Help Tay Raise Funds for Secure Housing

Hi Friends,

My name is Tay and I’m a 27 year old queer, non binary human living in Asheville, NC. I used to work in healthcare settings such as, Emergency Departments and Physical therapy offices. I also have a degree in Health sciences and have pursued some Master’s level study in Acupuncture and LGBTQIAP2S+ history/Queer performance art. I worked all through college to support myself and help pay for school.

What’s happening? -

My lease is up on August 31, 2021 and my landlord is selling the home. I’ve lived in this home for 4 years and am devastated. This home became a safe place for me to grow mentally and emotionally. It allowed me to have a space to start working on healing.

I am a disabled human and have been pursuing SSI/SSDI. I have been unable to make any income during this time and have just been surviving with help from HOPE program and SNAP.

Unfortunately, because I have no income when the lease is up I will have no where to go and become homeless. I’m so scared about being displaced. I've reached out to almost every organization and government agency but no one can help me. Homeless shelters aren’t an option either as they won’t accept my ESA cat, S’mores.

It feels like I’m falling through the cracks.

Why are you in this situation? -

It all caught up with me. I couldn’t avoid or deny all the trauma and stress I had been through as a child. A couple years ago, I just broke mentally. I couldn’t work to support myself anymore. It was frightening realizing I couldn’t work since I had been living paycheck to paycheck. I had no safety net.

When I realized I couldn’t work anymore, I immediately sought out psychiatric help and therapy. It was exactly what I needed and shortly thereafter, I applied for SSI/SSDI. I realized I truly couldn’t work without negatively affecting my body and mind. I couldn’t continue to neglect myself.

Currently, my SSI/SSDI case is in the Appeals council and I have a local disability lawyer helping me. I’m just awaiting the Appeals council’s decisions which can take 12-18 months.

Disability? -

I have complex PTSD and a dissociative disorder along with depression, anxiety, and an eating disorder. This is all due to growing up with a narcissistic and abusive father (physical, emotional, sexual abuse).

Presently, I receive twice weekly therapy (with EMDR) and am working through my trauma. I’m learning how to manage my symptoms and use good coping tools. It’s going to be years to heal but I refuse to let my past affect my future anymore.

Thank you for reading my story and please feel free to share. Your donation is going to help me on my journey forward with creating a new safe space (an rv/campervan situation) for healing that won’t be taken away from me. All I want is a home to call my own. Your assistance towards this goal is so greatly appreciated.

Much Gratitude,

Tay (and S’mores )