Texas Teacher Living in His Car Reaches GoFundMe Goal

A Texas teacher, Bill Atkinson, has raised more than his target of $13,600 on GoFundMe to clear his debts and secure housing. Atkinson, who teaches fourth grade in Austin, turned to crowdfunding after his poor credit score and income as a single educator prevented him from renting an apartment.

"Due to mistakes and bad luck, my debts are to the point where I cannot afford to pay rent and pay off my debts... As of right now, I am living out of my car while I continue to teach, as that is the best I can currently do." - Bill Atkinson via GoFundMe

Atkinson also faces challenges obtaining his teacher certification due to lack of access to school transcripts. His story, which he documents on TikTok and Instagram @Babblinbill, highlights the financial struggles faced by educators in Texas, where teacher salaries range from $33,660 with zero years of experience to $54,540 with 20 years of experience. Despite this, the average median rent in Texas is $1,950 according to Zillow, making it difficult for teachers like Atkinson to find affordable housing.

At the time of writing, Atkinson has raised $16,866, exceeding his goal and offering him a chance to get back on his feet.

Sources:

• GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-bill-atkinsons-journey-to-stability
• Babblinbill on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@babblinbill
• Texas Education Agency: https://tea.texas.gov/texas-educators/salary-and-service-record/minimum-salary-schedule/2023-2024-minimum-salary-schedule
• WFAA: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/austin-teacher-sleeping-in-car/269-c6dc9959-b3dc-4d59-9dd0-aed75b395022
• Zillow: Median Rent Price in Texas