10/21/15-
Dear Tom,
I am a 51 year-old single parent of a 16 year-old boy who is autistic. I am also a school teacher for one of the countries dangerous high schools, Chester high. It is in one of Pennsylvania’s poorest school districts and recently they were unable to make payroll due to budget debt. Teachers, like myself, put the needs of our students first and continued to work with the possibility that we would not be paid.
As it turned out, they were able to use some emergency funds to cover our wages. However, because of the uncertainty of my work situation I told my landlord that I might be late with next month’s rent. Before I could feel the relief of getting paid, she served me with a petition of possession of property and I was told that I must leave the apartment by the end of this month.
I am not prepared to move because I have no money or a potential place to go. My first concern is that I will be homeless with an autistic child.
Tom, it is my Christmas wish to ask for your help with the first, last and security deposit so I can move into a new place quickly. Covering my rent will not be a problem on my salary once I am in. Yesterday, I found a small place that would perfect for the two of us. It has a backyard and is in a better part of town, but I could not secure an apartment because I did not have the resources. I would appreciate any support you can offer us during one of the most fragile moments in my life.
CHRISTMAS WISH: Jamialah Carroll was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
