process of paying off when I lost my job. I currently also have dreadlocks and they are something that is a bit pricy to upkeep my appearance. Unfortunately, African American hair is expensive. And so are African American hair products.

Rent

$760.00

Groceries

$400.00

Bus pass

$120.00

Cell Phone bill

$160.00

Spectrum bill

$607.00

Kinetic bill

$149.08

Hair maintenance

$382.00

Laundromat fee

$50.00

Lyft for getting groceries, and transporting things that I can't carry on bus

$490.00

I am not eligible for unemployment, unfortunately. I was told by my landlord recently that if I am late paying September's rent. That I will be getting evicted due to the fact that I have been late paying rent several times this year due to having to decide which bill was important enough to pay. And having to deal with being laid off twice this year due partially to my anxiety and PTSD. I live in a HUD income-based apartment for individuals with disabilities. I currently am several months behind on my Internet bill, I don't have food stamps yet (I am waiting for my food stamp card in the mail). I haven't been able to wash my clothing in my apartment laundromat since the end of June. I have applied to 42 jobs since July 12th. I have heard nothing yet. Even though I have reached out to the places that I applied to. I am humbly requesting your assistance in raising $3,530 which would help me cover my rent and other bills for the next few months while I continue my job search. Your generosity would alleviate the stress of potential eviction and allow me to focus on securing stable employment. I have lived in my apartment for 6 years now. Prior to living in my apartment. I was homeless for 364 days until February 13, 2017, and lived in the Salvation Army's women's shelter in Lexington, Kentucky. For the second time since the of fall 2014.