Hey, my name is Jase (otherwise known as Stamets). I’m a 31 year old Star Trek fan and general nerd who spends way too much time on memes and Star Trek theories. I’ve got a cat named Bella who I adore, a best friend named Nick and enough traumatic baggage to sink a ship. I’m also stuck in an awkward position.
I am originally from Newfoundland. About 10 years ago I was going through a rough time. I had no close friends or prospects and was relatively hopeless. I just existed day by day. I’d go to work, go home, sleep, and start it all over again. It got to a really bad point where I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue living. But my best friend, and someone who I loved more than air, said to come live with him. Start over. Have a life together. So I did. I left Newfoundland and flew across the country but things didn’t go exactly… well. Abusive would be an accurate way to describe things. I ended up in the hospital and after getting some medication that helped I realized just how bad of a position I was in so I walked away.
I ended up homeless for about 5 years, trying to dig myself out of the situation I had ended up in and using the services afforded to me in Toronto. After those 5 years of trying and finally managing to get the help I needed and get into a position where I could start over, I realized just how idiotic it was for me to have come here. Toronto is beyond unaffordable and even finding a place to live when you did have the funds for it was a nightmare. Landlords would actively turn you down for the smallest things. I was even being rejected for being on disability despite that being illegal. Why? Because nothing ever happened because nothing here is funded.
For the past couple of years I’ve been trying to get my life going. To start with something but everytime it gets pushed back. I just don’t know anyone here, I can’t afford anything here and I can’t move ahead here. I was lucky enough to get the place that I did but the leaseholder, Lynette, is moving at the end of this month as well and despite our attempts to get me added to the lease it didn’t work. I just cannot find a place here even remotely within my range. What I can find, however, is a place in Newfoundland…
Not only can I find a place. I DID find a place. And secured it. My best friend Nick, who was going to move in with me up here in Toronto, is also going to be moving in with me down in Newfoundland. He’s Newfie himself so this is far easier of a move than coming up to Toronto. For him, anyway. For me? Not so much. The costs of moving down are staggering and I have very very little in my emergency funds.
The apartment is secured and I have that all squared away, primarily thanks to my sister going to meet the landlord and getting things set up from that end to make it easier, I now have the task of getting my stuff from Toronto to Newfoundland. Not easy. Also not cheap. The shipping quotes I’ve been getting range from $1500 to $5000! I plan on selling a lot of my stuff and if necessary I will be selling the furniture as well to make sure the costs are as low as possible but there still is a real and serious cost to all of this. Even shipping my computer and books alone would be hundreds of dollars. So I’m asking for help. If you can. I know that I’m some random nobody but I am begging for help.
Another thing I want to make abundantly clear is that I am only using this for moving costs and setting up at the new place. Any money that would come from donations would be strictly categorized and listed and any purchases made with that money would also be listed. If there is any money left over at any point then it would be donated to Choices for Youth, a non-profit organization based in Newfoundland that helps at-risk youth escape homelessness, abusive situations and gives them the tools to start their life. They helped me more than I can ever repay them for, the least I can do is throw a couple of bucks their way if possible.
Thank you for reading. I hope you have a great day. Here’s the cat tax for mentioning my little princess
Are you moving back in with your abuser? I was a bit confused by your story but I really hope not.
I’m so sorry life has been so hard. I have chronic depression and was suicidal as well. Life is worth living and you are loved.
Oh, sorry! Nope. Not moving back with abuser. Just moving back to the part of Canada that I’m from, in a place that I love, with rent that’s affordable and a best friend who will be sharing the apartment with me.
Yeah it… gets rough sometimes. I like posting memes and stuff because it’s a good distraction. I’m hoping that starting fresh again and on way more solid footing than I ever was will be what I need. Here in Toronto it’s just been one thing after another after another and it’s… a mess.
Oh good. I am a little older than you and separated from my wife in the last 18 months and then moved 6 hours away to be by my sister. It sucks, starting over sucks. I am pretty lonley but everything gets better. All issues are transient!
