My name is Chris Phelps. I'm not used to doing this, but I've been getting pointers on how to make this, so I appreciate anyone reading and supporting me, though this won't be perfect. This is for me and my daughter, Olivia. I was forced to terminate my lease in February. I was living in a 2-bedroom apartment with my daughter. The property manager announced earlier last year our rent would be increasing. I was working at FedEx as a package handler, taking as many shifts as I could at the time to keep up with it. But it was raised $600. No matter how many days of working two 6-hour shifts back to back, I just couldn't make all the money in time. I was just hurting my body for no reason, so I just spent what I had keeping the power on and other bills, hoping for a loan which I kept getting denied for.
At the same time, I was having to pay off my car note ($210 per month), had to pay some dentist fees for my daughter to go, and keep food in the house as long as I could. I was hoping for a loan and it didn't happen. If anything, it hurt my credit just trying. I noticed we were getting too many notices, and I just quit my job as soon as USPS called back. They paid way more than FedEx and it was actually a more flexible job to have. By the time I even got two days of work in, I was called to the office at the apartments, and they told me my only options were to pay now, or go through the eviction process. The third was to terminate the lease, which would be the least damaging on my credit report and with everything in general. And I kind of got stuck in a really terrible place because most of my family lives in Birmingham or London, UK.
My sister lives here in Scottsdale with her fiancé. I tried her at first, but they live in a one-bedroom studio, and I saw the inside and there was no way there'd be enough room for the way things are set up. So I took her to her mother, which was a last resort. I have full custody of my daughter. I had no intention of letting her stay with her until she came off of her meth and cocaine addiction. She seemed sober and I had a long talk with her and she was more than willing to. I had no other choice but to do it. Her side of the family wouldn't even take my daughter. But she lived in a one-story house with an extra room, so I saw it best fit.
Since I dropped her off at that time, everything was good. I was working and trying to save. I gave her a phone to call me on and she started revealing terrible things. She broke down on the phone crying, saying she wasn't getting fed after school, her mom had a boyfriend that kept coming over and spending some nights. He literally hit her. I dropped everything and went over there to confront him and he was gone. To this day, I don't know what I would've done, but I'm glad I didn't. I just yelled at her mom and just took her and left. I didn't know what she had going on over there, or I would've never put my daughter in that position. All I could do was call the police on her boyfriend. They have a warrant out currently and I don't know if they got him yet. But he's a registered sex offender. I found out when I went to the police department to file a report. And her mom really let him around her 5-year-old daughter. I can't express everything I want to say. It just angers and saddens me more and I don't want to make this too long. So I'm going to move on.
Most of the reason I'm making this GoFundMe is because I'm faced with a couple of other options that I need to act on fast. We're both currently homeless. I lost a lot of confidence during this and before this. Gained severe depression and thoughts of suicide. And almost acted one time. For which I'm very ashamed and felt selfish. The thought that I could've left my daughter here with all that going on. It'll cross my mind again. My posts on Reddit saved my life and gave me hope for something, even though it would take a miracle. I don't want to give my daughter up for adoption. At first, I was thinking about it and still would if I absolutely have to. But I got a lot of advice, and it might not be the case that I have to. I contacted my daughter's school, had a meeting with the guidance counselor. They offered more help with food, referred shelters, and temporary foster care. I was grateful for the resources and was able to get her more food and a couple of pairs of clothes. I was also told about a temporary foster home which I was interested in the most just in case things run out and we run out of hotel days and we're stuck in my car again. Which I can't let happen.
I'm currently faced with three choices. I have a brother that lives in London. He offered us both a room in his house. He lives there with his wife, their 2 sons, and my mom. My dad is living with his caretaker. So my brother is my best bet, or the only one who can actually afford to take us in right now. I learned so much from Reddit about how the immigration process/visas and passports work out and it's SO complicated. I'm very ignorant about a lot of things that go into it, but I've spent all day reading up on things that people told me to look into. I reached out to the embassy and tried to get my daughter a passport because I had help with the money for it, and they said I can't do it without her mother's permission and signature. And the only way to bypass that is to take it to court. I'm already in touch with legal aid, to see how I can proceed with it. I'm trying to not do. And just get her to agree with it.
I think I messed up while talking on the phone with them because now they know I'm trying to move her there to live there more than 6 months. They told me I'd need to get a UK child family visa now before I can even get her passport, or I'd be turned back at the border. I had no clue you couldn't just go there and get the visa later. But he said he had to mark it on her passport. So we basically can't even go there in general until I get the visa, get her mother to sign, and then get tickets. I was literally just being honest, I didn't know they cared enough to block the passport. I was just answering questions correctly.
He told me the child's family visa would come up to £1,950 ($2620) and the mandatory Immigration Health Surcharge fee would be £1030 ($1383.91). And somehow she didn't qualify for the emergency visa. I tried multiple times and they keep saying it doesn't meet their "Emergency criteria" which I think is BS. But I just gave up on it seeing as it wasn't going to happen. And I was wasting my time. My brother said he just had some work done on the house, and he'll almost out. But he could help with some money anywhere between April 20-25th. My main goal is to just get there with my daughter. I have dual citizenship. I was born in the UK, but my dad and mom moved me and my sister here when I was 5 years old and I may only need to get an ETA, which I can definitely cover because it's only $20-25. I just need help for my daughter's. I don't have a month to wait for my brother to send money. Bless his heart though, he sounded sad on the phone that he couldn't help.
I'm in this hotel for another week. Someone reached out and helped me, which I am so grateful for! But I finally had time to make this GoFundMe. And at this point, it's a hail mary. I plan on keeping it in here until we finally have everything ready to leave. My other only option is to take this 1-bedroom unit at these apartments in Phoenix, AZ called Desert Meadows. At least until we can move to Birmingham. They're affordable apartments and I was offered a unit about a couple of weeks ago. It costs $1051 a month to move in. Along with a security deposit, the same price as the rent. I'm going to attach all the documents of proof and updates that I can in the next few days. It's kind of hell trying to get the invoice for the visa so I can post it here. I've been trying the last couple of days, which delayed me posting this. But I'm still calling. Just been getting put on hold for hours or more. I'm probably going to end this here. And I know it was a really long read, but I never looked at one of these GoFundMe campaigns, so I thought it best to get everything out that I could right now and come back and edit things. I made paragraphs, so it would be easier though. I will continue to update this anytime something changes. God bless everyone, even if you can't donate. I'm praying everything works out for the best. And no matter what, I'm going to do what's best for my daughter, even if we can't get enough. Much love to everyone. The goal is set at 5k for now. But if we somehow get enough to get the apartment, I might just end it there. I still think UK is the best move in the long run. So, I'm not giving that up yet. But the hotel stays are really expensive and are about to run out.
My email will be listed in the contact list if anyone wants or needs to contact me for questions, proof, or anything else. I'm always here and checking my email. I thought I could just put it on here, but I guess they have a section for that already. Thanks so much everyone! Also I'm trying to figure it out, but it's not letting me add other pictures below. Will be updating soon.
