Emergency: Keeping My Family Safe After Losing My Partner.

My name is Jolene Manteufel, and I am writing this from a place I never thought I would be. For 12 years, Blake was my partner and my best friend. In October 2023, our lives changed forever when he was diagnosed with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) with only 4% kidney function.I was determined to keep him alive. I rushed through 9 months of dialysis training in just 30 days so I could care for him at home. For two years, I performed round-the-clock dialysis six times a day as his full-time caregiver.

Tragically, Blake passed away in my arms this past September.When Blake died, I didn't just lose my best friend; I lost 90% of my household income.

Since then, the hits haven't stopped. In April, the home we lived in for 7 years was declared uninhabitable by city inspectors due to landlord negligence. We were forced out. We spent every penny we had on hotels to stay off the streets as long as possible, but as of last Friday, our resources are gone.

Right now, my two sons (ages 13 and 15) and my disabled, wheelchair-bound mother are living on the streets with me. The local shelters are completely full. To make matters worse, my car—our only means of transportation—had a major mechanical failure and had to be junked because I couldn't afford the repairs.

We are currently waiting for affordable housing, but we have no safe place to be while we wait.

I am raising funds to get a reliable used vehicle that we can use for transportation and, if necessary, as a temporary safe shelter for my kids and until a housing placement opens up.

I have never been in this position before, and my heart breaks for my children and my mom. Any help—whether it’s a donation or just sharing this link—means the world to us. We just need a bridge to get back on our feet.

Thank you for your kindness and for listening to our story.