Help a Black Lesbian Recover from Financial Abuse
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For the past 9 months, Ronika (a Black lesbian woman) has been financially and verbally abused by her ex-partner (a white landlord with generational wealth). Ronika's ex-partner set this manipulative precedent early on in their relationship and demanded her time, labor, and money. Her ex is both the owner and landlord of the house they lived in together and expected Ronika and the two other housemates to cover their mortgage entirely. Ronika’s ex forced her to take on extra financial and care work responsibilities, would taunt her about money she made going directly into their pocket, and regularly made racist, transmisogynistic, and classist comments toward her.
In October, Ronika's ex moved to Germany and left Ronika with the responsibility of taking care of the house. She assumed the financial responsibility of paying extra rent in their absence, even though they did not financially contribute to their mortgage. The relationship between the two worsened, and eventually, she realized she could not continue living in this house, both for her mental and financial well-being. When she expressed this to her ex, they responded in an incredibly hostile way, only communicating with her that they wanted her to pay rent on the room for the next 5 months after she moved away. Ronika was never on a lease and had no financial or legal obligation to pay rent after giving more than 30 days' notice that she was going to move out. She paid the excess rent out of fear of reprisal, and because of this harmful dynamic.
Ronika worked tirelessly to get herself out of this situation and into a new, stable, and loving home in Oakland. While dealing with all of this, she was a full-time graduate student and teacher, and now that her semester is over, we are raising the approximate amount of money she paid in excess rent to her ex/landlord so she can have some financial peace of mind. We want her to rest and recoup her energy as she is suffering from PTSD symptoms, anxiety and depression.
In October, Ronika's ex moved to Germany and left Ronika with the responsibility of taking care of the house. She assumed the financial responsibility of paying extra rent in their absence, even though they did not financially contribute to their mortgage. The relationship between the two worsened, and eventually, she realized she could not continue living in this house, both for her mental and financial well-being. When she expressed this to her ex, they responded in an incredibly hostile way, only communicating with her that they wanted her to pay rent on the room for the next 5 months after she moved away. Ronika was never on a lease and had no financial or legal obligation to pay rent after giving more than 30 days' notice that she was going to move out. She paid the excess rent out of fear of reprisal, and because of this harmful dynamic.
Ronika worked tirelessly to get herself out of this situation and into a new, stable, and loving home in Oakland. While dealing with all of this, she was a full-time graduate student and teacher, and now that her semester is over, we are raising the approximate amount of money she paid in excess rent to her ex/landlord so she can have some financial peace of mind. We want her to rest and recoup her energy as she is suffering from PTSD symptoms, anxiety and depression.
Organizer and beneficiary
Cherry Iocovozzi
Organizer
Asheville, NC
Ronika McClain
Beneficiary