Support W.R.'s Journey to Stability

Update: January 17th

Whitney is currently staying in a motel and has gotten into a program for both substance misuse and one for trauma recovery, and will be attending both on a weekly basis.

We have learned that organization that provides sober living houses has no locations in South Carolina, so that is no longer an option. However, Whitney has applied to an apartment and we are still searching for alternatives.

We are trying to avoid having to put their cat in temporary/emergency housing, as they rely on her for emotional support. But if they do need to go to a homeless shelter due to being unable to find a longterm housing situation, that will become necessary. In the meantime, your donations have allowed for them to secure this motel room so they can build a plan and rest, with their cat with them for support.

Thank you, again, for your generosity.

Update: January 14th

First of all, thank you to everyone who has donated thus far.

As of today, Whitney will be homeless. Last night, we were looking into homeless shelters, AirBNBs, motels (cheapest we could find is $43 a night), and possible sober housing, as well as temporary care for their cat should they end up in a shelter. They may have a couch in a sober house to crash on temporarily, but that remains uncertain as of this update. There is an apartment complex for $785 a month they are applying to, and an AirBNB for one month that is $1,000 a month that could be an option once the fundraiser hits its goal (which is in a camper, and not ideal). We are continuing to seek leads for more longterm, secure housing in the Columbia, SC area, as they recently got a job there.

I have also learned they’re still being forced to pay $200 a week to their husband to go towards their (former) house’s mortgage until the house sells, per the divorce agreement. The house they can’t even live in right now. The house they bought with their husband just before finding out he was cheating.

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My name is Andy, and I’m doing this fundraiser on behalf of a friend, W.R., who is losing their housing at the end of January, if not sooner, due to their struggles with alcohol misuse.

Their roommates had promised to be supportive when they moved in, and then did nothing to actually support them in recovering until the sudden delivery of an ultimatum. I know that falling off the wagon is an inevitable part of recovering, and I’ve also seen how far they’ve come just in the past few years. They are putting in the work.

I have known W.R. since 2017. I used to house clean for them while they were grieving the loss of their sister, and they supported me after I lost my mom. They are a gentle, kind person who struggles with chronic pain and fatigue from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and related comorbid conditions, and they are also queer, trans (nonbinary), and autistic. They lost their home after their husband cheated on them and they were forced to move out of the house so it could be sold. They’ve been hopping from place to place since then, and anyone who has dealt with housing insecurity understands what this does to a person’s psyche. And now they are going to lose their home, again.

The starting amount is set at $1,000 to help them get a room at a new place. It may have to be raised, depending on the lease situation.

Attached are the initial texts they sent me when they were delivered the ultimatum. I can try to provide more proof if need be. The fundraiser banner details the ultimatum they were delivered only a month before being forced to move.

No one deserves to lose their home due to addiction, illness, and lack of support. Please help me help my friend start over in February, if not sooner, because the environment has gotten unlivable for them on an emotional level.