Support a Black trans disabled chaplain!

**** UPDATE June 2024****

Hi folks, I wanted to talk a moment to update y'all as my needs have changed. I originally made this fundraiser to try to help me create a sense of financial grounding for myself as I move through grad school. However, life has been dealing some intense health-related blows and I feel it important to do some end-of-life planning. I do still need support with the original goals of this fundraiser *and* I will also be raising funds to help me cover some end-of-life preparation/pre-preplanning. My intention is to use funds to cover:

- $6500 funeral pre-arrangement (currently being paid in monthly installments of $205/mo)

- $400/mo guaranteed issuance life insurance 

- $1500 lawyer fee to set up a power of attorney

- $700/mo therapy

Any excess that I raise will go towards my monthly costs (bill/medicine/insurance) and items covered below in the original wording of this fundraiser. 

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My name is Zaire (they/them) and I’m a disabled Black trans person working to become a chaplain. 2023 has been a hard year for me. In addition to attending seminary and managing my growing list of chronic health issues, I have dealt with violence in my neighborhood, harassment from a neighbor, having my car stolen, and the loss of my best friend, my dog Spikey. My medical costs are increasing, my new car requires more maintenance, and I want to move to a safer neighborhood, but I just don’t have enough money to meet my needs right now. My health issues make it impossible for me to work while in grad school - any time I’m not working on school I’m stuck at home/in bed sick.

Because of this, I am asking for support to cover specific needs while I work to complete my Master’s in Divinity.

I have multiple autoimmune disorders. I have also developed new health issues since having a heart attack in 2022. One of the biggest challenges I’m managing right now is fat malabsorption, which means my body is struggling to digest fat. I’ve had to buy more expensive food items or shop at more expensive stores to give my body food that it can digest, and I need additional supplements to digest my fat-soluble vitamins. I also spend a lot of money on copays for my medications. One of my medications alone is $500, so I spend about $700 per month on prescriptions and another $100 on supplements. I also spend a lot of money on skincare products when I have psoriasis flares, which happens every couple of months. Flares are not only painful, but require special products and care to make sure the plaques don’t get infected. I am particularly prone to infection because I’m on immunosuppressants. I spend another $250/wk on therapy. In an ideal world, I would love to get weekly acupuncture and massages again to help with my pain, which would each cost about $150/wk.

My health is also exacerbated by the violence and stress in my neighborhood. I currently live in Oakland, CA and witness physical violence and robberies almost daily. My car was stolen right outside of my house this spring. I was able to use the insurance payout towards a new car, but the price of used cars is ridiculously high right now and the only car I was able to afford is now costing me even more in repairs. One essential repair that I haven’t even been able to get diagnosed is an issue with my heat/AC. This is especially important for me because the specific combination of my medications and medical conditions make it difficult for my body to regulate its own heat. When this happens, I can end up sick for hours or days until my body stabilizes again. It’s disruptive to my life but also dangerous to my health. I need support fixing this as soon as possible before it’s beyond repair

In addition to getting my car stolen, I have dealt with harassment from a neighbor since March. He confronts me often claiming that I am watching him, he stalks me around the neighborhood, he’s tried to run me over and he stands at my door for hours watching my apartment. It is clear that he is the one watching me and it has become extremely stressful. I don’t feel safe staying in this apartment or neighborhood and want to move out as soon as humanly, possibly even out of California to a place where I can find a more supportive community.

Needs:

One time expenses

Car repair - $2,500

1st month and security to move out - $3000

Monthly needs

$700 on prescriptions

Supplements and skincare - $200

Therapy - $1000

Pain management - $1200

$1100 a month to help out with current rent

Luckily, a kind soul has offered to help out with my monthly prescriptions, supplements and skincare items. This means I just need monthly support with rent, pain management and therapy. Also, if any acupuncture or massage therapists in the Oakland area want to donate their services to me instead of funds, that would be much appreciated!

TOTAL: $5,500 one time, and $3,300 monthly (3 months = 9,900)

With your support, I can get out of my current situation and sustain some of my high expenses for a few months. I applied to divinity school to help others and provide affirming care. Your support can help me achieve my dream!