Help My Family Get Back on Our Feet: Urgent Eviction Crisis

Hello, my name is Ellie, and I’m reaching out on behalf of my family. We are currently facing an extremely challenging situation and need your help.

On December 16th, at 8 in the morning, the City Marshal gave me exactly 6 minutes to get dressed, pack up my two kittens, and leave my apartment with no reentry, leaving us on the street. My dad has been in the hospital since the 11th undergoing spinal surgery and is set to be discharged soon. Without this payment, we will not be able to access our home and will have to go to separate shelters while we try to find help with HRA.

Here’s where we stand:

- To regain access to our apartment, we need to pay the $10,000 in rental arrears as well as an additional $5,000 by January 2nd to cover the fees for the Marshals and the landlord’s lawyers.

Our situation has been compounded by several serious challenges:

- My father, who was our primary breadwinner, was injured at work and required three surgeries (two on his back and one on his spine from the front). He is facing a fourth surgery in April, and he is currently unable to work. Before his injury, he was supporting us while I struggled with long-haul COVID health issues that prevented me from working or holding a stable job.

- I exhausted all of my savings to keep us afloat when my dad got injured, but once those funds ran out, we were left with very few options.

- We turned to HRA for help, but they refused assistance because I already had an open public assistance case for groceries. They told me I would have to close that case and reopen it, even though there was no guarantee that I would get my benefits back.

- My kittens are staying with a friend for now, but they can’t stay there indefinitely. If I end up in a shelter, I won’t be able to bring them with me, as they aren’t service animals.

- My dad will be discharged from the hospital soon and will be sent to a single men’s shelter being only three days post-op if we don’t find a way to provide him with a safe, stable place to recover.

What We Need:

- $15,000 by January 2nd or sooner to cover the eviction-related legal fees and regain access to our apartment. Or at least half of the money to stall the eviction further.

- Your support can help us avoid living in a shelter, keep my father safe, and ensure my kittens have a place to stay while I work hard to stabilize our situation.

I’ve already taken steps to improve our circumstances. I dropped out of school to focus entirely on work and am actively looking for a second part-time or full-time night job to help us stay afloat long-term. My hope is that if I can pay at least $7,500 by January 2nd, the courts might give me more time to raise the rest of the money.

Why This Matters:

Without your help, we will face living in shelters with no stability, no place to call home, and I won’t be able to care for my father and will have to give up my pets. Your generous donation will give us the chance to rebuild our lives and avoid losing everything. We’re not asking for a handout—we’re asking for a chance to get back on our feet.

Please consider helping us during this critical time. Any amount you can contribute would mean the world to us, and if you’re unable to donate, sharing this GoFundMe with others who might be able to help would also be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so much for your support and kindness. We truly appreciate it.

With gratitude,

Ellie