Our family lost our home 17 months ago and has been working to rebuild ever since.
After finally getting a park model home on our land and starting to get back on our feet, we were hit with another setback, losing our only vehicle.
Now we can’t get to work, school, or even basic necessities. We’re asking for help to get a reliable vehicle and move forward again.
Hi, my name is Richard, and I’m reaching out for help for my family during a very difficult time.
In November 2024, we lost our home in a fire and were left with only the clothes on our backs and our car. Thanks to the support of friends, family, and our community, we were able to begin rebuilding. We are incredibly grateful for that help. We managed to purchase a modest park model home with a small addition and get through the winter.
Over the past year, we’ve been doing everything we can to rebuild while living within our means. My wife has been working hard to make ends meet, and I made the decision to move forward by enrolling in a DZ license program through Better Jobs Ontario so I could earn a better income and support my family.
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.
On the same day I went to sign my training papers, my vehicle broke down. What started as a water pump issue turned out to be much worse—the frame was completely rusted and unsafe. Both the mechanic and a welder who works on frames confirmed it couldn’t be repaired, and I had no choice but to scrap it.
Using what little money we had left, I bought a used 2007 Jeep Compass for $3,000 out of urgency so I could move forward with training and get my wife to work.
At first, things were looking up. I was accepted into the program, completed the online portion, and passed my exam with strong marks. I was close to finishing and starting my new career.
Then, on the very day I was heading to begin my in-person training, the Jeep failed. It lost acceleration and had to be towed. I was told the CVT transmission had failed, with repair costs between $4,000–$7,000 and no guarantee it would last.
Again, I was stuck.
Thankfully, I was able to borrow a vehicle temporarily and worked with my school to complete my in-person training as quickly as possible. I pushed through, passed my road test, and now have my DZ license.
But we had to return the vehicle and now we have none.
Because of this:
- My wife had to quit her job, as she cannot drive and I can’t get her there.
- We live in a rural area, making groceries and basic needs very difficult to access.
- Our daughter had to leave her sports teams, even after trying to find carpool options.
- Our son’s after-school program is on hold, and we may have to cancel his summer camp coming up.
- We’ve had to cancel medical appointments over the past three months
Every resource we have has been stretched to the breaking point
Finding work has also become extremely difficult. Most jobs are about an hour away, and without transportation, I can’t get to them. I’ve applied for fly-in/fly-out positions, but those can take months to hear back.
Our savings are gone, and food is becoming harder to keep stocked, as any help we get for rides is inconsistent. We’ve tried financing another vehicle, but with no current job or co-signer, we’ve been denied everywhere.
We are doing everything we can to move forward, but we’ve reached a point where we have nowhere left to turn.
We are hoping to raise enough to get a reliable vehicle—not just for work, but so our family can feel safe and regain some sense of normal life. Over the past two years, we’ve been through more than we ever expected, and we’re simply trying to get back on our feet.
We are incredibly grateful for any support. The past two years have been tough, but we are determined to rebuild and move forward.
Thank you for your help!