In November of 2014, I emerged from three years of homelessness and unemployment, thanks to the support of good friends. My situation improved in September 2015 when I secured a full-time job at an Amazon fulfillment center.

There, I discovered my leadership skills and flourished After five years, I transitioned to another warehousing company as an Operations Manager, marking my first salaried role. Life was good.

I also experienced mental and spiritual healing. While at Amazon, I met someone who triggered my spiritual awakening, starting my journey in Fall 2017. By Spring 2020, I had worked through a lifetime's worth of trauma and found peace, happiness, and my purpose...

And that's a part of what has landed me in this situation.

But what happened to get me here?

In January 2024, I was let go from my corporate job. I attempted to push my healing business for a couple of months, but I quickly burned out due to my lack of knowledge on starting up a business of my own. Since April, I have been earnestly trying to return to corporate work, but despite my impressive resumé I've had no luck.

Now, I'm out of personal resources—$0 in savings, depleted my 401K and severance package, sold most of my sellable belongings, and exhausted my unemployment insurance. I have only survived the past few months thanks to the kindness of some amazing friends.

However, even they can only help for so long. I've had to move into my car because there is no one that currently has room for me and the pets...

Still, I do not despair! 

A new Journey begins...

If you are on your own Spiritual Journey, you can understand why it’s hard to return to corporate work after finding your calling. The Universe isn't supporting that path for me...

I'm a holistic healer, helping people heal their trauma in as few as 9 sessions. However, I've only been publicly practicing for a little over a year, and 95% of my clients have been free case studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of my unique process.

So, currently I'm torn.

I'm trying to grow my healing business, but I'm not yet established and lack a reliable income.

I need to return to corporate for financial stability to avoid bankruptcy. Despite my efforts, I'm struggling and am now 10 months behind on child support, maxed out on credit cards, and defaulted on a loan.

I received a temporary reprieve on my car loan due to Hurricane Helene, but that has ended and the next payment is due December 26th.

Something's got to change soon. While I'm managing with the dogs, it's challenging. We're using a tank of gas roughly every 6 days to stay warm at night. This is not very manageable now without reliable income, and the worst of winter is yet to come too, so that need to stay warm will increase!

I'm only able to eat thanks to SNAP benefits, which last until March 2025. I'm stretching dog food with rice and canned vegetables. I have a basic propane camping stove for cooking, and we are currently in a safe area at one of the local 24 hour Quick Trips.

But until I can establish reliable income again, I need help. A lot of it, I'm afraid to say.

Understanding My Needs

I have my car payments, which are $374 a month, and my cell phone bill is $84 a month. Those are necessary as the car is our home for now, and I need the phone to stay connected while I continue my work and try to get a new job.

I need to re-register and re-insure my car so I can feel secure and be legal on the roads again. It’s been tough for me to keep up with it all, and I let it slide a few months ago since I wasn’t really driving due to limited funds.

One thing I would love to have is a small solar panel kit. It would mean so much to me as it would allow me to run a little personal heater without constantly relying on gas and reduce that gas need by at least half! Right now, to stay warm, I go through about a tank of gas each week, which can cost me around $41.85 at $2.79 per gallon. It's just one of those necessities to stay warm!

I also dream of getting a small trailer to build my own little tiny home/bedroom on. While it would be amazing to have, I recognize that it’s more of a want, while the other expenses really are needs. Maybe you have a used one you are willing to donate to me?  I can find most of the materials I'll need for free, and the rest super cheap.  But the trailer itself is the big hurdle for me.

Some good news...

I'm grateful for your support during this journey and wanted to share that I have a wonderful opportunity waiting for me as a healer in a heartfelt community project in Oregon. While they’re still working on securing the land and getting everything ready, it means I will need to be patient and hang tough for a little while longer.

At this point, we’re looking at Spring to Summer of 2025 for things to fully come together. This means I have some time to navigate through the next 8-9 months. Although it feels like a long while, I’m hopeful for new job possibilities or the chance to grow my own business and create a steady income of my own before then.

So, that is my worst case scenario in having to live like this- only until they are up and running and have the room for me. If I can't manage to get things rolling for myself before then, I can partner up with them and grow from there!

In the meantime, I've put together a breakdown of what I will need to sustain myself during this waiting period, in case things take longer than expected. Your support means the world to me, and I appreciate you considering how you can help.

Here’s a more detailed overview of how your kindness can make a difference:

• $1,196 needed to pay property tax, reinsure and re-register my car so I don't have legal issues while on the road
• $2,992 for monthly car payments (@ $374/a month for 8 months)
• $750-$1,800 for a used trailer (optional WANT, but would be amazing!)  
  • or if anyone is willing to just donate me a used trailer that would be even more amazing!
• $1100 in miscellaneous needs I can't entirely think of
• $1350 estimated gas money for the minimum staying warm factor and eventual getting across the country
• $672 for cell phone bill (@ $84/mo for 8 months)
• $222 (plus tax) for an off grid solar power kit to help with heating and conserve on gas
  • (or maybe someone has one they are willing to donate to me?)
• $200 for Planet Fitness membership so I can shower regularly and take advantage of facilities to help with sleeping upright in the car which is cramped and aching for my body (my left knee has been particularly stiff and achy the last few days)
• $150 for dog food for 8 months
  

Check out the videos to get a more personal look at how we are currently living. 

Believe it or not, we've been in much, much worse.

Meet the Pack

Mater Mater was with me the last time I was homeless and unemployed. We lived in a hoarder's barn, trading yard work for the minimal space due to the clutter.   So, this isn't new for Mater, though he likely doesn't remember. I've had him since he was 8 months old, rescued before being sent to a shelter because his family underestimated the commitment of a German Shepherd/Border Collie mix. During my deep depression and breakdowns I knew he would be the perfect emotional support animal, and he has been.

Maece It's all new for Maece, but she is so full of love, fun, and happiness. I'm sure she finds this exciting as she came from much worse.   Born into a backyard breeding situation, she was bred three times in her first two years before being shut down, which is the maximum a dog can endure at that young age. Her second owner allowed her to roam free and stated they didn't want her anymore when she was picked up by animal control. I found her days away from being put down, and she's since helped me raise three feral kitten rescues.

The Cats... Mirai, Maeve & Merida

Obviously we're in a transition phase, but thankfully, my beloved cats—Mirai, Maeve, and Merida—are being cared for by a wonderful friend. It's a comfort to know they're safe; the hard part is simply missing them so much.

Merida holds a special place in my heart as one of the three feral kittens that Maece and I lovingly nurtured together. Their bond is truly unbreakable, and while she is getting plenty of love, I can just imagine how much Merida misses her dear friend Maece. They would frolic and play with boundless energy, and it's bittersweet to think of those happy moments.

We'll see them again when I'm back on my feet. Only currently there's no telling when that will be...

I can't foster the dogs the same way though.

At 14, almost 15 years old, Mater is well past the 11 yrs average life expectancy of a German Shepard and nearing the edge of it for a Border Collie.  While I do everything I can for him healing and healthy food wise (and it shows) my experience with trying to save Mattie back in June has taught me that there comes a point that you no longer can do anything except be there to help the end be full of love. 

I can't risk missing that for him. After 14 years of being there for me, seeing me through the darkest times of my life and keeping it filled with love.... No, I need to be there for him as much as possible until the end- whenever that may be.

And I won't separate him from Maece. They are bonded, even more closely than Mater bonded with Mattie, and I had Mattie from only a few months after I got Mater until she passed away just this June 14th, 2024.

The one thing that's different...

While this isn't my first encounter with homelessness and unemployment, I'm now armed with newfound strength and optimism.

The previous experience was a wake-up call, the culmination of battling my mental health while working as a chef in a bustling casino. I recall that moment vividly—a dramatic scene reminiscent of an "Oscar-worthy performance," complete with flying pots and pans and a flare of emotion that led to my hasty exit from the kitchen into darkness and despair.

In digging myself into a deep hole during that difficult chapter, I found myself facing homelessness and mental turmoil. I took refuge in a barn until some supportive friends came to my aid, offering their couch. Admittedly, it wasn't the ideal situation, but I was grateful for their help, even when my beloved dogs had to stay outdoors during the frigid winter nights (thank goodness for the covered porch!). I spent many nights with Mater and Mattie and our comforter to help keep warm on that porch back then.

Finally, with the support of an extraordinary friend, I managed to claw my way back into the light and regain my footing.

After emerging from that dark cycle and embracing healing, I vowed to myself that I would never return to that place again! Yet here I must admit, life threw me a grossly unexpected curveball.

This time is different, however. The recent layoff wasn't a reflection of my abilities or my mental wellbeing, but rather a consequence of corporate decisions driven by "budget cuts." I have poured my heart into revamping my job search,  completing every available state-sponsored course to sharpen my resume and interviewing skills.

I've sent applications galore— for positions that align perfectly with my experience, some that are "close enough," and even roles I'm ready to dive into despite feeling under-qualified, as well as more menial roles that I'm vastly over-qualified for or entry levels in industries altogether!

From around 70 applications over the past 8 months, I’ve received responses from about 12. Out of those that offered interviews, only 3 remained eager enough to offer me interviews. And without feedback as to why, they went no further with me in the process.

Meanwhile, my entrepreneurial spirit is ignited as I build my personal business. Although I am still establishing myself in a vastly growing industry, I view every challenge as a stepping stone toward establishing stable and sustainable income.

I'm fueled by hope and unwavering determination—this is what sets me apart from past struggles! I'm learning, evolving, and tirelessly working toward my goals. I have faith that soon enough, I'll witness the results of my perseverance. Unlike before, when despair threatened to dampen my spirit, I’m now committed to progress—always looking forward and upwards!

That being said, I humbly seek your support to help propel me in this promising direction. There's much for me to learn and grow into, but together we can create a brighter future, not only for me but for all those I can help in return along the way!

So, please donate to help keep me and the dogs afloat.

• Donate Money
• Donate a trailer/supplies (I can come get it anywhere in the continental U.S., though I will likely need some gas money help to get there)
• Share this campaign for others to donate
• or Purchase a service from me and get something for yourself1
  • I have services as low as my $27 Pre-recorded Multiverse Mindset Activations, up to full 9 session Hagalaz Healing Journey Packages for $1,349!
    • There is a generalized perk that is cumulative for every $49 that let's you mix and match services if you'd like, or you can choose a single service perk!
    • And now there are some IN-PERSON variations for my Hagalaz Healing™ options as well! Limited only to within the 48 continental United States!

Fehu-Wunjo • Dagaz my friends!

Stay Blessed!

~Michael R Hackett