I have been putting-off and dreading writing this post… And before I go any further, I'd like to apologize if this post offends, insults or upsets anyone -- that is not my intention, at all. And I am aware there are people in much worse situations than myself.., but I also understand these things are all relative to ones own situation.
Like the title of this post states.., I am being evicted from the apartment I’ve lived in and called home for the past 16 years, for falling behind 8 months on my rent. I know it sounds irresponsible to not pay rent for so long.., but it is amazing how quickly things can change in your life, when few bad breaks line-up one after the other, without even giving you a chance to breathe... I’m not making any excuses.., but I do feel like a description of how this all transpired is in order...
First off, if you would have said to me 2-3 years ago, that I would be in this position, I would have thought you were crazy! You see, I’ve always been the responsible one, the one people came to when they needed a hand, because they knew they could.., and if I was in a position to help them out, I never hesitated.
It all started a few years ago, around 3 years ago with a little bank fraud / identity theft, that wiped out my savings, around 19K, then a health issue (acute pancreatitis) with no health insurance, that cost me another 5K.., and just like that I had nothing to fall back on — my cushion, that I always had in case of a situation, like I find myself in right now -- was gone. Now I find myself in the very real situation of being homeless, on the streets of NYC… And to be completely honest, I am not prepared to be homeless (I just can't do it). If I can't come up with the money I owe and do get evicted, when they come to throw me out, they will find my lifeless body in the bathtub -- I do not say that lightly, trust me. I am not someone who has ever thought of taking his own life -- ever!. Im not clinically depressed, on any medication, drugs or anything like that.., it is strictly financial.
For those of you that don’t know, I am a. bartender, have been for over 25 years — and I’m a damn good one... I’ve also made pretty good money slinging drinks.., but these last few years, after having to leave a bar job because of that pancreas thing, I have had the last 4 -5 bars / restaurants I was working at all close down, usually with no warning and of course screwing the staff out of a few weeks pay — a very typical procedure for bar / restaurant owners in NYC...
Well, with each job (bar/restaurant) closure I fell further and further behind.., and with all my savings being gone already, I had nothing to hold me over between gigs.., and before you knew it, I was way behind in rent, not eating regularly.., and now I’m being evicted.
It’s like a bad joke.., and to make it worse, the last two restaurants I was hired at, couldn’t get full liquor licenses — only beer and wine, which led them both to not hire any “actual” bartenders, what for - anybody can pour beer and wine.., so I am now unemployed waiting and looking for my next bar gig, which shouldn’t be more than a few weeks... And in the meantime, I have been living off the tiny amount of money I am making on my posts, that’s basically been what I’ve been living off of for two years, that and a few weeks of bartending money, here and there — before the place would close down.
Along the way, I kept my landlord as well informed as possible about my financial situation… I mean, I have been living here since 2002, paying my rent on time every month.., and if I did fall behind, I would just pay 2 months at a time to catch up. And I have had a pretty good relationship with my landlord and he more then understood shit happens every now and then and knew I was not the type of person to screw him over…
So, when I was served eviction papers one night, I was pretty surprised… I would have assumed my landlord would have contacted me first.., but when I tried to get a hold of him, I learned he had recently had a stroke and turned over the running of the building to a real estate management company… I had a feeling working with people I had never met before (this new management company) to catch-up on rent would probably not be possible anymore.
When I finally got in touch with the company now in-charge.., they didn't give a crap about anything except getting me evicted… See, even though this is a rent stabilized apartment, my landlord and now this management company had a nice side business of renting out vacant apartments by the day, which is extremely illegal in NYC.., and carries a $25,000 fine.So, by evicting me, they would have another vacant apartment they could overcharge people for, by the day…
One of those times in life, where everything that could go wrong, has…
And that in a nutshell is how I found myself in this very, very serious situation... I have had the court case, for my eviction adjourned twice and there is a chance (a small chance) I can get it postponed again for another 30 days when I go back on the 27th of February, according to my free housing lawyer.., but after that I will need to come up with all my back rent or be evicted!
I have reached-out to family and friends, informing them of seriousness of my current situation and was beyond surprised that nobody offered any assistance -- I understand lending someone (a friend or family member) money can be tricky.., but I have lent some of the very same people I reached-out too, quite a bit of money in the past. Not only did they not offer to help me financially, not one of them even offered me a couch to crash on, if the worst does happen.., and I do get evicted -- talk about a harsh dose of reality…
See, I have been the guy on the other end of this equation many times and if I was in a position (even if I wasn't) to step up and help, I never hesitated and I never made the other party feel worse than they already did -- and to be completely honest much of the time I did what I did.., because it made me feel good about myself.
I am no saint.., I have made bad choices, wrong decisions and hurt my fair share of people.., but when the chips were down and someone was desperate, they knew they could call me and I’d be there no matter what. So, to be met with a cold silence whenever I brought up my eviction situation -- well, lets just say, I was shocked, to say the least.
And while some say asking for help is the easy way out.., I’m hear to tell you, in present time, there is nothing easy about it -- nothing. As a matter of fact it takes some pair of balls to reach out and admit to the world you need a hand… As a matter of fact, the greatest achievement of my life was helping out someone in need, when my phone rang one night.., and I could hear the desperation in her voice -- immediately I knew something was drastically wrong...
I didn’t ask any stupid questions I just asked.., what do you need -- I got you. Little did I know, that person would turn-out to be the love of my life.., and at the time of that phone call, her life had been hanging by thread… After our very brief relationship ended, I had not seen or spoken to her in about two years… Well, in those two years, her life had spiraled out of control.., she had even tried to commit suicide a few times -- and that was the type of desperation I heard in her voice, the night she called me out of the blue.
Everyone that knows this woman -- her family, friends, even her daughter.., has always told me -- if I did not answer the phone that night, or turned down her request for help, she probably would have been successful in her next suicide attempt… Nobody was happier, than me, that I rushed right over to help her out -- it turned out to be, like I said.., the greatest achievement of my life -- saving somebody elses…
And now, when talking about my present situation.., I hear that same scary tone of desperation in my own voice. Actually, to say I am desperate is the understatement of the century. What's really weird is -- I have never been the kind of person to panic, never… But knowing I could be forced out onto the streets, homeless, has instilled this sense of impending doom --panic, in me.
And all of that, is what has brought to the point of writing this post, to ask the Steemit community for some help… I have already reached out to few community members (mostly witnesses) in Steem Chat asking for some help -- basically a loan.., and have not gotten any responses… I understand that they probably get tons of messages from people on Steemit asking for help and there is a good chance they haven't even read mine…
I have been a member of this Steemit community since August 2016.., and have posted daily, if not more, up until this past month, when I have been consumed with the thought of being evicted (homeless) -- kinda hard to be creative when that's all you can think about. I've tried to always post only quality content, that would appeal to people outside of the cryptocurrency and steemit world -- poems, short stories.., and some stuff about my life. And I have made a little money doing that, unfortunately I have had to use it just to live day to day…
I've always had a good feeling about this community.., and have in the past asked for a small loan to cover a long overdue bill and was so surprised when the community answered… And that is why I am posting now -- to ask anyone in this community, that has the means, for a more than a small loan… I am in need of about 3000 Steem or 2500 SBD (at current prices).., and you don't have to tell me that, that is a lot ask…
You would not only be keeping me from being evicted.., but you would literally be saving my life… To be as real as I possibly can.., if I have to choose between being homeless and dying on the streets -- or taking the matter into my own hands and dying in my apartment.., I choose the later. Trust me, that is not the way I want this to turn out.., suicide is not the way I ever planned on leaving this world -- but I have come to terms with it, if that's the way it goes and I wind-up being told by the judge to vacate my apartment.
You also don't have to tell me how pathetic this all sounds, I feel like I am going to puke just writing it… I know it is insane to ask the Steemit community or anyone for this kind of favor.., but it is my last and only real option.
Once again, I apologize for getting so heavy.., and if this has offended, insulted or upset anyone -- I am truly sorry.
Anyone that does feel like helping me out with a loan, donation, upvote or resteem -- it would be more than greatly appreciate! (any loan would be returned within the year with interest)
Just to be clear... I am in need of 3000 Steem / 2500 SBD -- a little over 11K.
STEEM /SBD -- 
BITCOIN ADDRESS -- 1Mk8SUiVs8yu93sXmyCE3XukFJyr57C42D
LITECOIN ADDRESS -- LMzmbSkDwA4KbkdmWZTeHN3bZexEF4DrkK
PAYPAL -- [email protected]
Thanks for reading,
P.S.,
Im going to try and post about my present situation, daily -- what goes in the mind of someone facing the very real possibility of being homeless.., or worse, if I can get my thoughts together and composed enough.
