Hi everyone,

My name is Charmaine but I go by Zee (middle name Zoe), I'm 42, a mum of one handsome, strapping 16 year old boy and two gorgeous grey furr babies Ronnie & Reggie (my cats). My son and I are from Manchester, born and bred, and have lived here our whole lives - mostly private renting, mostly without any issues - until we were evicted from our home of 9 years.

I have found the courage to share my story with (now thousands of people around the UK) and in doing so, I've been kindly encouraged by a few people now to create a GoFundMe so that I can gather some help for what's to come over the next week especially, but I fear many weeks after too.

My current situation is;

I'm diagnosed with Complex PTSD, Panic Disorder, Depression & Anxiety (generalized). I'm also a sober alcoholic and kicked the habit nearly a year ago - best thing I ever did is ditching the wine.

Over the past year I've been in recovery from burnout, in trauma treatment, therapy and I'm on medication for my symptoms - which are pervasive and severe. It does help but it's a journey, layered, complex and doesn't happen over night. But I am putting in the work with the mental health team and I'm making progress.

I'm being very open here, but I think it's best to be honest and is offered for context of my situation (although not unique), and to communicate the hardship I'm experiencing right now being on a fixed low income wage with this uncertainty ahead, a child and two cats in tow.

Please continue to read through the rest of my story below and how I've come to the situation I'm in as I think the below text - which I shared on my Facebook page - captures it all pretty well.

"I'm Charmaine but I go by 'Zee' it's just me and my son, Micah. Last year I went to Manchester City Council for help with housing as my landlord decided to sell the house we rent. I hated to do it but I had no choice having been forced to take a break from work due to poor health.

My son and I were born and bred in beautiful culture rich Manchester city and I have a 25 year work history, paid taxes and insurance since I was a spotty teenager, law abiding, contribute to the betterment of the city, I've even replaced myself with a productive and law abiding offspring - reminding myself of this made me feel a bit better about the whole 'asking for help' thing by the way.

Afterall, that's what we pay taxes for, right? That's why we have a welfare system, right? To support citizens in need.

And honestly, I had no choice. No savings or investments. No parents or family to help. No partner. And even working full time earning over average wages, we've lived a modest lifestyle these past few years.

I've been going through the eviction process for over a year and it's been a nightmare. Although I've managed to shield the boy from most of it, I can't magic it away and he's a tough cookie but I know he's feeling stressed too.

Because the time has come. Moving date is around the corner.

The thing is, we don't know where we're going. We've not been rehoused yet and under the council's 'ONE offer policy', we'll be subject to a single offer of temporary housing.

I'll find out where we'll go on the day I'm evicted but they've also made clear that they may not rehouse us in an actual house for one. And two, we could be moved outside of Manchester even as far as Liverpool.

Away from support, away from my boys school. We don't have any transport.

I've stated my case - it doesn't matter.

My son is in year 11, G.C.S.E's around the corner - they don't care.

I have two cats - it doesn't matter.

It's difficult to arrange removals if I don't know where I'm going - so what?

I can't take my furniture to a hotel if we're placed there - it doesn't matter.

Beggers can't be choosers I know.

I've talked to my council case worker until I'm blue in the face, it does not matter what I say. She told me that if I don't like the process, I should ask family or friends can they let me, my son, my two cats and my 3 bedroom house full of belongings - live with them.

They DON'T care.

Whatever she picks up for me on the day of eviction, which is 9am mind you, is where we'll go in their 'ONE-offer policy' scheme and if that offer happens to be a hostel on The Wirral - that's where we'll end up.

Social housing has an average wait of 7 years. We have 1.2 million Brits waiting.

Landlords want sky high prices and I'm priced out, the market is ridiculous.

Council says we have a housing crisis.

I've done well to 'manage' the stress and anxiety of this but recently I've been feeling nauseous and down about it all. I'm a tough cookie too, so I know I'll be fine. It's the uncertainty of it all, the dread, the process of moving is hard enough when we're in control of what's happening. This is a new level unlocked.

Despite the emotions I'm feeling, I'm going to try and stay positive that we'll be rehoused, local to us now, near to Micah's school, friends etc.. in an actual house so I don't have to giving up my cats because that... ahh I can't think about that right now.

Please pray for us.

I had no intention of sharing this, I didn't. I feel super vulnerable and kind of like a failure in some ways, but I am where I am right now - that's the reality.

Something's boosted my courage enough to make a last ditch appeal

I've been suffering in silence and in my experience it's better to speak out when possible, you never know who could have a solution.

Fingers crossed we get sorted okay

Please share, like drop a comment for reach. Thank you".

My post has had thousands of views, shares and comments and people have encouraged me to allow me to let them donate - although I do feel very cringe asking for money from people I've never met! But I'm up against it, in the worst way, and I have others to think about too. So here I am, humbly, gratefully. X

Any donations are greatly, most greatly appreciated and will be used to navigate the road ahead for things such as removals, storage (if needed, maybe not), transport, bits for essential things in the property we end up in, to be completely honest its hard to pin down exactly because I'm sure of where we'll go, if I'll have my furniture, if my cats can come with me etc. So a little bit playing by ear I guess, but I'll be updating Facebook daily with my journey progress. Massive thank you in advance, I know we're all struggling at the moment.

Signing off,

Zee X

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GL9FmsBEC/

My Facebook post is here.

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UPDATE:

Hi everyone Zee here, Great news! Our original target was £1,000, and I had pin pointed some obvious/main costs we'll face with this move(s) and other things I know will cost me due to my personal circumstances, and some things for the house I know we'll need.

We've EXCEEDED our goal in less than 24 hours!! Amazing, I just can't believe it!! I woke up to a total of £1700 and we're now at over £2k!! You should have seen my face this morning! Almost surreal.

The extra money will be SO helpful to provide us a few essentials that admittedly, I've had to put off. A new bed which is on its last legs, a sofa (my corner sofa can't come with us), my washing machine is broken (we've had help and used the launderette for weeks) - no exaggerations, it's been a bit rough for us but this is such a needed lifeline. Please do follow my FB page (link below) to see regular updates of our homeless to re-housing journey and about how I'll leverage my platform visibility and insight to try and drive positive community change.

I owe you guys and I never forget those who help me. I honestly can't thank you enough, you've really looked out for us X