Trying to stabilize after intense transition

Update September, 2024:

In early September I found a bed bug in our house. For 3 1/2 weeks I’ve treated with all of the remedies others had suggested for treatment because extermination costs were out of reach. But I can’t keep up anymore. The cheapest exterminator I could find was $400 for the initial treatment, and $200 for each subsequent re-treat.

I’ve replaced one queen mattress, two twin mattresses, and a bunk bed (Beds 4 Kids works is a non-profit that works to find beds for children who don’t have beds - thankfully they helped me with replacements for the boys). We threw the boys’ dresser out for caution and I am out of pocket to replace that as well.

I am raising money for the continued treatments of extermination, matrress encasements, repeated trips to the laundromat (please, if anyone has a decent, working, washing machine, let me know if it’s available) - ours has been broken since week two of this current crisis.

I do still have the chronic injury explained in further detail in the body of the gofundme…any support loading laundry to the laundromat, moving mattresses, building the bunk bed, putting on mattress encasements would also be greatly appreciated if you happen to live in or near Detroit.

I was on my way back to stabilizing us financially. I’m still appealing the disability decision but I do have a remote work for 10 hours a week. I used my credit card to live on over the winter and for mechanic repairs to keep my car running, so that cushion I once had is now fully exhausted.

Any amount donated will help to keep the bug situation from overcoming the household.

I turned 46 on Sept. 5th. I couldn’t celebrate because I was at the laundromat, lol. I fought really hard to stay alive last year. I just want to make it through this so I can finally celebrate with my friends without worries of also infesting them.

Thank you in advance for helping our family out of another setback. We appreciate you.

Last update:

I’m working with a disability attorney to help assist with my disability claim. I’ve found work that can mostly accommodate my accessibility issues around the ptsd, anxiety/depression disorder and chronic pain from the back/hip injury.

Our little family is stabilizing, slowly, but we’re not quite out of the woods yet.

I’ve supported us through speaking presentations and talks I’ve given throughout the past 4 months, but I’ve been using my credit card to survive on while I work to close my income gap.

After significant car repairs over the winter, I’m coming close to maxing out the card. It’s my only safety net (I don’t have family to fall back on and not having a partner’s income to help supplement an extremely traumatic and costly year due to recurring emergencies has been extremely challenging).

I’m hoping to pay down the card with this final push on the gofundme.

I’m incredibly grateful to the folks who have helped me support this transition, and in turn, getting the boys to safety.

My pride took a big hit asking for so much help last year, but it helped these boys get to safety in doing so.

Thank you to everyone who has helped us stabilize. The boys have begun to thrive and I can’t express how much that means to me.

Update 2/2/2024:

copy of invoice here: https://curt-s-service-inc5850.shop-ware.com/work_orders/93094477?auth_token=yPiwQdvHi6BNakMhU_X6

After a year of car repairs leading nowhere, I finally found a diagnostic mechanic who invested the time and proper tools to thoroughly search the vehicle's working parts to get a proper diagnosis. The work on the vehicle is nearly complete, but the bill will max out my only safety net - my credit card. The repair estimate is $1965 and I've raised close to $350.

We were getting close to stabilizing - the boys are in school, they finally have Medicaid and EBT, and they've both been screened for and accepted into a trauma therapy program through Children's Health here in Detroit that they will begin on Monday.

Access to their dental, mental health, vision (one child was found to have severe astigmatism), tutoring, and enrichment activities is severely halted with this car broken down. We still use a laundromat, and their school doesn't bus children to and from home so our mobility - and their healing - is grossly impacted without our vehicle. I would rather put Lyft and Uber fees toward repair costs.

Update: January 15, 2024

We are housed and the transition of moving the children from their family and friends is now our battle ground. Fort Peck Tribal courts granted me full custody in December after my sibling remained, and still remained absent for my nephews’ care and advocacy.

We’ve applied for whatever state services are available, but Medicaid went through major revisions in Michigan state this year and though I’ve applied for health insurance for both children twice now, we’ve received no notice of benefits. The situation is similar for EBT - though I’ve spent time with two different case workers and many hours on the telephone with DHS trying to access both food stamps and health care, we’re still empty handed. Both children need behavioral health, dental, and vision help and all of these services are out of reach for us as I am still trying to stabilize us and fight for my own disability claim to access a steady form of income.

My car was found to have two nearly bald tires last week and a third went flat. Without access to a vehicle, and with concerns to my physical injury and lacking ability to get them to school, grocery shop, make it to the doctor we do have access to, or join other kids for much needed peer support without the car, a $700 investment needs to be made to replace the tires.

Always grateful, and forever indebted to anyone who gifts us any financial support as it is quite literally keeping us off the street.

Hello.

I am a sober, Assiniboine/Hidatsa/Hunkpapa winyan living in Detroit, Michigan.

My family on Fort Peck Indian Reservation (Montana) is in severe crisis due to complications from long-term addiction and alcoholism. I have very recently been granted temporary custody of my two young nephews, and am here to ask for your support as I seek to secure stable housing for them and myself as a foundational element to navigating these young boys through and out of profound poverty, the grief of a lost parent, and the trauma of growing up alongside ongoing, and at times turbulent, battles against addiction and chronic alcoholism.

Any contribution to reliable housing to stabilize both myself and my nephews is vitally needed and deeply appreciated.

About Me

I am a Native activist, abolitionist, and speaker. I am available virtually and in person – video reels of talks I have given can be found here and here to speak to the context of my work.

I am currently unemployed due to severe cPTSD, anxiety and chronic injury. I’ve been awaiting a decision for disability benefits since April with no outcome as of yet, but have finally managed to schedule a doctor’s appointment for November 8th that should aid in expediting/reaching a decision. If any organization you know or are affiliated with would be interested in booking me for a 30-60 minute talk about decolonization and/or the current state of suffering for Natives on reservations across Turtle Island, I am available for bookings during Native American Heritage month (November) and beyond. Booking fees will vary according to budget (including travel stipend if out of state) and I am always willing to work with any organization to determine equitable pricing according to need.

The Ask

For those who have made it this far, I first and foremost want to say thank you. Asking for help, especially so publicly, does not come easily to me – however, in the interest of giving my nephews the stability and access to opportunities that all children deserve, I am deeply grateful for this platform and for your consideration.

All funds raised through this effort will be used immediately to pay for housing, travel expenses to and from Montana, legal fees, and cost of living (groceries, clothing, utilities, etc.). If you so choose, you can also donate directly through any of the following:

Every contribution helps, be it through direct donation, bookings, or simply through sharing this link with your network. Thank you, truly, for your care and attention.

Wopila,

Jaike Spotted Wolf ♥️