Hi, I'm Ande (they/them): a Disabled/Chronically ill, Neurodivergent, Queer Trans Nonbinary, African Immigrant in need of urgent community support.

After years of debilitating symptoms, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Degenerative disc disease, and IBS. Persistent symptom flare-ups and 3-4 appointments per week (and the workplace abuse, transphobia, and ableism I experienced) caused me to miss a lot of shifts. My PCP suggested I file for ADA medical leave/short-term disability, but I was denied, and then abruptly fired while appealing my case.

I have been without income since March 2022, and was officially terminated as of June. The hospital did not call to inform me that I would have to return pending appeal nor give me time to get required PCP clearance before terminating me via email. Watch full story here: https://www.instagram.com/p/CeojGGmoz8F/

Seven days after I was fired, I lost health insurance (which means I have no access to daily/emergency meds, doctors visits, and couldn't fulfill 3 open physical therapy referrals or see a neurologist, as my pain management specialist had recommended.) I became unhoused, and my sister and I had to cut off our abusive queerphobic family and survive relying solely on my savings.

In July, while couch surfing, My sister and I contracted the BA.5 Covid variant, and then experience a loss in the family that stranded us in Los Angeles, CA. We secured a month-to-month sublease, and drove across the country (from Washington, DC), but later learned it was being illegally leased to us and had to vacate at the end of August.

I have not been approved for medicaid (due to all off the immigration status hoops), and without adequate care, I cannot sustain working outside of my home, and even applying for WFH jobs has been difficult because i'm in survival mode. So i've mainly been making a little money from virtual contract gigs and occasional outside work that is really hard on me. I'm getting further into debt and struggling to survive. Your donations will help sustain me while I look for health insurance, employment, and try to rebuild in a new city. 

Thanks much for taking time to read this little bit of my story and witnessing my suffering. Please donate if you have capacity (especially if you are able-bodied, wealth or otherwise resource - privileged) &  and share this fundraiser with your network, family, and friends. Your generosity and care will be rewarded tenfold. 

$10,000 will go towards:

- Paying off 11 hotel/airbnb/hostels we stayed in July & August while unhoused 

- Moving costs from DC to CA (including gas for cross country drive, hotels, and shipping costs) 

- Medical debt

- Security deposit 

Any excess donations will go towards sustaining rent, utilities, medical expenses, car note & insurance, and food until we can obtain steady income. 

Thank you for supporting our safety and wellbeing.