Homeless, Disabled & Distraught; Starting Life 2.0

Greetings and salutations. Thank you so much for taking the time to read about my situation and need for assistance. I truly appreciate and am grateful to you just for finding and reading about my GoFundMe campaign.

In a nutshell, I'm homeless, disabled, have a plethora of health issues (numerous physical health issues plus severe chronic depression and anxiety), and have only a limited support system. I need help to get back on my feet and make a new start of things, and I'd appreciate your assistance in starting what I'm dubbing Life 2.0.


In 2002, I became disabled from an automobile accident (pictured above) that kept me in the hospital for nearly a year, in a wheelchair for two years, and on crutches for seven years. I now hobble around for short distances with the aid of a cane. I am unable to walk long distances due to pain and other issues. I do receive Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), which is not enough to live on, especially in the northeast region of our country. I have kept myself occupied and contributed to my community as a writer and advocate for health care, LGBTQ and disability rights, and other issues important to me.

In 2016 I left my life behind in New York to move to Hartford, CT when my mother's breast cancer came back for the fourth time so I could help take care of her. As an immigrant with little education, mom struggled, and I was glad to take the time to help her navigate our overly complicated health care system.


Late last year, mom (pictured above) lost her battle against breast cancer exactly one day after her 69th birthday. Not only was I devastated but I had to move out of her apartment and eventually, became homeless. The multiple contingency plans I'd made all fell through for one reason or another. My chronic depression combined with grief over mom's loss sent me into inpatient psychiatric care, as my suicidality went from passive to active. When I was discharged from the hospital, I was sent to a homeless shelter to continue my "recovery."

While at the shelter I contracted COVID-19 and was placed in quarantine for two weeks. When I emerged from quarantine, still with COVID-19 symptoms, I was evicted from the shelter because I had overstayed the 30-day time limit of the recovery program that had placed me there. I advocated for myself and was placed first in a hotel room and then back to the homeless shelter as the COVID-19 funding ran out. Here at the shelter, I have the delightful privilege of sharing one toilet and one shower with over 50 men, but I do have my own cubicle and bed.

Though still receiving SSDI, it does not provide me enough to cover my basic needs. I hope that you will consider helping me out so that I can survive and continue to be a supportive family member, kind friend, and advocate for others in the community.

Thank you once again for taking the time to read about me. Please follow me on social media (Twitter, Facebook , LinkedIn , Pinterest , Instagram , Amazon ) as well as on my blog . And most importantly, thank you for having faith in me and supporting me in starting this new journey. I look forward to sharing Life 2.0 with you.

UPDATED DEC 5, 2020: I need $1200 by December 18th to keep my phone on, $200 now to get my monthly Rx, money for food and transportation (about $400 should be enough) and $800 to help Dad with the copay for his recent hospitalization. That's $2700, $600 now and the rest by the 18th to keep my phone on and help Dad. I'd be extremely grateful if you could help me with this.

I'd need 1000 people to donate just $3 to meet this goal (including GoFundMe's fees) so please share and ask your friends and followers to donate $3. Thank you all so very much for your support, and the very Merriest of Holidays to You!