Help David and Linden Save Their Home

Hello, my name is David Gladfelter. I am launching this Gofundme because the house in Detroit where I live with my husband Linden, with whom I’ve been together 13 years now, and our cats, will be foreclosed on April 1st if our property taxes are not paid by March 31st. In order to avoid foreclosure, we need to pay $2700 dollars. We have lived here since 2018 and our whole life is here. If we lose our house, we will have nowhere to go. I am here seeking help to save my family.

A few years ago my whole life changed. I was working as a manager at Family Dollar. A man walked into the store with a gun, robbed all the customers in line and then robbed me. Then he pointed the gun in my face and threatened to shoot. After the robbery, I began to suffer panic attacks. I became afraid to leave the house. Although I tried my best to keep working and provide for my family, being in the store triggered my panic attacks. I attempted to take sick leave, but the store manager wouldn’t let me. When I asked for reduced hours, she refused. All of this culminated in my being forced to quit. I spent a year inside our house, unable to leave. My husband ran all the outside errands and took care of me. We did our best to scrape by. I began seeing a therapist and a psychiatrist for the trauma and for my depression. Although I have gotten better, because of our poverty our circumstances are pretty dire. We are drowning in overdue bills and often unable to afford necessities that other people might take for granted. One thing I can say is that our cats are always taken care of first, and they have never gone without. I am currently looking for a job, although it has been difficult with a significant gap in my employment.

My husband Linden cannot work. He has schizophrenia and is currently very sick with an eating disorder he has struggled with nearly his entire life. He has developed severe agoraphobia because in December 2023 a man in a ski mask pulled up beside him as he was walking to the gas station and tried to abduct him. The only reason he is still here is because he had pepper spray. Although he has recently left the house for the first time in a year, going out remains very difficult for him. My husband needs me. I cannot let him lose his home.

I hate that I have to do this and it feels shameful to me, but I find myself with little recourse. Please, if you can, help us save our home and the little life we’ve made here. It has been a struggle, but Linden and I are happy here. Even under the stress of poverty, we are happy together and with our cats. This house means everything to us. We would appreciate it so much and be so grateful if you shared this post, and for any donation you might choose to give us.

David Gladfelter