Help Shuntera and her family with housing

My name is Shuntera, and I’m a single mom living in Phoenix with my 9-year-old daughter and 15-year-old twin boys. The four of us caught COVID-19 in December 2020. I’m grateful my kids recovered quickly, but the virus made me a ‘long hauler” and prevented me from returning to work for several weeks. I eventually was able to start working again, but my job did not pay me enough to stay caught up on rent. I fell behind in May 2021, and my landlord took me to eviction court, refusing to accept any partial rental payments or the CDC eviction protections. In mid-July, my back rent and fees went up to $4,700, a judge ordered my eviction for July 26, and my kids and I became homeless. We’ve been staying in cheap motels and Airbnbs. Since we’re bouncing from place to place, I was forced to take my children out of their in-person schools so they can attend online classes from wherever we are.

I’m living a Catch-22: I’m desperate to find an apartment, but no place will rent to me until my back rent is completely paid. Until then, my kids and I remain in limbo moving from place to place. While my emergency rental assistance application is finally in the queue, it will take two months or longer before I receive back rent. Homeless service providers are overwhelmed and cannot provide me shelter, and the cost of staying at a cheap motel or Airbnb for that many months is far more than I get paid. I can’t afford to wait for the government assistance.

I appreciate so much any help you’re able to offer. Funds raised will help me pay for temporary housing, my back rent so I can secure a new lease soon, and a security deposit. My children and I look forward to that day.