Rock Bottom

[usullusa]

I hate to do this, but I am putting out the call:

As some of you already know a few months ago I came out to my parents. They told me I was not welcome under their roof while I was queer. Since then they have withdrawn a large chunk of their financial support. The last few months have been the hardest of my life. My parents, even when they messed up, where my mentors, confidants, and the only people I could rely on while I was starting out in life. I won't regale you with the details, but it's been horrible. And now I am going back to college while I still can (it is a long story, but right now is my best and last chance to finish my degree without incurring tens of thousands of dollars in loans) and I have to somehow support myself while attending school full-time.

But I'm trying to make some sort of order out of the chaos. At some point within the next month I am moving into an apartment in New York so I can finish my education. The problem is that I need to be able to pay my rent for the first month and I can't find a long-term job yet because I'm moving and because I don't own a car or drive in Connecticut, where that is essential.

I don't know what I can do right now to make some money. This is why I'm asking you, internet, for help. I need some sort of temp job. My resources are so limited. I can basically work from home on something, anything, or I can take odd jobs from people in New York, once I've moved, until I find a permanent job.

If you live anywhere in NYC and need something done, please think of me. Do you need your storage room cleaned? Shelves, closets or cupboards organized? I am aces at cleaning and organizing storage spaces. Do you work at an office where you have a backlog of filing, data entry, or general office work and could use a temp? I have several summers worth of experience doing just that.

Or, do you have any kind of online data entry you need done? Do you need somebody to gather information on something? Do you need cataloging of any kind?

Even ideas for what I can do are wonderful. Anything, any help you can think of, is already more than I have right now.

And, you know, if you spontaneously know of a part-time job that would work with a three-day or evening schedule, please let me know.

If you're on the edge, this will make the difference between my having a place to live or my having to drop out of school and live off the charity of friends until I can find some way out of this situation, or worse having to closet myself again and live under the toxic influence of my parents. I am completely terrified of not being able to make ends meet and ending up without a home or having to crawl back to my parents and promise to "be straight".
I know I can build a new life for myself, but I need some help getting up on my own two feet.

Please, ask your friends, ask your family, ask the people on your f-list. At worst, they'll say no. At best, you'll have helped somebody more than I have words to describe.
Please don't let this entry drop off into the void.

Comments

[jaaaarne]

Please, do hold on! Everything will be okay in the end, I'm sure it will. I wish I could be of any help, but obviously I cannot, what with being in another country entirely and all. :) Just wanted to you to know that people are already spreading the word around, so I hope that the solution will be found soon. Just hold on. You're strong, you will manage. Everything will be allright. I will be sending good vibes your way. :)

[harald387]

I'm here via sparkindarkness; I've worked for GMR Transcription in the past. If your typing skills are up to snuff and you think you can do audio transcription, it's a good way to make some money at home, working whatever hours work for you. It won't make you rich, but it's paid the bills during hard times for me.

[ajnabieh]

Here via dingsi.

I'm a New Yorker, and there's always the chance I'll need odd-job work done, either research-assistanty stuff (this journal is my academic one, so you can see what I do on here) or possibly house organization stuff. (Do you like kids? I have a toddler who may need some distracting while Mommy works.) I won't be able to hire you until the fall (my family's financial situation is shaky at best, and doesn't get better until I start getting a paycheck/get my stafford loans in the fall), but I'm subscribing to stay in touch with you, mmmkay?

Also just generally sending you positive vibes and energy. This shit sucks. I'm so sorry that you have to go through it.

[via_ostiense]

Here via rm; I asked a NYC friend and he said he'll ask around..

[lairofthemalelesbian.blogspot.com]

I don't live in New York and I'm afraid that i don't have any contacts there, but I'm going to be bouncing this on in my journal and hopefully it'll reach someone who can help.

I'm so sorry that your parents are being rubbish. I recently came out to mine about being bi and have got a shadow of what you've received and that hurts enough. I really hope they see the light and come round.

Good luck.

PJW

[blogofchampions.livejournal.com]

I don't have many contacts in NYC, but if you have a PayPal, I'd be happy to donate money and encourage others to do so. I know firsthand how difficult it is to find a job in this economy, and even with everyone you know telling everyone they know, it might take you a while to find one. Donations might tide you over until then.

here vis iambickilometer

[elspethdixon]

Do you work at an office where you have a backlog of filing, data entry, or general office work and could use a temp?

The Brooklyn Eagle, where my girlfriend works, is considering hiring a part-time person to do just that. It's still in the "we should hire someone else. Yes, we really should," stages, and they haven't posted a job announcement yet, but it may be worth keeping an eye on their website just in case (www.brooklyneagle.com).

[oaktree]

I know we don't know each other, but I'm here via a post on riverside_hq. I've put out a call on my fb to my friends in NYC, and I hope through this or through another avenue you get some help. I'm pulling for you, and I wish you the best!

[indywind]

here via iambickilometer. I remember being where you are, and send you sympathy and luck, and if I come across anything of practical use I will send it your way. Hang tough.

[epporsimuove]

Here via dingsi.

I can't help with the job search, but I am also moving to NYC next month, so I can offer a free homecooked meal anytime you need it (I hope that doesn't sound odd since I don't know you).

In terms of the job hunt, I'll keep my ears open.

[scheherezhad]

Here via torachan. I'm so sorry you're going through such a tough situation. I don't have any contacts in NYC, either, but I'll signal boost on my journal in case someone I know does. I'd also be happy to donate a bit of money through PayPal after I get paid next week.

[mneme]

I live in NYC, and might be able to come up with something (though our apartment, while terribly disorganized, really needs shelves built and installed before much more organization can happen).

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>They told me I was not welcome under their roof while I was queer. <<
Parenting grade: F-
On the bright side, it sounds like your parents are reasonably sane people most of the time, and you had a good relationship previously. So they might simply have freaked out in shock; there's a fair chance that they will come to their senses after some time has passed. That's something to watch for later. Meanwhile, damage control.

>> I don't know what I can do right now to make some money. <<

I'm not in New York, but I do have experience in an alternative business model, crowdfunding. If you have any creative skill, this is worth considering. Basically you market your writing, art, craft items, etc. directly to an audience online. It rarely makes enough to live on, but if you're down to counting individual dollars, it can be a big help. It can make as much as a part-time job. Some starting tips are here:
http://community.livejournal.com/crowdfunding/88166.html