I am creating this GoFundMe for my brother, Jason, because he is in an extremely difficult and unsafe situation, and he has no real support system to turn to.
Our family situation has been unstable and traumatic for a long time. Our mother suffers from severe mental health issues and experienced a major mental break about a year ago. Since then, she has not been the same, and we have very limited contact with her. Our father is abusive and struggles with alcoholism and drug addiction. Because of his ongoing substance abuse, he is not mentally present or capable of caring for his child in any way. Although he works, he does not provide food, pay bills, or take responsibility for the household, including basic utilities or even the animals in the home.
This neglect has left Jason stuck in a horrible and frightening situation with no stability or safety. We have contacted the Merced Police Department multiple times to report the abuse and neglect, desperately asking for help, but our calls and reports have continuously been ignored. It has been incredibly discouraging and heartbreaking to feel so unheard. Merced County has completely failed my brother despite how many times we reached out for assistance.
Jason is 23 years old and has struggled with disabilities his entire life, which has made it much harder for him to find stable work and fully support himself. Even with these challenges, he has never stopped trying. He is currently working and attending school at the same time, doing everything in his power to build a better future for himself. Unfortunately, he will not receive his first paycheck until next month, and his school has not provided any resources or assistance to help him during this crisis.
Recently, our father, Jason Criswell Sr., abandoned the house entirely, leaving his son behind and refusing to pay any of the utilities. This has put Jason at immediate risk of being forced out of the home and onto the streets. Our parents are the only family we have, and they have both failed him in different but equally damaging ways. With no guidance, no protection, and no help from local authorities, Jason has been left to survive this situation on his own.
Despite everything, Jason is still trying his best to stay strong. He is working, keeping up with school, and doing everything he can to protect his mental health while dealing with trauma, neglect, and the constant fear of losing the little stability he has left.
We are asking for help because Jason truly has nowhere else to turn. Any donation, no matter how small, would help him stay housed, cover basic necessities, and give him a chance to get through this incredibly difficult time and continue working toward a safer, more stable future. This money will go towards a safe living environment, and if anyone knows of any cheap housing areas please reach out to us. We appreciate all the support and consideration so much!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read his story and for any support you are able to give. I pray God heals our broken family and know we are so grateful. God bless.