Hi friends. I am raising funds for a 60-year-old woman (Nedelka) and her two small dogs who are experiencing homelessness in the Washington D.C./Maryland area. A little over one year ago, Nedelka became ill and was let go from her two jobs as a result. Soon after, she and her dogs were evicted from their apartment.

When I met them last spring, they were sleeping outside a library. The dogs often slept in a red Radio Flyer child's wagon someone had given her. I bought them a large dog stroller so that they could move about more easily and began trying to connect Nedelka to government and charitable services. Unfortunately, there is little shelter/housing available, especially for those with pets. Nedelka is on two waitlists for housing, but the wait could be months or even years long.

Since the eviction, Nedelka and the dogs have mostly lived outside. They have been resilient, and Nedelka works hard to take good care of the dogs with the few resources she has.

This January, the situation became untenable with the terrible winter storm on its way. With the generous help of a charity, they have been safely and comfortably staying at a budget hotel since then. However, the money will run out soon. I am seeking donations specifically for housing purposes: to extend the hotel stay as necessary and gather money for several months rent in a shared space.

I am including a picture of Nedelka and the dogs right after they arrived for their first night at a hotel. They were all so happy. The dogs jumped for joy and ran around on the bed. I have also included a few other pictures, including one of their sleeping sites at a bus stop and me holding the dogs (the night I picked them up before the storm).

My name is Liz. I live in Rockville, MD and am a university professor in Washington D.C. I would be happy to answer any questions if you want to get in touch. If you have any leads on housing possibilities, please let me know.