Brandi's Get Out of Dodge Fund
Donation protected
I'm in the early stages of yet another appeal on SSI disability for several medical conditions (fibromyalgia, ehlers-danlos syndrom type III - Hypermobility, chronic migraines, panic disorder, and a few other health conditions that don't really help that mix either) that make holding down a job near impossible. Because of this I've not had any real income since the end of 2012. Since July 2013, I've been living with my mom, step-dad and half-sister. My stepfather and I have never gotten along with each other and it's been tough on the entire family since I moved in with them. There's been more than a few instances of them threatening to evict me because I don't have any money with which to pay them rent. I do various chores around the house in order to contribute to things.
Part of the agreement for my living here was that I remain in my room nearly all the time. As time has gone on restrictions have changed from being allowed out of my room and down to my fridge/freezer space in the basement to get food and use the bathroom at any time I need to. Now I must be in my room from the time my stepfather gets home from work between 4 and 4:30pm until the next day except for using the bathroom. I do all my cooking in my room in my microwave, toaster oven, rice cooker and electric kettle. I eat all my meals alone in my room and only get to spend time with my mom when my stepfather isn't around. The only company I have for the most part is my cat Simba, who shares my room with me - the door must be kept closed at all times, so the poor rascal, his food and litter are all confined to the same space as me and all my things.
When my stepfather sees me, he throws temper tantrums and makes everyone's life a nightmare. He'll bitch about me to my mom. Being heard isn't any less of an offense, so after he's home I'm in the habit of trying to be as quiet as possible. Tiptoeing my way to the bathroom or to the kitchen fridge to quickly grab a bite to eat before quietly scurring back into my room so he won't notice. Even leaving my room to use the bathroom is a game of cat and mouse as I try to make sure the coast is clear so he won't throw a tantrum because he wanted to use the bathroom right then. Sometimes this results in my holding it in while I wait for him to go downstairs to the basement or out to the garage so I can safely use the bathroom without his notice. Lights are out at 11pm and I'm stuck sitting in the dark for a couple of hours if I'm still up at that point. And should I accidentally lose track of time and not get my lights off by then, it can result in another tantrum. Tantrums involve ranting loudly, grumbling, stomping around and slamming doors. There's been a few times as of late where he's taken to beating up the garage in his fits of anger.
There have been several discussions over the last year about evicting me, and the only reason they haven't is because - well, I honestly don't know the exact reason. That seems to change depending on the day. Sometimes they say they wouldn't really kick me out on the street, then other times they act as though they really are going to kick me out. I never know what to expect from one day to the next. Earlier today there was yet another incident where they were discussing evicting me within earshot where I wasn't included in the discussion. No one has spoken to me since this afternoon about that or anything else. I'm worried that any time after the holidays they'll be evicting me and I'll be homeless. I am visiting family out of state as part of a chistmas gift from them from Dec 30th-Jan 22nd, and I worry that I'll return to find my belongings gone or being held as collateral.
My goal with this fund is to get the money to rent a 5x10 storage unit for a year at $70/month including insurance & tax. I intend to move the majority of my belongings into the storage unit over the weekend after Christmas while my family is out of town and can't complain about it. The goal is to get everything except for my most essential items into a safe place where I don't have to worry about losing them if I have to move out on short notice. I want to be able to pack my remaining belongings in under two hours and be able to leave with it in one trip if I do wind up kicked out when I return from visiting family in January - or at any point after then while I work on getting some steady income so I can move out.
Part of the agreement for my living here was that I remain in my room nearly all the time. As time has gone on restrictions have changed from being allowed out of my room and down to my fridge/freezer space in the basement to get food and use the bathroom at any time I need to. Now I must be in my room from the time my stepfather gets home from work between 4 and 4:30pm until the next day except for using the bathroom. I do all my cooking in my room in my microwave, toaster oven, rice cooker and electric kettle. I eat all my meals alone in my room and only get to spend time with my mom when my stepfather isn't around. The only company I have for the most part is my cat Simba, who shares my room with me - the door must be kept closed at all times, so the poor rascal, his food and litter are all confined to the same space as me and all my things.
When my stepfather sees me, he throws temper tantrums and makes everyone's life a nightmare. He'll bitch about me to my mom. Being heard isn't any less of an offense, so after he's home I'm in the habit of trying to be as quiet as possible. Tiptoeing my way to the bathroom or to the kitchen fridge to quickly grab a bite to eat before quietly scurring back into my room so he won't notice. Even leaving my room to use the bathroom is a game of cat and mouse as I try to make sure the coast is clear so he won't throw a tantrum because he wanted to use the bathroom right then. Sometimes this results in my holding it in while I wait for him to go downstairs to the basement or out to the garage so I can safely use the bathroom without his notice. Lights are out at 11pm and I'm stuck sitting in the dark for a couple of hours if I'm still up at that point. And should I accidentally lose track of time and not get my lights off by then, it can result in another tantrum. Tantrums involve ranting loudly, grumbling, stomping around and slamming doors. There's been a few times as of late where he's taken to beating up the garage in his fits of anger.
There have been several discussions over the last year about evicting me, and the only reason they haven't is because - well, I honestly don't know the exact reason. That seems to change depending on the day. Sometimes they say they wouldn't really kick me out on the street, then other times they act as though they really are going to kick me out. I never know what to expect from one day to the next. Earlier today there was yet another incident where they were discussing evicting me within earshot where I wasn't included in the discussion. No one has spoken to me since this afternoon about that or anything else. I'm worried that any time after the holidays they'll be evicting me and I'll be homeless. I am visiting family out of state as part of a chistmas gift from them from Dec 30th-Jan 22nd, and I worry that I'll return to find my belongings gone or being held as collateral.
My goal with this fund is to get the money to rent a 5x10 storage unit for a year at $70/month including insurance & tax. I intend to move the majority of my belongings into the storage unit over the weekend after Christmas while my family is out of town and can't complain about it. The goal is to get everything except for my most essential items into a safe place where I don't have to worry about losing them if I have to move out on short notice. I want to be able to pack my remaining belongings in under two hours and be able to leave with it in one trip if I do wind up kicked out when I return from visiting family in January - or at any point after then while I work on getting some steady income so I can move out.
Organizer
Brandi Miller
Organizer
Charter Township of Ypsilanti, MI