Still
Building
NJ

My story starts during the pandemic. At that time, my life had become extremely limited. I was on disability, receiving government help and rental assistance, nearly 400 pounds, and using a walker.

During the pandemic, I decided to get up and start a taxi business. Never in my life did I think I would own a business. But once I decided to do it, I started building it, and I really enjoyed the process. I loved having the business. A lot of things eventually went wrong. Some were my fault, and some were not.

I was completely upfront and honest with Social Services, Section 8, and Social Security about starting the business. I reported what I was doing and provided profit-and-loss statements. Everything seemed to be going along fine. Then, without warning, I lost my food stamps. After that, I lost my rental assistance.

The money needed to pay my business expenses was counted as if it were income available to pay my household bills. I was told, “Income is income. It doesn’t matter.”

After losing the rental assistance and taking several more hits, I could no longer afford my rent. Eventually, I closed the business. My daughter and I became homeless almost two years ago.

Even though I closed the business, I could not go back to the life I had before, where I sat in my house with nowhere to go except the store or the doctors. Building a business had transformed something inside me. I had lost 170 lbs., gotten off all my medications, and had a profound spiritual transformation. I continued trying to learn new skills and finding ways to improve myself despite the challenges I faced of lack of necessities and being the black sheep of my family.

At first, I thought I wanted to become a coach and help people get off junk food and sugar like I did. But trying to build anything became much harder once my daughter and I were homeless. I did not have help, support, or money to pay someone to help me bring my ideas to life.

Then I started using AI to build my business and ended up building a website for a friend. I really enjoyed it. I fell in love with creating and bringing my ideas to life. That led me toward what I want to build now: digital products, tools that help people use AI, and resources that help people build businesses from scratch.

I have hyperlexia and ADHD. I am not a typical person. Normal social situations can be difficult for me. I work best independently, and I enjoy my solitude. Creating things gives me a way to use how my mind works instead of constantly trying to force myself to fit into situations that do not work for me.

I want people to know that I want to work. I do not want to be on disability for the rest of my life. I want there to be a plan—a safety net that allows people like me to build something gradually without taking advantage of the system, but also without having everything taken away before we are able to support ourselves.

Right now, my daughter and I are living in transitional housing, and I risk losing our housing if I start earning money with the business.

The goal should be to become self-sufficient. Instead, it feels like people are punished for trying before they ever have the chance to become stable.

I want to be self-sufficient. It shouldn’t be so difficult.

I won’t ever stop trying to find a way to bring forth my purpose.

Many don’t know my story on here and some do.

A year ago I left an abusive marriage. I packed up everything my son and i needed. We were living in my car to escape my ex. Eventually we came back to NJ ( I’m originally from here, but lived in SC for 12yrs)

We went from Providence house, to a hotel from October to February! March 1st we moved into our apartment! Social services knew about my business and has since told me to put my business on hold. I can’t because it’s my livelihood. Ever since I refused. They stopped my housing and my son and I are being forced back into homelessness. I’ve been complying for a year! Plan on going back to school next month. My mental health has been taking a massive hit. My son and I don’t deserve this. I just want to work my business live my life and be able to afford my rent without the government telling me otherwise.

Thank you everyone for your support and prayers! Please keep them coming. Yes I filed a contingency of benefits on July 29th!!! They still closed my tanf case benefits!!! I’ve talked to legal aid. No help unless I get denied! I’m done putting my life on hold for anything or anyone!!! If anyone knows of anyone i could take this to or help me out with this! Please message me. I don’t deserve to live like this!