Howdy. My name is Jo or JoLynn, depending on how you know me. I am 23 about to be 24 in May. I am reaching out for help because my car was repossessed on April 19th, 2023. I had fallen behind on payments and was told by the bank there was nothing they could do to help me and they would not be offering due date extensions. The photo you see is the day I signed paperwork on my car in August of 2021. Buying this car was a break in generational cycles, as well as a huge tool to gain access to better employment.

I moved to a college town in DFW in 2021 to further along my goals of becoming an educator, a better artist, and connecting with a strong local community. I also had quite a few friends from back home here, so I knew I wouldn't be totally alone. I grew up surrounded by addictions, abuse, and intense neglect. I spent my youth moving around and playing a parental role to my two younger siblings. I, along with my siblings, were placed in foster care when I was 13. My younger sister and I both aged out of the system. My brother recently turned 18 and has had a different, but arguably worse experience aging out of the system. Although these things might seem far away in time, the lack of any familial relationships or support creates so many challenges. Our family has not only been neglectful, but also harmful to our health, safety, and stability. There is no built in safety net; the net we were born into was not safe. There is so much grief and trauma between the three of us, but also generationally.

Despite all my efforts and progress I have made here in DFW since August of 2021, I have been laid off multiple times in the last year, or had to take seasonal work just to stay employed. My wages and hours have been cut repeatedly, no matter my willingness to work. These periods of unemployment have heavily affected my finances and ability to meet my basic needs (food, shelter, transportation, paying utilities/bills). My sister has also dealt with so much in the last few years. She has spent many years going through periods of abuse, homelessness, hunger, instability in housing, jobs, relationships, etc. She came to stay with me in November of 2022 to separate herself from the cycles we both experienced within and outside of our family.

I recently started working in the education field again as a substitute teacher and possibly a color guard instructor in the summer months. This is the first time in nearly five months I am being paid a wage that could cover my bills. I am also two courses away from finishing an associates degree in teaching.

The amount I am looking to fundraise would cover back payments on my car note, repossession fee, retrieval fee, and storage fees. There is no way I can borrow or obtain this amount of money on my own. This financial situation threatens more than my accessibility to transportation, but also my odds of being approved for a place to live. My lease ends very soon and to struggle to find housing combined with no transportation is such a great feat.

Since I was very young I have been set on beating the odds and creating a life full of love, but also stability. It is hard to be here right now. I know path is not always linear, but there is so much shame and guilt in this. I would never reach out if it were not absolutely dire. If I am unable to get my car back, there is no way to say when or how I would be able to regain reliable transportation. The lack of transportation creates obstacles to all basic needs as well as job stability. This car is a lifeline for my sister and I and it would piece our world back together to fulfill our fundraising goal. Thank you for your time and effort. A share or a conversation about this with a friend would help us as well.