Updated. Eviction has been filed. See additional updates for further details.

Hi, my name is Kristen, and I’m a single mom who is fighting every day to create a stable life for my daughter, Rose, and me. I returned to school to complete my degree to improve our future, even as we manage the challenges life has presented to us.

Rose is a my joy. Being her mom is a blessing and so is she. Rose lives with Autism, scoliosis, and a severe spinal deformity called kyphosis that will require a spinal fusion within the next couple of years. I live with fibromyalgia, chronic migraines, arthritis, and anxiety disorders. Both of us bear the effects of PTSD. My education was my way out of poverty, and every step I take is geared toward breaking that cycle for us.

Our situation took an even harsher turn on February 28th, when my sister, who had been our caretaker for nearly eight years, abandoned us with no warning in order to move out of state. While I managed to secure help for March, April and May have been especially difficult. We’re now left facing eviction, an apartment under a lease through September and absolutely no financial resources. Our landlord has filed for eviction and we have until 5/21/25 by 5 pm to be out and turn in keys to avoid a judgement. Despite our best efforts, the city and county resources are not taking applications as they are full, the state assistance system operates by lottery as so many need help, and local charities have run out of funding. I want to do the honerable thing by leaving nothing behind and cleaning. Our manager has a lot on his plate and I don't want to leave a mess that could make things harder on him.

This is one of the only recent photos I have of both myself and my daughter. Rose isn’t a fan of being photographed, and I always want to respect her comfort. I know we may not look like the typical image people expect when someone is asking for help, but behind the makeup and Crayola hair is a mom doing everything she can to survive and care for her daughter.

I’m reaching out to ask for your help in covering our rent through June and keeping a roof over our heads during this scary time for us. Your donation, or just sharing our story, can make a difference as we work hard to secure stability and rebuild our lives. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can offer.

Our Immediate Goal: $5,000 for April and May Rent and Essentials through June. The initial $590 went toward utilities and essentials for April and May as I am still in school and needed Internet access in addition to utilities.

April and May Rent: $3,944.88 (Includes late fees and water/trash/sewer and community fee (see latest update for confirmation pic from the resident portal). This would give us options and more time to handle the apartment.

Utilities, and basic necessities: $400

Fees: $65.12

This will allow us to avoid eviction and give us additional time to leave our apartment in appropriate condition.

Looking Ahead: Stability Through September

Our apartment lease runs through September, and we are committed to staying current on rent and working toward long-term solutions. If we are fortunate enough to raise more than the immediate goal, any additional funds will be used to:

Cover rent for the following months

Pay utility bills

Support critical transportation and care needs.

Even small donations help more than you know, and sharing this campaign with others makes a huge impact.

Thank you for reading, sharing, and supporting us during this incredibly hard time. I’ll post updates here to keep you informed, and I’m so deeply grateful for every bit of kindness shown to us.

With love,

Kristen & Rose