A Texas instructor is sharing his story of being homeless to point out that different educators who’re struggling aren’t alone.
In a GoFundMe post, Austin educator and TikToker Invoice Atkinson stated that he started residing out of his automobile after a mixture of “errors and dangerous luck.”
The instructor stated having spotty credit meant that he couldn’t get approval for backed housing within the costly metro space the place he lives, the place the average rent is just under $1,500 per month, in accordance with Austin house knowledge.
“Although I do know my money owed are my very own, I’m asking for help in paying them off,” Atkinson, who stated he makes $54,000 a yr as a fourth-grade instructor at NYOS Constitution Faculty, wrote in his on-line fundraiser.
In an interview with Good Morning America, Atkinson detailed how he ended up and not using a place to name dwelling.
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“Irrespective of how a lot I borrowed or scraped, there was no catching up, as a result of I simply didn’t make sufficient to cowl lease — as a result of I used to be so used to residing paycheck to paycheck, I did not have something in financial savings to attempt to cowl lease for a pair months,” he instructed the outlet. “So I attempted to get a spot, [but I] was having a tough time discovering a spot I may afford by myself.”
After his story went public, colleagues at NYOS reached out with a serving to hand.
Based on GMA, Directors with the constitution faculty helped Atkinson acquire a stipend that helped with fuel cash. He has additionally raised greater than $17,000 on GoFundMe, which has allowed him to seek out housing because of a rental company.
PEOPLE has reached out to the varsity and Atkinson for feedback.
As for his determination to be so open about what occurred, throughout his interview with GMA, the instructor stated, “I am telling my story as a result of I am not the one one with it, I am simply the one prepared to be on the market.”
Atkinson added, “I do not know a single instructor that wishes a mansion. We wish to have the ability to pay our payments, have an honest place to stay, you recognize, and if we’re in our 30s and single, a spot to stay and not using a roommate [and be able to] purchase meals. We’re asking to be handled like professionals, as a result of that is what we’re.”