Dear Community,

 

With a heavy heart, I share with all of you that my mother is in need of emergency housing and living expenses. A 58-year-old Black Woman creative entrepreneur, she had to abruptly leave her relationship of 20 years due to toxicity and unsafe living conditions. Having been out of the workforce for 10+ years, she relied solely on her partner for housing, food, and transportation. Many of us are familiar with this experience and how there are not many safety nets for women of color having to start over in their lives.

 

My siblings and I have set up a community care support group for our mom encompassing friends and family. None of us have the financial capacity to support my mom in the ways that she needs, so we are asking our wider community for support.

 

This asking for support is very vulnerable for us as we know that culturally, we are socialized to keep family matters private even if it is a heavy crisis systemic of many underlying social issues. Thus, we are not asking for your support lightly. We are courageously being honest about the fact that this challenge is larger than any one of us can bear alone or as a care group. We need to mobilize resources on my mom’s behalf to ensure her safe transition into the next phase of her life.

 

My mom’s ex-partner has agreed to cover a year's worth of rent in an apartment. We are launching this campaign to mobilize capital and resources to cover all the other costs that come with starting over on one's own (i.e., transportation, furniture, utilities, etc.) Here is a high-level overview of the annual estimated living expense needs:

 

Transportation = $10,000

Furniture and Supplies (new bed, pots/pans, desk, etc) = $5,000

Utilities (gas, electric, internet, phone) = $3600

Laundry = $660

Toiletries = $1000

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Total = $20,260

 

Y’all know that when you are in a crisis regarding your basic needs being met, any amount of cash helps:

$5 will help cover food delivery fees for groceries or a daily meal

$10 will help cover an uber trip to the doctors (as my mom is an elder monitoring many health conditions)

$20 will cover a laundry mat visit

$55 will cover the start-up cost of household cleaning supplies

$100 will support with monthly utility bills

$500 will cover a bed frame

$1500 will cover one month's rent

 

Your donation not only helps my mother but our entire family - giving us peace of mind that she will have a just transition into her golden years ✨.

 

Any amount you can give is appreciated beyond words.

We are also accepting furniture and living supply donations as well. Please email [email redacted] if you would like to donate any of the following items:
> 1 - 5 year old good quality mattress 
> 1- 5 year old TV
> Queen bed frame
> Computer desk
> Couch
> Dishes

 

In Community,

 

Hope

Shahne

Skye