After the fires, my family and I lost everything and became homeless for a year. During that time, I was recovering from a c-section and caring for my newborn baby, while also trying to support my two daughters and my husband. In August, my husband was shot and nearly lost his life, which put even more of the financial burden on me while I was still on disability from maternity leave. Shelters and programs were overwhelmed, so we didn’t get much help. I did everything I could to keep a roof over our heads, but I fell behind on bills and now I can’t catch up on my own.

Thanks to Friends in Deed, we finally have a place to live, but we’re starting from scratch. We don’t have beds, furniture, or even cookware. I’m also at risk of losing my car because I had to use what little money we had for motels. The funds from this fundraiser will help us turn our new apartment into a real home and give us the peace of mind to raise our daughters in a safe, loving environment. No more sleeping in different beds, a tent, or the car. Your support will help me focus on being a mother instead of being in survival mode all the time.

I am finally humbling myself and asking for help from those around me who can help us get back to a sense of life. Not having a stable home has affected our family in so many ways. I am so grateful for any help anyone could give us. We are blessed to have our health and I pray that with the help and support of the community, my daughters can finally know what a home is.