Rion & Benya's Moving Out Emergency Fund

Hello community & friends, as many of you know it has been quite a struggle with housing for Rion and I this past two years. We’ve been trying to sustain a safe, stable, and affordable home in NYC. And, no surprise, its been a struggle for us, two trans working class POC.

At the beginning of November, our landlord told us we have to leave by the end of January. She's selling the house. This came as a sudden since we expected to get another lease after our lease expired. We expected a 6 month and then 1 year lease. And, we had many plans here. We wanted to cultivate this space for us, and for other TQPOC. But her plans have change. And we have no choice. We really thought we would be able to be here long term. We have been here for at least 2 years.

We didn't expect to have to move so suddenly. And with not enough funds to secure housing so soon in this expensive housing market in NYC, that is insane and a beast, we are asking community for material support.

So, we are asking if folks can donate to our Gofund and share it also.

Our funds will go towards:

-First months and deposit for a studio apt/large bedroom

-Moving expenses

-Brokers fee

-Third party guarantor expenses.

It would mean a lot to us if you can donate whatever you can and share our Gofund.

**More about what we went through. Please read**

We have had to put a loooot of our money into this home. Like savings, use up credit, ask our own blood family for help, and reach out to our networks for support. And labor of course. Just to sustain a safe, stable, and affordable home. As alot of folks know, we have faced several crises while living here that forced us to put our own money, and time. And its a pain to have to leave after all of what we put into this apartment to make it a safe and sustainable home for us both, and for other TQPOC folks.

We had plans to continue making it a safe, stable, & affordable home for other TQPOC folks, too, as long as we were here. To do this with roomies as well. The backyard was such an important part of living here as well for all of our mental health.

90 days isn't a lot of time when we expected to stay here longer as the landlord promised us (more leases), and since we already had to use a lot of our own funds in the past to hold onto this space, for us and other past roomies. Sustaining safe affordable housing spaces in NYC for neurodivergent, disabled, TQPOC is a hell of alot of work.

Already after going through several crises at this house, our mental health is in a bad place. Working full-time teaching job which doesn't pay enough for cost of living, and balancing all of this is stressful to say the least. Rion balancing his mental health, recovery, and work, and housing issues has been a lot.

And, all of this has also affected not only us but other roommates in the apartment. It's not just us that have to move out but our other queer POC roommates.

I am so thankful for all the support our community has given us so far in the past and it means so much to the both of us. Not all has been on social media of course. The visits, the phone calls, text, the connecting to resources, all adds up to us.

Please help us how ever you can. Appreciate you all community and friends.