Support Gabriella's Journey to Stability

Hello,

Picture of me and my son at our storage facility.

My name is Gabriella (37) and that is my son Angelo (3).

I also have a daughter Jazzelle (14, but for privacy reasons I did not want to share her picture).

I want to start by saying that I have never done something like this before, and frankly I am a bit embarrassed. However I am desperate, otherwise I would not be resorting to such extreme measures. After sharing my woes with an acquaintance, it was brought to my attention that GoFundMe is a viable option for situations like mine... so here I am. It saddens me to know that there are people, and families, and causes out there that are in far greater need than mine, however this IS my life (as-I-know-it) and livelihood; and this is what is important to me.

Currently, I live in a congregate family shelter with my two children, in the North Shore area of Massachusetts. We have been in shelter 588 days or 1y, 7m, 8d or 19+ months. Right now all of my belongings and everything I own is in storage, all of my worldly possessions and everything I have left in this world, is locked up in a storage unit that I am not able to access. On 12/27 my unit was set to go to auction and initially I started this post with the ask of the funds to save my belongings, but before I finished writing and editing this post I was able to secure the funds to take care of the balance due on my own. Now that my belongings are secured, for the time being, and I am currently up-to-date, I am looking ahead and knowing that my next month's bill will come again on January 1st. So my ask is for a month of financial support (or even two) so that I can rest assured I will not have to worry about this for the foreseeable future. The monthly fee is 179.00.

I am almost certain I will not need more than two months longer of storage needs as I have an appointment on 1/9/25 for a housing opportunity that I have been chosen for, and had since been on a wait-list for for over a year. After the interview process and review of my application information I may be potentially chosen for a permanent housing opportunity - fingers crossed.

The second amount of monies I am seeking help with, which is most important for the time being, is for my automobile insurance, in which I have fallen behind-on by two months. The total amount due for this is 530.70 and due by 12/25.

You may be wondering why I waited so long to seek help? Well, I have tried reaching out to community action programs and other social service organizations but right now I am not able to get the assistance I need or connect with the proper resources to help me in the time frame that I have (last minute). I did try to exhaust every possible option on my end before resorting to posting on this GoFundMe. And now, since I am down to the 'final-hours', the clock is ticking and as I said - I am desperate.

I know that this isn't how this works, but I would be willing to give the information for someone to pay them directly, as opposed to paying me - to ensure the funds are going where I claim they are. And, I am also willing to donate my time, volunteer or pay-it-back/forward in any way/shape/form possible.

I won't sugar coat things, and I am not going to type a sob-story, but I can give you a brief history of my "story" and how I ended up in this predicament.

I moved out of my father's house at the age of 14-years-old. Although at the end of my fathers life we were on great terms, I experienced situations of physical abuse that led me to leaving home at such an early age. From there I 'put myself through school', made sure to attend my middle/junior high years and graduate high-school, all while participating in the work-release program where, instead of Art & Gym & Music Class, I went obtained employment and saved money. At that time I worked three jobs, M,W,F at the local hardware store; T&TH at the local sub shop and nights and weekends at the video store. I have always, and continue to, worked at-least two (if not three) jobs simultaneously throughout my teen and young-adult life.

I had my daughter at 23 and spent many years in a seriously abusive relationship. There were many traumatic trials and tribulations that I went through; but ultimately I rose above and put myself through college. In 2019 I graduated from Community College with an Associates Degree in Health Science and my license as a Radiologic Technologist. At this point in my life I had been a single parent for almost 10 years, was well grounded (albeit the continuous attempts by my daughters father to drag me back into probate court in his many unsubstantiated attempts to take my daughter away from me) and ready to finally reap the rewards of all of the years of hard work and dedication I put forth for mine-and-my daughters lives. After graduation I found a job making $29.00 an hour and started working as a full-time X-Ray Tech.

Life was good. I was saving money and paying market-value (private) rent. I did not utilize the system or government for any assistance whatsoever throughout any of the years I was 'on my own' & raising my daughter and I was very proud to have succeeded in providing a safe, secure, lasting foundation for me and my daughter. I wasn't looking for anything more in life. And that is when everything changed. I met a man whom I struck interest with and long story short, we began a casual relationship which over time, turned into serious dating and then eventually we found ourselves making long-term plans for our future together.

After working for one year, and dating, I decided to take the leap and make the move to a bordering state with the intent to pursue all of the dreams and aspirations we had discussed: of starting a family, one day buying a house and living together, happily forever. Since I had only had one other serious long term relationship, aside from my daughters father, the decision didn't come lightly- as history as proven- I pride myself on being an independent, hard-working, dedicated mother and single-women. I rented a three-bedroom stand-alone house and packed up our two-bedroom apartment- and off we went.

Shortly after the move the Pandemic hit, during the time most people felt the effects of covid-19, whether it was physically (by contracting it), emotionally (by the seclusion we all as a Nation faced) or financially (as most business shut down around us) - I was at the top of my game! New house, new man, great new job, and of course lots and lots of overtime... remember I was an X-Ray Tech, working at an Emergent Care facility, so to me everything was 'business as usual' during the height of covid-19. It wasn't until after the Moratoriums and State-Of-Emergencies were declared 'over' that I felt the real effects on my family. The house I was renting was being sold-for-profit by the owners, so my lease was not renewed. And we had planned on staying there for at least 4-5 years. I was 8-months pregnant when I found out this information and the owners gave me 30-days to find a new place to live, during the height of covid-19 - an almost impossible feat, although I did end up finding something that was to be ready 3 months after our anticipated move-out date (from the house).

Fast-forward, my son was born, we moved into a smaller apartment and the pressures of it all mounted. After my maternity leave, and medical extension, I returned to work as planned (the commute was only 35 min). However due to Covid most of the childcare facilities were either closed down, at capacity or the wait-lists were over a year's length in wait. And I must say, I was on every list from the southern border of Maine to just about East Boston and west out to Merrimac Valley and beyond - aka the entire North Eastern Seaboard.

I left out the part mentioning that I was a high-risk pregnancy; so in addition to working three 12-hour shifts per week, often more, and being 8-months pregnant, I had to travel to Boston 3 times a week for ultra sound & testing throughout the last (almost) 4 months of my pregnancy. My son was delivered slightly over a month pre-mature and although he came home healthy, we did notice/experience a lot of immunity issues (being sick a lot, etc... but what newborn doesn't come with a lot of health constraints/worries, etc.) Well, one day my company wanted me to come into work, on a day my newborn had a 104.9 temperature and I would not! So I was told to either come in or not come back. I chose to stay with my sick child. I was not able to schedule more shifts (the company was under new management, otherwise I probably would have had more understanding with the situation)... I did file for unemployment... they did try to deny my claim... I did fight it... and I did win. However that financial security only lasted so long.

Trying to make this long-story as short as possible, I ended up falling behind on bills/rent and found it difficult to hold my head above water. Not only was I facing financial constraints, but experiencing post-partum-depression symptoms like I had never experienced with my daughter. And to put the cherry on top, the stress of it all had caused my partner to start drinking heavily. This resulted in (to put it lightly) a lot of tumultuous situations domestically. It was very, very bad. Beyond bad. I ended up forfeiting my leases second-year-term. Moving back "home" to Massachusetts to flee the situation I was facing domestically, and as the layers continued to peel back and the snowball effect kept winding out of control... here I stand today, in a shelter succumb to the only option I had left.

Since I now have bad credit, an eviction, live in shelter and the housing market is in such high demand I am finding it extreme difficulty to secure a rental or for anyone to listen to my story (in it's entirety) and understand that the year of set-backs I faced - and the whirlwind I went through does not define me. And that all I need is some understanding and a hand-up, not a hand-out.

The reason I seek a "hand-out" today, now, is because of the time sensitive nature of the matter. Otherwise I would just obtain employment, save and pay. I have been actively applying for and interviewing-for positions, so in a matter of days/weeks I will be gainfully employed once again. I have held two jobs during my time in shelter, the first was a seasonal job when I arrived in shelter, lasting 6 months and the second was a job I held for 3 months working as the Executive Assistant to the Medical Director of an Elder Service facility, a job I found impossible to perform under my current living circumstances but continued until I was let go.

I am ready to go back to work - and in order to do so, I need to pay for my automobile insurance, which is why I so desperately need the help. I also need to be able to get my son to-and-from school, etc. etc.

Although I was disappointed when I lost my most recent job it was also a blessing in disguise! Had I not lost my job, I would have been operating 'business-as-usual' going to work daily and going about my "normal" routine. I would not have had the time to reinvest into my housing navigation. When doing so, I learned of several injustices done on my family's behalf via the shelters case management (or lack there-of) that have been the main reasons why I am sitting stagnant in the shelter. I was never deemed priority on any local or state priority list because I was deemed ineligible by technicality (which I have since begun to correct that error). The shelter team never entered my family into the CoC (Continuum of Care), a major avenue that connects families with resources for housing opportunities. I was never deemed a DV Priority because I was not given the proper support, guidance or advocacy. There is a lot of complex issues going on with me and my family and our case here at the shelter. I spend sleepless nights, up until 4:00 am reading and researching all of the Mass.gov and Hud.gov resource web pages learning about the complexities of the intricate workings of the housing silos and the way they operate, etc. And finding an apartment under my circumstances is a full-time job in itself! Truly.

My major goal is to go back to school for my Bachelors Degree in Social Work and then my Masters Degree in Public Health. I want to advocate for young woman, homeless and Domestic Violence Survivors - because, as a person with lived experience, no one should ever have to go through what I went through. I am a capable, able-bodied individual who is willing and able to do whatever it takes to get out of this situation, although the system is seemingly making that progressively more difficult.

Any help that anyone can offer in this time of need would be so very much appreciated and I would be forever grateful! It is amazing the strength I have up held during this time. I can honestly say anyone else in my shoes would have already broke - however everyday I wake up and fight for my kids and I try and get out of this nightmare I am living in.

I am looking for any help paying my automobile insurance by or before Christmas Day. It is due 12/25. In the mount of $530.70. That is the bare minimum I need, however if I could get some breathing room an extra month to let me focus on working and catching up would be such a Godsend. My monthly bill is 262.50/mo.

Two years ago if someone was in my shoes, I most certainly would have judged them. I would have thought to myself "well, just get yourself out of that situation" or perhaps 'your making excuses'. But I have been so tremendously humbled by this experience, never in my wildest dreams would I have ever saw myself in a shelter- in my entire life. And even the phrase people hear : "your only one check away from homelessness" sounds so phony... but let me say, it is so incredibly true and I have experienced it firsthand.

Thank You all for taking the time to read.

I did initially ask for just the balance due, and yes, I did increase the ask. For two reasons, I have never done this before, and quite honestly was very nervous and scared about even asking; or if anyone would even help. BUT what I know is important, is to not fall back into the same financial hole again. So, with that being said, if I can get "ahead" one month, while I start my new job, and have some room to breathe and not worry, then that would take a tremendous weight off of my shoulders and not be for a wasted cause. Same with storage.

The breathing room financially will offer me the ability to take care of the two damaged tires (one with a bent rim) that my vehicle have as soon as I get my first paycheck. On a cold day my two tires go flat... so on the mornings (when it's cold) you will* see me driving on the rims, down the street, in my Explorer, to the nearest working FREE air fill, while en route to my sons school. My life seems like one cruel joke after another. But, all that to say that any donation is so tremendously appreciated & will be utilized on NECESSITIES for my family. I am in disbelief! The generosity of strangers is beyond amazing, I am in tears, seriously. I will one day pay it forward ten-fold! This will help aid in me getting ahead in 2025... on the right track, with the right set of wheels, in the right direction - quite literally.

Break down:

530.00 - owed for auto insurance

262.50 - one month auto insurance

________

792.50

179.00 - one month ahead on storage

________

971.50