Since you are hearing about this directly from me, and some of you have already gotten a previous email from me, I don't want to bore you with too much information. I'll try to keep this short and I'd appreciate it if you don't share this on Facebook.

It's been almost a year since I got out and have had to start back from scratch, financially speaking. I'm working to make the most of my second chance, but I could sure use one more bit of help to get me farther along my path back to normalcy.

I've been looking to get into my own place and I've been doing my best to get back on my feet for over a year now. I've got a job that I've been in since April and is going well. I'm currently 4th in seniority at the company and it's got a good future. With my job secure, that really just left housing. I never imagined that would be more difficult than finding a job, but it has proven to be so. As most of you know, I've been fortunate enough to be able to live in my parents basement for the last year, which has allowed me to get my finances in order. Now that they're fairly settled, I focused my efforts into finding my own place in Oregon.

My primary reason for wanting to move back to OR is that if I stay in WA, I have to stay on probation until August 3, 2020. If I transfer back to OR, I should get half-time probation and that means it could end as early as next August (two years earlier). Another reason to head back to OR, is that my job is there. I'm driving an average of 2 1/2 hrs per day for work and already paying OR state taxes, despite living in state-tax-free Washington. I need to be closer to work so I can cut down on my insane gas bill and reduce my commute time. 

Here's where I ran into trouble...I am not exaggerating when I say that not a single rental place that goes through a property management company will rent to anyone with a felony on their record. Period. I can't tell you how many rejections I've already gone through. The rental market in Portland is so pricey and in demand that they just don't have to give someone with a record a chance. That leaves it to private parties renting out a house/duplex/etc. Unfortunately, those kinds of listings were nearly impossible to find and were extremely expensive. None of them accepted my application either...

With all that in mind, I've decided that my only option is to buy a house and take that second chance on myself. My income can finally support it, but I'm having trouble affording a down payment in order to make the move happen. This is where I could really use your help. I could use a big break and I a truly appreciate anything that any of you can do. Maybe we can talk more about this being a loan rather than a gift (I am always willing to work for what I get). I truly am open to any options. I have a collection of comic books worth over $2000 (cataloged, with prices for the next owner) and a collection of sports cards worth over $8000 (with hundreds cataloged with prices, including autographs and memorabilia, and thousands of unorganized cards as well); I'll sell both for fractions of their value if anyone is interested.I'm not sure what else I can offer, but if you have ideas, please offer them up.

Thank you all for reading this and helping out however you can. Lots of love and the best of wishes to all of you.

-John