We are Sapphire, a plural struggling disabled minority who is trying to make it through the PIP process without losing our home.

First, who we are. We are an artist, a creative, a programmer, and a advocate for queer and minority rights. We worked in the games industry and used to thoroughly enjoy it, but, a lifetime of abuse and survival has left its toll: By the time we lost our last job we were having severe panic attacks every other day as we dissociated through a life that was crumbling around us. We cannot keep up, we need support to get the specialist therapy we desperately need and time to work on our disabilities that only grow worse when we are in the workspace. We have Universal Credit and are trying to get Personal Independence Payment, and, if you have any experience with the PIP process, you will know how much of a nightmare this is.

Our UC has helped us a lot, but, it isn't enough. We are roughly £400 short each month on the funds we need for basic necessities like rent, keeping the lights on, and food; let alone heating as things are getting colder (we live in a basement flat that get's very very cold). The bills are piling up and we can't just rely on our credit card anymore, we are hitting our limit. We have avoided creating a GoFundMe for months now, because we wanted to believe in the system that is supposed to support people like us; a system is failing us and we cannot just tough it out anymore. This is the first time in our whole life we have lived somewhere where we can actually be ourselves, where we are surrounded by good people and no longer have abuse constantly thrown our way. We cannot lose this, we cannot end up sofa surfing again or on the streets, our disabilities cannot survive that.

Once we are through the PIP process and getting the support we deserve, we intend to pay forward any kindness and support given to us. We intend to support our community like you have supported us: This is our promise.

There are many struggling people who have been relying on our emotional and physical support, we want to continue to help them, yet, we cannot do anywhere near as much as we want whilst our life is crumbling around us.

Thank you for your support, thank you for keeping another trans woman away from homelessness.