Homelessness was an adventure.

Homelessness was an adventure… We are ready for a new one.

Almost one year. One long year. It wasn’t ALL bad. Okay, sure, we were just about ass-to-ankles in the car (thanks for that one, Tobias), but there were beautiful moments. We met some spectacular people with incredible stories, were recipients of some of the most beautiful tokens of love, and gained a full appreciation for city parks, libraries, and YMCA showers.

Collectively we laughed and cried more than we ever have, had far too little personal space, and, for the most part, politely took turns losing our minds. Coming out of this side of it, we have a lot to reminisce about but also a lot of healing to do and trauma to overcome. I do know there aren’t three other people I would rather do this life with.

As I said, homelessness was an adventure. In the beginning, we had to frame it that way to get through it, but truly it was. We are, however, very ready for a new adventure.

We’ve received assistance with housing, but we need a bit of help with some things to get us started. Things like: the apartment deposit, getting a moving truck so we can move the few things we were able to save from Arizona to Salt Lake, purchasing winter clothing, getting beds, etc. (We had to leave most furniture items in our old apartment because Dave and I were too sick to move them, so they got left behind.)

Any help at all would be so appreciated. Please don’t feel obligated to help if you are feeling stretched financially.

*This whole situation has felt unreal at times. Like a movie. A poorly-written movie. Having both adults in our family struggle with chronic health problems is expensive, depressing, overwhelming, excruciating, and absolutely heartbreaking to watch your loved one go through. It’s been crazy how one or two seemingly insignificant things can snowball into big things. It’s crazy how much we need to rely on each other as a society and how much of an effect one little domino out of place can slow things to a halt. Be kind to people whose situations seem foreign to you; we are all in this together. Also, while it helps, it doesn’t take money to be someone's angel.

With love,

Kiersten and the Ottley Family (humans and pets)