Support Heather's Journey to a Safe Home

Hey everyone,

Many people know me, but don’t know my circumstances. I’m Heather, a 34-year-old mom of two… three if you count my dog Luna. Currently, I am 100% disabled, just filed my first appeal, and waiting on disability to kick in if anyone reading this knows what that’s like. I have lupus and CPTSD. On 9/8, I moved to the Bronx and paid full security and first month $1200. My first morning waking up, I called for an emergency pick-up because the living situation wasn’t safe or what it was portrayed to be without getting too graphic. After that, I stayed in my dad's ex-girlfriend's house that had no electricity for 4 nights until I found where I went on 9/13. I moved into a house in Bellport, renovated the entire room with 6 by 12-inch wallpaper sections ($350), and put in four days of work all by myself. I paid full security and first month $900 a month. A month in, my landlord moved his two American bullies from the backyard to the garage, which shared a wall with me with a door that was up but not in the frame or sealed. I heard every dog fight, the snoring, the barking because they went days without food or being let out, till I made an issue. Not to mention the smell of dog poop that filled up my entire room, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. By 11/1, my landlord and his daughter's mother were physically fighting, and it happened when my kids were there. I knew I had to go again, so I secured a 10 by 12 bedroom in two days pending first and last month's rent (for the third time in three months) in an emergency, with a move date of 11/13. Fast forward to 11/11, my landlord was arrested for domestic violence and a few other charges, which meant no security for me ($900). With $100k bail, he made bail in a week, came to do his walkthrough with the restraining order he had, and while he was at the house (after paying a $220 water bill minimum 4 days prior), he tampered with the electrical and heating system, and the house was condemned immediately by the fire department that same night. Having nowhere to go, I booked the soonest, cheapest, and closest Airbnb for me and the girls in the house, including the 4-year-old and her mother. I had to stay in the condemned house two more nights by myself. On night two, after spending $900 on an Airbnb for 6 nights, the mother and baby went into “protection,” leaving me with the entire bill. No hard feelings there, but it really screwed me because I was supposed to be reimbursed half of everything. Tack on a storage unit and moving truck, etc., just keep digging the hole. To top it off, my motor blew in my Jeep on 9/3, so I’m also without a vehicle, so sleeping in a car isn’t an option. DSS wanted to place me in Nassau, an hour away from my children. Truth be told, I’d rather a cardboard box than that.

It’s been three months of living in survival mode, barely sleeping, zero appetite, and I’ve cried enough tears to fill an ocean.

Those who do know me, they know that I give the shirt off my back, my last dollar, a listening ear, a free reading, and so much more. I’ve supported, fed, housed, even fostered children on top of my two on my own.

I want to remain in a position where I can continue to support the community as best as I can, but sometimes the help needs help. And that’s where I am right now.

I want to say please and thank you in advance to anyone who took the time to read this, donate, or share. Also, to all the people who have reached out to me privately.

Any questions, please just ask.

11/22 update: I found a place, my own small living room, bedroom, bathroom, and entrance ! God is so good! I move in next week! I booked a place for now until moving day (1100 including pet deposit ). And now, the only thing left to do is come up with cash security.

love you guys !