Hi, my name is Daniel. I live with my mom and two younger siblings, and yesterday morning my family’s apartment burned down.

 

My mom immigrated to San Francisco when I was a child, and although she’s constantly struggled to provide for us financially as a single mom, she has always made sure that me and my siblings had everything we needed growing up.

 

Like many others, my mom lost her job during the pandemic and is still searching for a new one. I graduated college and got my first job during the pandemic, so I immediately began providing for our family of four. I didn’t realize how incredibly difficult it was, and how difficult it must have been for her as a single mom, to pay for rent/mortgages, loans, groceries, and now my younger sister’s college tuition. My disposable income barely covers what we need.

 

On the morning of September 19th, our apartment was burned down by an unexpected oven fire. My mom decided to use the oven for the first time since we’d moved in a few months ago, and the entire oven suddenly burst into flames. Within a few seconds, the fire grew rapidly and consumed our entire kitchen and living room, and then our ceiling and hallway.

 

 

My family and I were able to escape safely with only a few burns and smoke irritation, and everyone else in our building evacuated safely as well. We called firefighters who doused our entire apartment and hauled the damage out, and when it was safe to go back in, we found that the fire had even burned through the kitchen walls and climbed up to a neighbor’s apartment, who now has a hole in their bathroom wall.

 

Our home is uninhabitable, and we have lost all of our belongings. Even in places the fire didn’t burn, there is permanent smoke and water damage to everything else, our walls, furniture, and clothes, and none of it is usable anymore.

 

 

 

 

We’re currently being assisted by the Red Cross, but they will only provide two more days of temporary housing. My mom, my younger brother and I are desperately searching for a place to stay while we seek medical treatment and recuperate, and eventually, so that I can go back to work.

 

Any donation will help us with emergency relocation, medical treatment, clean clothes, food, and replacing our permanent losses like laptops for school and work, beds, and appliances.

 

Thank you for reading our story, and please keep my family in your thoughts and prayers.

 

-- The Ho Family

 

 

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Hi, I'm Prim, Daniel's friend. His family is scrambling while looking for treatment and housing so I am setting up this gofundme for them. All funds go to Daniel's bank account. Thank you for your support.