I finally found a job after searching for a long time. I was relieved and hopeful. But before I could start, the company required a third-party background check. That process took 37 days, and during that time I had no income.

Bills didn’t stop while I waited. Rent was still due. Food, utilities, and basic needs kept adding up. Missing more than a month of pay caused me to fall behind very quickly, even though I did everything I was supposed to do.