Castro Fire Destroys My 35 Year Home

Early on the morning of Saturday November 16 a 4-alarm fire swept through 2 buildings on Castro St. My flat was the top floor of one of those buildings. Because the fire spread from the building next door to the back of our building and roof our entire flat is destroyed and Brian and I lost everything we had there.  It is gutted.

I hate asking people for funds when I know for most it is a struggle to keep your heads above water, but I must accept that right now I am going to need some help. As a provider in the community for most of my 35 years in the Castro I am not very used to being on this side of the equation.  

I am able to stay at Brian's little subsidized place at least temporarily but am just now beginning to meet with agencies to figure out resources for getting some kind of a new place that is affordable (with subsidies hopefully). I do have the option of moving back into my place at my current rent if/when the building is rebuilt, but all estimates are at least 12-18 months. In the meantime, if I am lucky enough to secure a new place, it will have to be furnished completely.  Even before then I need to buy everything all over again - clothing, toiletries, appliances, food, computer (all I have is phone and a very old laptop on it's last legs now), etc etc.

Anything that you could afford to help would be most appreciated!  If you have already given to another gofundme around this issue, thank you! I know that there were many of us displaced (13-16 people I believe).  

I love the Castro and SF LGBTQ communities, and love that my work allows me to provide for the community that I love in a way that I can. I want to be able to continue to do that and need to remain here to do so! Thank you all!