Hello and thanks for reading my brief story. It's very difficult to ask for help. Ive always been able to provide for my family but 3 years ago that all changed.

I was loading our moving truck and fell off the back deck of the truck and shattered my left femur, also shattering my life. I nearly lost everyone I hold dear, down to family members who could not accept what had happened to me. This also left us homeless because at the time we were moving we had no place to go and had planned on living with family for a few weeks until I could save a couple of paychecks to get us in a new place. Neither happened.

Ive never had to depend on anyone considering I started working when I was 12, became a ward of the court when I was 10, shortly after my mother passed away from a deadly brain tumor. After her death I realized quickly I had no one to depend but me. My immediate family dispersed and went their separate ways, leaving me to fend for myself. My mother was the glue that held us all together so after she passed that glue was gone.

Since then I've worked and taken care of myself for 41 years. I'm nearly 54 now. Permanently disabled and unable to do what I use to. Im in my 2nd appeal with Social Security Disability fighting for the benefits I've paid into all this time. My attorney has told me it will take some time but she's hopeful I'll receive my benefits in the coming months.

Until then I have no cash flow to provide for my family. I'm currently on food stamps and OHP, which makes me feel so low. I want nothing more to make sure my family is ok and then I can concentrate on me, healing completely.

We are currently living in our RV. It was donated to us last year due to our homelessness. We have been living in and out of the State of Oregon rest areas because we have no other choice. I've tried doing delivery jobs but mostly all that does is drains our gas tank, leaving us stranded for days until by the grace of God someone helps us or I'm able to sell something out of our 10x10 storage unit that is mostly a constant reminder of the life I once had.

Our need or my hope is to have the ability to plop this RV somewhere either in a campground or RV park that has full hookups for at least 3 to 6 months. With gas prices in their astronomical state we are literally stranded on a weekly basis because the RV gets 12 miles to the gallon which doesn't get us very far. I have 2 very well trained Chihuahuas who are good boys and from the time they were several weeks old they have had a stable yard to be in. I would give anything for them to have a more consistent yard to be in so having the ability to pay for space rent would give them that consistency at least until my benefits come in and we can get a more permanent place to live. The other need is simply we are in serious debt and can barely pay for phone bills and internet that we so desperately need to continue our path to some resemblance of normalcy. And of course we need help with gasoline. It costs about $300 to fill up the 55 gallon tank which potentially lasts up to a week or more if I'm being careful about idling or driving unnecessarily.

Once my benefits come in and I have monthly income me and the boys will be just fine. But until then we are in serious need of help. I've tried dealing with social service organizations who say they help but really all I am is a number to them and I rarely get any help, if any at all.

Thank you so much for taking time to read my story. If you have questions or anything please feel free to reach out to me. My life is an open book. Even though I'm ashamed of what I've become I have no problem answering questions or clarifying my situation.

Again thanks again and I'll do my best to keep my hope alive, as life is precious and I'm just happy to be here breathing another day.