These past couple of months have been a critical time for us. We have been slowly climbing toward financial stability regarding rent and other bills, including applying to jobs and disability. However, we are now tasked with the blessing and responsibility of taking in my partner's little sister after they have been struggling with their housing situation.

Their little sister, E, has been having to live with a family member that was predatory and assaulted them on multiple occasions, leaving E stunted and terrified to be in the house. My partner's parents have refused to immediately kick out the perpetrator, but after a suicide attempt from E, they decided it would finally be best for my partner and I to take E in for an indefinite amount of time, as E only feels safe around us.

We are absolutely glad to have her here, and want to be able to provide a place for E to thrive and be comfortable. Currently, our apartment is not set up to support her needs. With E needing her own space, food, and a comfortable place to sleep, we need to raise money to make sure she has enough in the way of basics to heal while she stays with us.

Taking on a 15 year old so suddenly would be hard for anyone as is, but it's especially hard for us, as we had just had our car stolen and then found damaged last week. Our Kia Soul has been the subject of two different break-ins over the past year prior to this theft. There has been a concern that this would happen, as Kia Souls are one of the easiest cars to steal. And right as we began working toward renewing its tag, reviewing insurance, and tending to its existing damage, this happened.

It's a particular blow for us as a disabled couple who rely on the immediate transportation our car provides. For my partner especially, transit cannot always support our needs — especially when it comes to making certain critical, specialized doctors’ appointments. Now with their sister joining our household, having a car is crucial.

Our goal in regards to our car is to repair it and trade it in for a different vehicle (one that is less likely to be stolen) as soon as possible. With our housing, we need to furnish the apartment to provide a space for E. Since living here, we haven't even had plates or more than two small pots and pans to cook out of, no less a table for three people to eat at, a mattress, storage, dresser, more bathroom supplies, and hygiene products that a teenage girl needs.

$4000 is a generous goal that would help us accomplish becoming a stable unit for E. Here is a detailed breakdown of how it would help:

•$1500 has been estimated for car repairs.

•$1000-$1500 has been estimated for furnishing our second bedroom (that has been used as storage for two years), our second bathroom, and the remainder of our apartment (further storage for a multitude of things, dining room table, dishes and pans, shelves, etc) for E.

•$600 estimated for groceries, as we lost our food stamps and my partner’s attempt to get on disability was denied. We typically spend a monthly average of $400 between the two of us, and we are also accounting for what my partner and E's mother spends on them.

•$200 estimated for concurrent housing + hygeine products, as well as new items for E.

The rest will be going toward covering GFM fees + potentially surprise fees (as this always seems to be the case).

We are two trans lesbians that have been through hell the past handful of years. Any support during this pride month and beyond to help reach this goal would mean the world to us and my partner’s little sister!