For shelter with love.

Hi friends, I have put up this fundraiser since many of you have asked me too because they wanted to help me by donating. I have been my moms caregiver for the past eight years. She was in assisted care however she really needed a “private” which was not affordable so I took the job. No pay for the first few years a little followed afterwards. Meanwhile I surrendered my car to contribute to my mothers care and left myself as a social worker said, unemployable. I asked family first to borrow knowing if/when I booked some sober companion gigs I could readily pay it back but I was met with a swift no. So it yanked my good credit with my car co and everything else, put me at a high debt by turning in a leased car early and I’ve been stuck taking care of my mother with no options. When opportunities came my way, and they did, I was unable to take them swiftly which is how that works. This last month has been the toughest. I had to move my mother, Cookie, into a memory care facility which is not as nice as where she was but costs the same. And our beloved dog Romeo died ten days ago at the ripe age of 15. He was our rock if you can believe that. Even in my moms fading memory she asks me where is Romeo? Many of you helped save his life a few years ago and I want you to know you gave him an enthusiastic two more years of life.   I have found myself homeless and with little funds and no car in L.A. after 37 years clean and sober and living with HIV I’m quite embarrassed. I was diagnosed at the most potent time in my life for my music career and marriage. HIV changed all that. There were no or few women then mostly mothers grieving the loss of their sons. I wrote about them, counseled the newly diagnosed and spoke and sang whenever asked all for fundraisers. Poof! I’m still a SAG union performer yet the uncertainty for so many years held me back. My fear held me back. Now I’m without a home of my own or a car. Today I leased one for a few days since I had belongings to transfer to my new place, another kind friend letting me stay in his WeHo apartment for a few days. Thanks to some private donations I was able to lease the car I am in today. This is all temporary. I must survive these dark times. Many who have had a long time chronic illness like HIV knows those challenges and those traumatic losses.   If you are moved and able to donate anything it all helps. I am grateful and exhausted and honestly frightened. This is not a familiar path.   Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. May the peace inside you be the peace inside me. Namaste