Six years ago, my mama and I experienced a violent change in our lives that left us without housing.

What followed were five years of enduring homelessness. Every day was focused on finding safety, staying together, caring for our beloved animals, and doing whatever we could to rebuild our lives.

After five difficult years, we were finally able to secure housing!! For the past nine months, we have been rebuilding our lives and enjoying a level of stability we had not experienced in years. We are deeply grateful for that stability, but our current housing is temporary, our leases are approaching completion in September, and it will not provide the long-term security or space that our family needs.

Now we have an opportunity to pursue something we have dreamed about for a long time: a permanent home where we can live safely, sustainably, and without the fear of homelessness again.

My mama is in her late sixties and has worked hard her entire life. Even recently, she tried supplementing her income through DoorDash, but the reality of fuel costs, vehicle maintenance, and other expenses often left her spending as much as she earned.

After everything we have been through, my hope and prayer is that she can spend her later years with greater peace of mind instead of constantly worrying about housing costs and financial uncertainty.

As for me, life has required me to overcome challenges that changed the course of my future. I live with Complex PTSD and ASD and I have spent years learning how to adapt and overcome.

Like my mama, I have focused not on what was lost, but on what can still be built. This dream of creating a stable home is part of that commitment. Rather than remaining stuck in survival mode, we want to create a future built on security, self-sufficiency, and purpose.

My mama has two dogs, and I have two cats, including Kevin, who has been with me for the last eleven years.

When our lives were turned upside down, keeping our family together became one of our highest priorities. Finding housing that would allow us to stay together was often one of the biggest challenges we faced. No matter how uncertain things became, we remained committed to one another. They were never "just pets." They were, and always will be, family.

Through five years of homelessness across six different states, we faced challenges that most pet owners never have to think about. Many of those moves were made to avoid harsh winter weather and extreme temperatures, not only for ourselves but for our animals as well. Keeping them safe, protected from the elements, away from traffic, and cared for no matter where we found ourselves became one of our greatest responsibilities.

They brought comfort on difficult days, companionship during uncertain times, and a sense of normalcy when very little else felt stable. Just as importantly, they gave us something to keep fighting for.

As we work toward creating a permanent home, one of our deepest hopes is to give them the stability they have earned alongside us. We have come through the hardest years together, and now we want to build a future where every member of our family can finally feel secure.

Our dream is modest, but meaningful: a small piece of rural property where we can live sustainably, grow some of our own food, reduce our monthly expenses, and create a permanent home for ourselves and the animals who have been with us through every step of this journey.

We have already proven that we can rebuild. What we're hoping for now is the chance to put down roots.

This isn't about starting over. We've already done that. It's about creating something lasting.

We've thought this through. We're not asking for a dream without a plan—we're working toward a practical, sustainable future that will allow us to live modestly, reduce our monthly expenses, and create long-term stability.

How Your Support Will Help

Our estimated goal is approximately $30,000, which would help us take the next step toward creating a permanent home:

Rural property: approximately $10,000

Two modest used campers or repossessed tiny homes: approximately $10,000 total

Reliable vehicle for transportation, supplies, appointments, and maintaining a rural property: approximately $5,000

Moving expenses, utility connections, and site preparation: approximately $2,500

Garden setup and basic supplies: approximately $2,500

Every contribution, regardless of size, brings us one step closer to a safe and permanent home.

This fundraiser is not about luxury. It is about creating security, preserving dignity, and building a future where neither my mother nor I have to live with the fear of homelessness again.

One of the things that carried us through our hardest years was the kindness of others. Because of that, we hope that if we are fortunate enough to achieve this dream, we can pay that kindness forward.

We hope to share extra produce from our garden with local food banks and shelters, foster animals in need, and use the stability we create to help others whenever we can. The kindness shown to us during difficult times is something we hope to pass forward.

We know this goal will not happen overnight, and we know we cannot do it alone. Every donation, every share, and every word of encouragement helps move us closer to a future that once felt impossible.

After spending years rebuilding our lives, we are simply asking for the opportunity to create a stable foundation for the future.

Whether you choose to donate, share, or simply read our story, thank you for taking the time to be part of our journey. May God Bless You!

Your kindness helps create something that every family deserves: a safe place to call home.

With gratitude,

Aimee and family