Helping a friend in need
Donation protected
This is the story of my dear friend, Shawn, a kind and generous spirit who finds herself in a rotten situation. She was reluctant to reach out, and has been so brave to tell this story- one she's not proud of. I'm using only her first name and setting up this campaign for her (without photos) to protect her family's privacy and safety. Anything you can offer will help her and her children find safe lodging where they can be together, and feed and clothe themselves.
She, her husband, and their 14yr old, 12yr old, and 5yr old lost their home when he lost his job of twelve years due to drug use. He had also become abusive to her. They separated after that and tried to repair the damage through months of counseling and co-parenting. In May they tried to reunite as a family, moving in with his parents. It didn't work out. The abuse and drug use continued, and she decided she did not want to be married to him anymore. Despite his behavior, his parents remained loyal to him over his grandchildren, and refuse to see her or her children, or do anything to help care for the children.
Since June, she and the children are temporarily homeless. She has funds coming to her in September, and is about to start working at a local preschool. She is close to earning a degree in Early Childhood Special Education Between now and then, she can't afford a place to live and doesn't have enough money pay for a hotel room from. The local homeless shelter is not an option. When she tried staying there, she was bitten by bedbugs and her older sons were expected to sleep far away from their mother in the adult male section of a warehouse. Just imagine for a moment 12- and 14-year-old boys away from their mother for the first time sleeping in a homeless shelter with adult men whom they don't know.
During this time, her husband has stalked and threatened her and the children. She has filed incident reports with the police, who tell her "people get emotional during divorce," and don't really take the matter seriously.
Its daunting, to say the least.
She will be back on her feet soon, and is grateful for anything anyone can do in the mean time.
She, her husband, and their 14yr old, 12yr old, and 5yr old lost their home when he lost his job of twelve years due to drug use. He had also become abusive to her. They separated after that and tried to repair the damage through months of counseling and co-parenting. In May they tried to reunite as a family, moving in with his parents. It didn't work out. The abuse and drug use continued, and she decided she did not want to be married to him anymore. Despite his behavior, his parents remained loyal to him over his grandchildren, and refuse to see her or her children, or do anything to help care for the children.
Since June, she and the children are temporarily homeless. She has funds coming to her in September, and is about to start working at a local preschool. She is close to earning a degree in Early Childhood Special Education Between now and then, she can't afford a place to live and doesn't have enough money pay for a hotel room from. The local homeless shelter is not an option. When she tried staying there, she was bitten by bedbugs and her older sons were expected to sleep far away from their mother in the adult male section of a warehouse. Just imagine for a moment 12- and 14-year-old boys away from their mother for the first time sleeping in a homeless shelter with adult men whom they don't know.
During this time, her husband has stalked and threatened her and the children. She has filed incident reports with the police, who tell her "people get emotional during divorce," and don't really take the matter seriously.
Its daunting, to say the least.
She will be back on her feet soon, and is grateful for anything anyone can do in the mean time.
Organizer and beneficiary
Stephanie Parsons
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY
Shawn S Sutherland
Beneficiary
