Relocation to Pittsburgh

Update: Family! I had to return to DC after a stint with the Pittsburgh post office as a letter carrier, which went south. It appears I jumped the gun, moving to Pittsburgh before I had an actual place to call home.

I need additional help. I low-balled and grossly underestimated my needs. I am back in the District. I recently renewed my substitute teacher certificate with DC Public Schools. I've been granted a cot at an area homeless shelter for men in southeast Washington DC. It's not ideal, but, with some grace, I'll have space here until the end of September at which time I can relocate (*again) to Pittsburgh. Hindsight is 20/20. The biggest mistake I made was putting the horse before the buggy. The cost in hotel stay bled my resources. I banked on the postal service, which tanked.

I am currently seeking the aid of a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit agency, that has agreed to provide housing assistance to help me offset the cost in security deposit and first month's rent. They have agreed to assist me with $600 toward said costs, but I will need to come up with the rest (an additional $600). I could also use help covering my storage fees this month.

The creative writing fellowship with CAAPP comes with a two-year non-renewable contract, however, we don't get our first paychecks until the end of September. I am hoping that, with sub-teacher compensation and your support, I can manage a proper relocation this time. That I have since found affordable housing in the city is a boon. Your donations would help me move into a spot I can call my own!

The goal is $800 more. Thanks for whatever you can donate. And please, think of me and the host of amazing men and staff at 801 Men's Emergency Shelter in DC. It's a shame that this much love, loss, creativity, hurt, disintegration, determination, and cunning could live and die by chance's fate alone. I am developing friendships, gender-queer and otherwise precious relationships with persons I hope to know for the rest of my life. Material support would go a long way in helping me support friends at the shelter in their struggles as well.