Alemu’s family lost everything

Our hearts have been very torn as we’ve watched devastation spread across our city as an effort to “clean up” the city has caused many peoples’ homes and businesses to be knocked down. In the last few weeks hundreds of businesses were torn torn and people instantly lost their livelihoods. Due to some increasing tribal tensions, many people have also had their houses destroyed because they aren’t of the majority people group in their area.

Our guard, Alemu, and his family have lived in a house he built for over 15 years but this week they were forced out of their home and had to watch as it and the homes of all their neighbors and friends were torn down. Because of an already difficult housing shortage, these hundreds of homes being knocked down at once has driven rent prices even higher. The average person here makes less than $100 per month and rent has gone higher than that, making it impossible for people to get by. Alemu’s wife is 8 months pregnant, making the timing of this even harder. We have helped him get into a new house but would love to be able to raise enough support to be able to pay his rent for one year and allow him to save up to be able to support his family in the coming years since he has gone from owning his home to paying rent he can’t afford overnight. In the culture here, friends and family pitch in when people need a hand but since this has essentially wiped out whole communities, everyone is struggling to get by right now. Since the community here can’t help right now, I hope you will consider blessing his family in this way. Any amount over his need raised will be used to help another family with housing crisis.