It’s never easy to ask for help but my friend Brandie Woodward and her mother truly need a community to rally around them. Brandie and I went to High School together.

Brandie lives with her retired mother and over the past year, they have faced a heartbreaking series of setbacks that would challenge anyone. Last fall, Brandie’s Social Security benefits were unexpectedly paused due to a clerical error. Although the payments were eventually restored, the time spent without that income drastically changed their circumstances. Around the same time, Brandie’s part-time job ended, cutting their already limited household income in half. Suddenly, keeping up with rent and basic living expenses became impossible and by mid-December, they lost their apartment.

They did everything right — they secured what belongings they could in storage and have been doing their best to stay afloat — but they are now living in a hotel while waiting for housing assistance through the state of New Jersey, job hunting and searching for safe and stable housing. Unfortunately, many of these programs take months, and some are lottery-based or prioritize families with children and time is not on their side.

On top of the housing crisis, both Brandie and her mother are dealing with serious health challenges. Earlier this year, their medical and prescription coverage was reduced drastically. Medications that were once affordable have become overwhelming:

· Brandie’s essential medication jumped from $4 to $756.

· Her mother’s COPD inhaler skyrocketed from $2 to over $400 per inhaler.

· Diabetic medications that had been stabilizing their blood sugar are now difficult to maintain.

· Brandie’s mom also struggles with diabetic retinopathy causing limited vision. The coverage for the eye injections treating her diabetic retinopathy has been reduced, and her vision is worsening again making getting around by car quite a challenge.

· To top if off, since last fall Brandie herself has also been in and out of the hospital with an ongoing respiratory infection.

Despite everything, they are doing their best to keep moving forward. Both receive Social Security — the mother through widow’s benefits and my friend through disability — but it simply isn’t enough to cover the rising medical costs and extended hotel stay.

Over the past two weeks, my sister Danielle and I have done some fundraising through our local channels and have been able to help secure their hotel room through Feb. 22nd. The hotel staff has been incredibly kind, but this is not a sustainable situation.

What they need most right now:

· Help covering the hotel while they pursue safe and stable housing

· Funds to restart critical medications

· A small cushion to help secure stable housing when an opportunity opens

Anyone who knows Brandie knows she is hardworking, grateful, and doing everything within her power — including interviewing for work from home positions — to regain stability.

They are not giving up.

If you are able to give, share, or simply keep them in your thoughts, it would mean the world. Every bit of support brings them one step closer to safe housing, restored health, and peace of mind.

Thank you for reading, for caring and please share this.