Let's help Cristina find a home

We are two Wilmslow residents who're concerned about our very own Big Issue North seller, Cristina.

Cristina was recently told to quit her home because the owner sold it to a first-time buyer. Although she has three children, Cristina was told that her only option is a homeless shelter. For the moment, she and her children are staying in the living room of a family that itself includes eight children. The timing couldn't have been worse, however: Cristina is due to have surgery to remove malignant tissue from her spine.

Recently, Cristina was happy to be offered a flat, but was prevented from taking it because she couldn't afford the £950 deposit. Although she's lived in Manchester for eight years, Cristina is still in the process of becoming a British citizen. Unlike the rest of us, she's not allowed to claim welfare benefits and must pay for NHS treatment. Yet her only reliable income is the few pounds she makes each day selling the Big Issue.

Cristina needs a place of her own—somewhere she can rest and get respite from the pain of her condition, recover from chemotherapy and, in due course, get better after surgery. Her children need privacy. One of Cristina's few faults is that she rarely reveals to others what she's going through. She has a smile for everyone and will happily listen to all her customers' troubles without a thought for her own.

We want to raise enough money for a deposit and rent advance to help Cristina and her children get the home they need.

Hadas / Anthony

Note: Because of her circumstances, Cristina is unable to receive GoFundMe donations directly into her bank account. Therefore, one of Cristina's donors, Warren, has kindly stepped in to receive Cristina's funds on her behalf and send them on to her. Hence the appearance of Warren's name near the top of this page. Both GoFundMe and Cristina are happy with this arrangement.