Urgent: Keep Debra’s Family Together

Dear Community,
 I am a single mother of two beautiful, autistic toddlers, and I need your help. I’m in a time-sensitive crisis and facing the terrifying possibility of homelessness. I’m hoping for 600 people to gift 20 dollars to reach my goal, but any amount helps! I am a victim and survivor of domestic violence. After enduring 5 years of emotional, mental and financial abuse, we are now separating.  We are not married. The father of my children served me custody papers for 50% custody of my autistic toddlers. He got a court order kicking me out of our apartment in Royal Oak, MI by June 1st.  As a stay-at-home mom for the past 3 years, I’m in the process of finding employment, though it is difficult because I do not have current work history. I now face the harsh reality of not having enough resources to provide a stable future for myself and my family. I am asking for your support. Without it I could become homeless, lose custody of my children, and lose everything that I love and have worked hard to establish for my children.  Unfortunately, housing assistance is not available and has been defunded. A homeless shelter is not an option because I will lose custody if I end up there. The risk of becoming homeless and losing custody of my children is becoming a very real and likely possibility if I don’t raise the money I need to secure what is necessary to stabilize my life. It’s really important that I have a reliable vehicle to get my daughter and son to their OT, PT, speech therapy and other places that we need to get to.  I need to start over—and I need help now. The father of my children is allowed to take anything he bought with him.  I’m in desperate need of the basics: a safe place to live, a reliable vehicle, items for my daughter and son and other necessities. The child support payments I receive won’t even begin to cover these basic needs and won’t start until July 1st. I’m asking for $12,000 to cover immediate needs—rent, car, car insurance, etc. Every dollar raised will make a real difference for me and my children. Any funds raised beyond this amount will go toward food, diapers, and other expenses as I work to get back on my feet. With your generosity, I can provide my children with a safe, secure home—a place where they can grow, thrive, and be loved. A place where we can live with dignity, stability, and peace. The money raised will give me the autonomy to choose where we live and choose other necessities. Please, help me secure a future for my family. Your support means everything to us.
 Thank you!
Debra Sousa-Oliveira