Secure a Safe Haven for Adriana & Austin

My name is Adriana and I have the honor and privilege of being Austin Enrique mom. My son is non verbal autistic and my greatest teacher ever! He is non verbal and uses a communication device. On January 7, 2024 we woke up, he went to school in Sierra Madre by Eaton Canyon, and by that evening around 8pm when I looked out my patio door and my backyard, we began to run for our lives.

His caregiver was working and we quickly got his stuff together including a bean bag for sensory regulation, and left. I had the clothes I had on, all our technology, his stuff and simply began the journey of living without a home, in less than a day.

As we drove to an Airbnb and away from our home of almost two years, our first home ever, I stopped to get gas as I didn’t know what would come next, and it was blown into my face due to winds.

Upon arriving at Airbnb, it was pitch black and trees were swaying above us, and as we finally made our way into property it turned out the entire lot had lost power. I got back in the car and drove to a friends nearby, only to wake up around 4am due to smell in the room. By 7am police had come by and everyone was on the street with their belongings in bags, children in tow and a sky that seem to swallow us all….

I’ve never been more scarred in my life. So I called my friend Ginny and asked her to talk to me please. To please stay on the phone as I made my way out of Pasadena, after fleeing Sierra Madre. We would spend all day in the car until a room was ready around 2pm at a hotel in Claremont.

As I type this it’s Sunday and we have in three places. Two hotels, three rooms as we had to leave one, within hotel. And an Airbnb we have to leave by Tuesday. I’ve spent $1192.00 in lodging alone.

My house stands but smells like nothing I’ve ever experienced and it’s all over everything including all our clothes. I came to CA to start over alone with Austin in 2019 after years of abuse in Texas Family Court and denied child support.

I built a beautiful life here where Austin’s needs are supported and understood. And now within one day, our safest space ever is a smoke- ash- infested- neurotoxin filled space we can’t sleep in and have lost everything in. From countless autism sensory beanbags and accommodations, to furniture and clothes.

I requested my landlord help as I just paid this months rent and he suggested I air it out and let it pass. I can’t. No one can live there and especially not my son. FEMA denied me. I went today in person, and was told 7-14 days for a response. I was on the phone with Airbnb four hours and have yet to receive a free week as it’s being paired everywhere evacuees are getting.

Above all Austin has spent the last week confused, frustrated and unable to express all he’s thinking or ask questions. While he communicates with a communication device it doesn’t allow him to express everything he thinks. He’s resorted to what is known as SIB, self injurious behavior. He needs all his supports from accommodations at home to a SAFE place with locks everywhere and alarms not near an accessible street and more.

His father is not in his life and currently owes $12,000 plus in back child support and Texas won’t collect it. We are on our own. No home. No idea where we will be Tuesday and after exhausting all supposed immediate resources I’ve turned here.

Anything will help us get through the loss of our safest space ever. If you can’t donate I understand! Trust me I do. You could help us by posting our story. Above all please pray that I have the strength to weather everything that is unfolding and guiding us into our best life, even when it feels otherwise.

with profound immense gratitude!

Adri and Austin Enrique