Hi, my name is Valerie, and I’m a single mother doing everything I can to provide for my three children — a 19-year-old son, a 16-year-old daughter, and a 13-year-old daughter — plus our small dog. Right now, we’re stuck living in a motel that is unsafe, unhealthy, and completely unlivable.

Despite working two jobs, I can’t afford a safe place for us to live. Our motel room is tiny, and we’re forced to share just two full-size beds:

• I sleep in the same bed as my 16-year-old daughter because there’s no space

• My 19-year-old son is forced to sleep in the same bed as my 13-year-old daughter. There is no privacy or comfort for any of us.

The conditions here are awful:

• Water is frequently shut off without warning

• Loud music, fights, drug use, and illegal activity surround us

• The motel is infested with roaches and mold

• Broken air conditioning, broken beds, and unsafe floors make it even harder to live here. Motel manager does not care. Just cares about money.

I’m desperate to give my kids a safe, clean home where they can sleep peacefully, be healthy, and feel hopeful about their future.

I’m asking for help from kind-hearted people who can donate toward a security deposit, first month’s rent, and basic necessities ( beds, dishes, dressers ) to get us into a stable place.

Any amount you can give will help my family escape this nightmare and start fresh. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your kindness and support.

— Valerie