Emergency rent assistance

Hello,

My name is Martin Cephas (Marcep), and I am composing this letter and fundraiser to get the help I need. Since graduating in the spring of 2022, I have had the privilege to learn and teach alongside seasoned educators in New Jersey. Although teaching has been a transformative career move, I would be remiss to say that it has been financially fruitful. During the waning months of 2023, I began repaying my student loans to get my degree shipped to me. It hasn’t been easy.

Due to those payments automatically pulled from my account, paying my rent on time has been quite impossible— So much so that I have incurred three months of unpaid rent. As a fellow educator, my landlord has been more than understanding of the current economic recession. Nevertheless, My lease ended last month, and will not be able to renew it due to my outstanding balance. I must move out or face an evacuation notice by the end of April.

Being the first person in my family to graduate and move into an institutional career has been a blessing but also a lonely and arduous journey. Living and working in Newark, New Jersey, and having little to no community outside of work has been atrabilious, to say the least. Nationwide, we have seen how insidious the cost of living has affected so many Americans. And the Coronavirus-19 has left most Americans in an economic fallout, even four years later.

I am well aware of the current recession and social climate we are currently facing and know that everyone has problems, perhaps more urgent than mine. I also understand that some may lack the wherewithal to donate. So, I sincerely appreciate any help but don't want anyone else to overextend themselves financially. Sharing and disseminating is feasible and much appreciated.

Sincerely,

Marcep