I never imagined I would be writing something like this.
On May 22, our family’s life changed completely when a fire destroyed our home. Since that night, my children and I have been displaced and desperately trying to find somewhere safe and stable to live.
What followed has been months of hotels, sleeping wherever we could, living out of bags, worrying about where we would sleep next, and constantly trying to find enough money for food, gas, temporary lodging, and basic necessities.
We have had one setback after another.
We lost our home.
We lost our vehicle.
We have dealt with injuries, medical bills, employment problems, insurance delays, and the overwhelming amount of paperwork and stress that comes with trying to rebuild a life after a disaster.
And through all of this, we kept telling ourselves that eventually things would get better.
We kept fighting because our children needed us to.
Then came the tragedy I never thought our family would have to endure.
My husband died by suicide.
After everything our family had already been through, losing him has left us devastated in a way I can't put into words.
Our children have already lost their home, their stability, their sense of normalcy—and now they have lost their father.
I am trying to keep moving forward for them, but I am exhausted and overwhelmed. I'm trying to be both parents to children who are grieving while also trying to solve the very basic problem of where we are going to live.
We need a safe place to call home.
The immediate goal of this fundraiser is to help us get into stable housing. Donations will go toward things such as:
- A safe place to stay while we secure permanent housing
- Security deposit and first month's rent
- Hotel or temporary lodging
- Food and basic necessities
- Gas and transportation
- Children's necessities
- Basic household items once we have a home
We aren't asking for a perfect life.
We're asking for a chance to finally stop surviving from one day to the next.
A chance for my children to have beds of their own.
A place where they can leave their belongings without having to pack them up again.
A place where they can feel safe.
If you can donate, even a few dollars would mean more than you know. If you can't donate, sharing this fundraiser could put it in front of someone who can.
If you know of an affordable rental, temporary housing, a church or organization that helps families in crisis, or any other legitimate resource that could help us, please reach out.
We have been knocked down more times than I ever thought possible.
I'm just trying to get my children somewhere safe and give them some stability after a year that has taken so much from them.
Thank you for reading our story, for sharing it, for donating if you're able, and for helping us find our way home.
