7-week-old baby with no home!!

**All names changed to protect this family. Meet 7-week-old baby Mel. The only home she has ever known is the one shown here on the police station floor in Chicago just a few miles from my home in Oak Park. Her parents traveled from Venezuela through 7 countries because they feared for their safety in their own country.

Through my volunteer work at the police station, I have grown very close to this family. Despite their circumstances I have never once heard them complain. The only thing they have ever asked me for is for work. They are a smart, motivated young couple who I know without any doubt will do very well here if they have support.

It keeps me up at night knowing that they are sleeping on the floor with an infant while we all live such fortunate lives. If we all contribute just a little bit, we can make a significant impact on this family's life.

My goal is to get them into stable housing for 1 year which means at a minimum I need to raise 20k. They are up against many obstacles. First, they have to apply for asylum. After they get confirmation that their application has been received then they have to wait 150 days to apply for a work permit. They do not speak any English (but are so motivated to learn and already taking classes with a volunteer who comes to the station), have no friends or family here at all. They will have many legal bills, medical bills, cell phone, groceries and all the other expenses it takes to raise a child.

From my previous posts I have gotten an outpouring of offers of help and for that I could not be more grateful. This community has sent me resources for housing, ESL classes, vocational training, pro bono lawyer and many other resources that I will connect this family with. My garage is full of donations thanks to friends and this amazing community. What I need now to help them is money and lots of it! If we can get them into stable housing the rest will fall together, I know it will. I need financial donations to make the stable housing happen. Will you help by contributing what you can and sharing with your networks?

If you want to learn more about to help other refugees or more about this family and how you can help, please text/call me anytime [phone redacted].

I quote the mom of Mel here "I thank you Senora Lisa from the gut of my soul to you and all you know for helping me and my family. We are so grateful and promise we will pay it back (meaning pay it forward) when we can."

Please share with everyone you know and all of your networks. Together I know we can help this family!

**UPDATE 9/21 they were moved to a shelter last night. The shelter unfortunately has far worse conditions then the police station did. It is way more crowded (hundreds in one room with military style cots right next to each other) The baby is too young to get vaccinated yet so this is not healthy for her to be in this crowded of a space. PLEASE help if you can.