Campaign Update

We are deeply moved that this campaign reached its initial goal of $6,000 within 5 days! WOW! Such extraordinary generosity! Thank you to everyone who contributed. Michele is very grateful and said she can rest easier now.

The single biggest factor that could improve Michele's long-term stability and quality of life is an affordable and physically accessible home. She's currently on waitlists and lotteries for supportive housing and senior housing programs, but we might not get an answer til Fall.

So we've raised the campaign goal to $12,000. That way we can put additional funds toward:

The first $6,000 will continue to go to immediate rent and living expenses. Thank you all again for your audacious generosity! We have already paid May rent with your gifts.

Please let me know if you have any questions about your gift or about the campaign. You can reach me through GoFundMe's "Contact" function.

Thank you all for your help!

We are coming together to support Michele Chargois, a beloved elder of our community who is approaching her 80th year and facing a period of vulnerability.

For years Michele lived on Social Security. To make ends meet she drove for Lyft. But she's been living with a serious hip condition that has significantly limited her mobility. Working is no longer feasible, and since Michele stopped driving, each month has gradually tightened her budget such that now her income is not enough to cover basic needs like rent, food, and medical care.

We are raising $6,000 to provide bridge support to ensure Michele can remain housed and stable while we work to help her secure long-term assistance.

These funds will help cover:

1. Rent and utilities

2. Groceries and basic living expenses

3. Essential medical-related costs

4. A modest emergency cushion

This is not a permanent solution but a bridge to stability. Michele has already begun actively securing public benefits and support services including:

These applications are in progress, but timelines are uncertain. In order for Michele to reach long-term stability, a few key steps need to be completed, including securing approval for the monthly housing subsidy, continuing to apply for additional rental assistance programs, applying regularly to affordable senior housing lotteries in San Francisco, and ensuring all benefits (SSI, Social Security) are fully active.

Until these pieces are all in place, Michele remains financially vulnerable. Based on current timelines for benefits, we're looking at the following projected gaps through Fall of 2026:

Monthly Gap

May - July: $800/month (benefits still pending)

August - October: $600/month (benefits expected to begin, housing subsidy pending)

Total Support Needed

Core living gap: $4,200

Additional essentials: $1,500 – $2,000 (including high credit card minimums and basic needs)

Total Fundraising Need: ~$6,000

This amount will stabilize Michele through Fall 2026 while her benefits are approved and longer-term support begins. The additional funds provide a cushion for delays in benefit processing and unexpected essential expenses, so Michele doesn’t fall back into crisis while waiting on the system.

Funds will be used to cover essential expenses such as rent, utilities, and basic needs. Whenever possible, payments will be made directly to landlords and service providers. This helps ensure funds are used as intended and supports her ability to remain eligible for the public assistance programs she is applying for.

By October, one of the following must happen:

If none of these occur, we will reassess as a community and determine next steps.

No one should have to navigate old age alone. Michele has worked hard to support herself but she's almost 80 and she shouldn't have to work at this age to support herself.

Your gift will go directly to helping her stay housed, fed, and supported while she builds a path forward with public assistance.

We greatly appreciate gifts of all sizes and hope you'll consider making a generous gift within your means.

Thank you for your care and support.