Thread by @frodofied

1. For the third year in a row I find myself in real danger of becoming homeless at the height of winter. Each time I promisel myself that it will never happen again, yet each time I have found myself more isolated and estranged than the year before.

2. A couple of years ago, as the "sharing" / "gig" economy started taking shape I thought I recognized an opportunity to regain some financial stability.

Almost immediately Uber and Lyft became the focus of my aspirations, but it would be months before I could take action.

3. I have lived most of my adult life in large urban spaces with excellent modes of public transport and have only had vehicles during the times I lived in exception to that rule, however, so entering the rideshare economy was probably always going to be a challenge.

4. Uber and Lyft both understood and anticipated this problem and, ostensibly to help people like myself, rolled out car rental programs in partnership with major car rental companies in order to weaponize this untapped resource against the competition (each other).

5. Uber has since almost completely rolled back it's program, but Lyft's program continues on and is actually growing. At least 180,000 people have put their faith, hope, and trust in Lyft's Express program, and the company claims it's driver's have earned $1 billion.

6. But let me quickly fix that "fact:" Since it's inception Lyft's Express Drive program has earned the company one billion dollars.

The fact is that most Express Drive drivers struggle not simply to survive, but even to hold on to their overpriced priced rental at all.

7. The internet highway is littered with the storied carcus of many a Lyft driver who failed to measure up to one or more of the company's many Draconian requirements.

See, for example:
google.com/amp/s/www.lati…

And also here:

medium.com/swlh/my-coloss…

8. But when you are hanging on by a thread, or perhaps barely even that, every hope, like every misfortune, becomes magnified. It's easy to see the light at the end of the tunnel in every random fleck of passing light.

Too easy, which is what they know and exploit.

9. I have been trying to rebuild something of a normal life since my mother died in 2016. To call that process difficult and chaotic would be a gross understatement by anyone's standard.

My struggles are well documented here. Twitter has been both my savior and record/archive.

10. My friend (well, I call him friend, not sure if he'd reciprocate) @Solutioneer72 and his dear mother helped me get onto the Express Drive program, which if you are truly in dire straits, can prove very difficult. They, and I, believed they were giving me a great blessing.

11. And on the surface the details seem benign, basic, perhaps expected even. You would have to forgive anyone for not being able to predict pitfalls that later will seem shockingly obvious.

12. The details are these:

1. A $250 deposit made via a credit or debit card.

2. Payment of $219 per week PLUS applicable taxes and fees which in urban centers like Chicago can add an additional $60 per week.

3. The driver MUST complete at least 20 rides a week.

13. It all sounds so easy. So simple. But it is not, and I will tell you why.

First, the program presupposes you have resources most people actually using the program do not have. And the kind of car you are given and it's condition are a matter of chance and status.

14. The first two cars I received had to be returned for mechanical issues. In the first case it broke down the day I got it, but I had to have it towed back and officially received by Hertz. That happened on a Thursday afternoon but I was only given a one day credit.

15. So, I was charged a full week and had to get 17 rides before 5 am that next Monday. The next car, which made it through the weekend, but had tire pressure warnings from the start (I reported these and was told it had been inspected and all was fine).

16. But on Monday afternoon (it had taken till 5am to get my 17 rides in) I went out to find a completely flat tire. Despite the fact that it was the same tire that the system had issued warnings about I learned then that tires were my responsibility to fix.

17. I didn't learn that until I had called the roadside team and had the car towed. Hertz/Lyft charge $250 a tire. The car wasn't officially returned to LYFT Express until Tuesday afternoon, but I wasn't able to travel the 60 miles back to the LE office until Thursday.

18. This time, since the problem was considered my fault I was given no credit and had to get 20 rides in before Monday at 5 am. That week I barely made it.

But let's review my first two weeks with the program.

In my first 14 days I had a working vehicle for only 6 days.

19. In both cases I made the minimum ride requirements but did not earn enough to cover the rental costs. My first week I was about $50 short and the second I was $74 short. I had to personally pay the remaining rental costs.

20. Add the $250 tire charge and the gas refill fees I was charged because I could not refill the tanks before they were towed, which are billed at $9 per gallon, and my first two weeks (adding in travel costs to and from the Lyft Express office) COST me over $400.

21. I was borrowing from everywhere to cover those costs. This is another glaring problem with the Express Drive program. You need to have a pretty large amount of money set aside if you hope to succeed at any level in the program.

I didn't and do not.

22. There are all sorts of associated costs you must account for: gas, food, and, if you live in a city like Chicago) tolls.

I now live in a fairly rural area and so I have little choice but to travel larger distances to get rides.

23. And if I want to reach those rides quickly I have little choice but to utilize the State's expensive toll road system. The first toll I encounter everyday is $4.25 by itself.

Since I have no other income and no remaining savings I have to earn to cover these costs.

24. My best and almost only option has been Instacart, but while it has been my saving Grace it has also been it's own curse. See, Instacart allows for instant payouts all day at .50 cents a pop.

But this is only a partial solution, and here's why.

25. Having instant payouts from Instacart proved to be a godsend, but there is, of course, a catch. Tips cannot be paid out instantly, and so are paid out weekly through direct deposit. Tips are essential for Instacart shoppers and can account for 20 - 60% of your earnings.

26. And therein is my problem. I am literally stuck in a loop that continually degrades against me. I can't work enough for Lyft because I don't have the resources to pay for the gas (as much as $150 a week or more), the tolls (perhaps $75 a week), and incidentals ($50).

27. And what I am able to take from Instacart barely covers those costs.

This is untenable. The stress of losing the car, which has happened four times since I began is taxing and unnecessary.

I'm so close to homeless again I can't even tell you. This is why I need my own car.

28. My own car will instantly cut my car payments by 60%, from pm ,v v about $1100 a month to less than $500. It will also allow me to properly insure myself. I will be able work other platforms and therefore earn more. I will be able to take my earnings instantly from Lyft.

29. I will have no limitations, restrictions, or demands on my time or scheduled requirements, and I will shielding myself from actual homelessness since my car could become my home.

But, as many of you know, my credit rating was destroyed in the course of caring for my mom.

30. To get a safe, mechanically sound and warrantied vehicle requires a substantial down payment. The higher the down payment the lower the monthly payments. Car Max suggested $1850 - 5000. I am hoping to get somewhere in the middle with about $3000.

31. Getting this car will also have the added benefit of improving my credit rating quickly and permanently.

This is why I started the GoFundMe page. I know that there are tons of other better causes out there, but I have few options.

32. Know that the vehicle I eventually get will be used to drive voters on election day. It will transport me all over the region for campaigns. It will deliver meals to the poor and elderly at least once a month and myriad other good things too.

33. So, if you can help this I s why I need it...

I am sorry I have had to ask again, but grateful beyond words for those who can... And those who want to...

If you are able my page is here and my Paypal is [e-mail].

Thank you.

gf.me/u/w5axfn