My name is Michael, and I’m reaching out for help to find a stable home for my family. In March 2024, I suffered a major stroke that left me in a coma and changed my life completely. While I was in the hospital, I lost my job and the home I had been renting. After weeks of recovery, I moved in with my 70-year-old mother, Evelyn, who took me in when I had nowhere else to go. Not long after, my mother received notice that her lease would not be renewed, and we both became homeless together.

Our family has faced a lot of loss and change in a short time. About a year and a half ago, my sister passed away from breast cancer, leaving behind three sons. The two older boys moved in with their fathers, but my 11-year-old nephew, Davontae, came to live with us because he had nowhere else to go. Now, the three of us—my mother, my nephew, and I—are living in a motel. The costs are overwhelming, especially since we can’t cook our own meals and have to eat out most of the time. Both my mother and I receive disability benefits, but this situation is not sustainable financially for very long. If something doesn’t change soon, we will end up in the street.

Having a stable home would mean everything to us. It would give Davontae the security he needs as he starts school soon, and it would allow my mother and me to focus on our health and recovery. We’re hoping to raise enough to secure a safe, accessible place to live and cover the costs of moving and basic necessities. Any support will help us get back on our feet and provide the stability our family needs right now.