My Mother's Dilemma
Donation protected
My mother's dilemma, on the verge of homelessness again.
In 22 years my mother has been one of the strongest most-hard working women I've ever known, in 22 years my mother has done her best to live justly and do right by people and in 22 years I've never seen her so worn-down and depressed.
Hello Kind Stranger, won't you listen to our story?
My name is David. My mother (Yetunde), and I have been in the UK since I was 5 (2005). In that time we've had our fair share of struggles, stayed in not so pleasant single bedroom flats, had to cope with the passing of family, we were even homeless at a point in 2017. In 2017 my mother and I were in the process of updating our visa to get on the 10 year family visa route and eventually get our citizenship, we were waiting for over a year with Home Office asking for the same set of information time and time again with no correspondence otherwise. The whole affair affected my mother's ability to find and keep employment and in the end we ended up on the streets, I was in full-time education, preparing for my A-Levels in a homeless shelter (St Mungo's). I couldn't have done it without my mum.
To make a long story short, being homeless was one of if not the most difficult experiences of my life, all the while my mother never lost her optimism, she was my anchor and she was tenacious, she reached out to our local MP (Andy Slaughter) and shortly after the Home Office asked for our information for the last time before our application was approved. We were informed by the local council (Hammersmith & Fulham) that as a dependant in full-time education we never should have been turned away for support. We thought this would be the last time we would be in such dire straits.
Unfortunately reality has not been so kind. While we haven't exactly been affluent we've somehow managed to keep our heads above water till now, we once again reapplied for our visa (which we have to do every two and a half years) when we hit a snag. In May of 2021 we sent the home a fee waiver application, we received no response till October 2021 where after reaching out to the MP again we were told that in that time the Home Office had updated their response method (originally by post now delivered via e-mail), they did not inform pending applicants. This meant their (approved) response was no longer valid and we have had to re-apply. the unfolding developments and prolonged waiting times have once again had dire consequences.
My Mother has lost her job with South Western Railways while awaiting a Home Office response, they cited failure to sufficiently prove her right to work. I've faced a similar struggle finding employment for much the same reasons, I've had to put my university aspirations on hold due to not being able to afford the sheer cost and our current predicament, it's a helpless feeling. With no real substantial source of income we've reached out of family, charities, anyone who would listen and it seems we've exhausted what aid they could give. With no recourse and no funds to afford the roof over our heads we are about to be homeless again. I watched for the first time I watched my mother breakdown and just cry in front of me, it was heartbreaking. If all that wasn't bad enough on March 17th 2022 the Home Office denied our fee waiver. Despite all indications showing no income, a struggle with our essential living needs, no right to work, an inability to pay these fees and being on the verge of homelessness, our fee waiver was denied. We'll have to pay the full application fee, the Health surcharge and Biometric fees with no room for appeal. The only thing they did offer was the number for Samaritans in the event we feel suicidal.
My mother hadn't had the most pleasant of upbringings, even less so into adulthood, even so, as a single mother, she did her damnedest to raise me in a loving and supportive household. To be frank, a non-insignificant part or me wanting to pursue higher education is to get a job where I can earn enough to take care of my ageing mother, now even that is at risk. Perhaps its not the most grandiose dream but I just want to make sure she doesn't need to fear being homeless again. I've been here since I was 5, this is the only country I've ever known, this is where my life is, where everything is, it's my home so with everything to lose and all other avenues exhausted, I turn to you.
Please help me help my mother.
We only have a few days to send our visa application. The money you send will go towards being able to remain in the country and keep a roof over our heads. We are in need of £5,860 to cover our Home Office Visa fees: £2860 x 2
NHS surcharge for 2/12 years x 2
Biometric fees x 2
Anything after that will be put towards keeping a roof over our head even if only for a while longer.
Anything you can offer is appreciated, Every little helps so please stick with us.
Thank you a for your kindness and support.
-David Borisade
In 22 years my mother has been one of the strongest most-hard working women I've ever known, in 22 years my mother has done her best to live justly and do right by people and in 22 years I've never seen her so worn-down and depressed.
Hello Kind Stranger, won't you listen to our story?
My name is David. My mother (Yetunde), and I have been in the UK since I was 5 (2005). In that time we've had our fair share of struggles, stayed in not so pleasant single bedroom flats, had to cope with the passing of family, we were even homeless at a point in 2017. In 2017 my mother and I were in the process of updating our visa to get on the 10 year family visa route and eventually get our citizenship, we were waiting for over a year with Home Office asking for the same set of information time and time again with no correspondence otherwise. The whole affair affected my mother's ability to find and keep employment and in the end we ended up on the streets, I was in full-time education, preparing for my A-Levels in a homeless shelter (St Mungo's). I couldn't have done it without my mum.
To make a long story short, being homeless was one of if not the most difficult experiences of my life, all the while my mother never lost her optimism, she was my anchor and she was tenacious, she reached out to our local MP (Andy Slaughter) and shortly after the Home Office asked for our information for the last time before our application was approved. We were informed by the local council (Hammersmith & Fulham) that as a dependant in full-time education we never should have been turned away for support. We thought this would be the last time we would be in such dire straits.
Unfortunately reality has not been so kind. While we haven't exactly been affluent we've somehow managed to keep our heads above water till now, we once again reapplied for our visa (which we have to do every two and a half years) when we hit a snag. In May of 2021 we sent the home a fee waiver application, we received no response till October 2021 where after reaching out to the MP again we were told that in that time the Home Office had updated their response method (originally by post now delivered via e-mail), they did not inform pending applicants. This meant their (approved) response was no longer valid and we have had to re-apply. the unfolding developments and prolonged waiting times have once again had dire consequences.
My Mother has lost her job with South Western Railways while awaiting a Home Office response, they cited failure to sufficiently prove her right to work. I've faced a similar struggle finding employment for much the same reasons, I've had to put my university aspirations on hold due to not being able to afford the sheer cost and our current predicament, it's a helpless feeling. With no real substantial source of income we've reached out of family, charities, anyone who would listen and it seems we've exhausted what aid they could give. With no recourse and no funds to afford the roof over our heads we are about to be homeless again. I watched for the first time I watched my mother breakdown and just cry in front of me, it was heartbreaking. If all that wasn't bad enough on March 17th 2022 the Home Office denied our fee waiver. Despite all indications showing no income, a struggle with our essential living needs, no right to work, an inability to pay these fees and being on the verge of homelessness, our fee waiver was denied. We'll have to pay the full application fee, the Health surcharge and Biometric fees with no room for appeal. The only thing they did offer was the number for Samaritans in the event we feel suicidal.
My mother hadn't had the most pleasant of upbringings, even less so into adulthood, even so, as a single mother, she did her damnedest to raise me in a loving and supportive household. To be frank, a non-insignificant part or me wanting to pursue higher education is to get a job where I can earn enough to take care of my ageing mother, now even that is at risk. Perhaps its not the most grandiose dream but I just want to make sure she doesn't need to fear being homeless again. I've been here since I was 5, this is the only country I've ever known, this is where my life is, where everything is, it's my home so with everything to lose and all other avenues exhausted, I turn to you.
Please help me help my mother.
We only have a few days to send our visa application. The money you send will go towards being able to remain in the country and keep a roof over our heads. We are in need of £5,860 to cover our Home Office Visa fees: £2860 x 2
NHS surcharge for 2/12 years x 2
Biometric fees x 2
Anything after that will be put towards keeping a roof over our head even if only for a while longer.
Anything you can offer is appreciated, Every little helps so please stick with us.
Thank you a for your kindness and support.
-David Borisade
Organizer and beneficiary
David Borisade
Organizer
England
Yetunde Oluwole
Beneficiary
