Back Porch

Tenant Statement: There’s a lot to love about my home, but my favorite part is the patio. I spent most of my 20s bedridden and couldn’t go outside on my own whenever I wanted. Then when I moved to Houston and got my own apartment, it had no patio or balcony and it was unsafe for me to spend a lot of time outside. Multiple people tried to break into that apartment knowing I was usually home alone. I had to get out of there and eventually found this place. I feel safe here. I try to spend time in my hammock whenever I can. Unfortunately my afternoons are usually spent doing food deliveries through a rideshare as soon as I leave my 9-5 until around 8pm to just have enough money for food or gas so my paycheck can go to big bills. I am constantly telling my apartment I’ll pay a week or two late when I get paid. They make a note but let me know they still have to deliver an eviction notice and as long as I pay when I say I will, they won’t take it any further than the required notice. So usually I will “pay” rent on Friday because I know the amount wont be drafted out until Monday or Tuesday. It gives me time to do deliveries over the weekend and find whatever money I can to pay. Sometimes it works out. Other times, like this month, I overdraft. Fortunately I have overdraft protection, so my rent was technically paid, but I was overdrafted by over $800 for almost a week until my next paycheck hit. Between covering the overdraft and my car payment that auto-drafts from every paycheck, I had nothing left for food, gas, or any other bills. It’s just an endless cycle. You try to get ahead on one thing and it sets you back on something else.