Hi, I’m Æora, a disabled white trans woman who celebrated her 40th birthday in August. I need your help. Earlier this year, before the sun had risen for the day, I woke up to find my home on fire, in circumstances too complex to lay out here. Foolishly, I chose to attempt to extinguish it, something that very nearly cost me my life in a number of deeply upsetting and traumatising ways. In the end, I lost everything including my lovely cat who succumbed to the smoke which nearly killed me. But I survived.

Considering this catastrophe comes in the wake of a string of abusive relationships that have damaged or destroyed many of my existing support systems, the last few months have been intensely testing - trying to come to terms with the loss of a whole way of life, securing temporary accommodation, and searching for a new place to live more permanently. From the last of my savings I have managed to secure the basic necessities I need to live and I am now safely housed.

The money you donate will be put towards paying rent for the next year, meaning I can maintain my day to day living expenses from the fixed benefits I receive and allow me to begin to replace just some of the things lost in the fire. The place I’m currently living costs £1300 a month and I will be living here until at least June.

As someone too disabled to perform waged labour for a living, I spend most of my time involved in a variety of political organising, work which is entirely necessary but which doesn’t provide a wage. I fully understand how tight budgets are for all of us out there, and I’m not asking anyone to offer what they don’t have to spare, but anything you can contribute to helping me rebuild my life, and continue to make a difference in this violent world, is deeply appreciated. I hope to see you out there, thank you.

Æora.