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Hi everyone,
My name is Heather, and I'm reaching out during an incredibly difficult time for my family. My husband, Zachery, is a U.S. Army combat veteran who is currently facing a severe mental health crisis related to his service-connected PTSD. After a series of escalating emergencies, he is now receiving intensive inpatient care at the VA hospital. This is his third hospitalization in just the past month.
This unexpected and severe turn in his health has completely upended our lives. As Zachery focuses on his recovery in the hospital (which may be an extended stay), our family – myself and our three young daughters (ages 6, 5, and 3) – has become homeless. We lost our temporary housing due to the crisis and are currently staying with a kind friend, but this is not a sustainable situation.
We are navigating the VA system to secure the disability benefits Zachery has earned, which are our family's only source of income. While we are hopeful and have advocates helping us, the claim recently faced an unexpected setback and delay, leaving us in a desperate financial situation. We are also working closely with a VA program to secure stable housing, but that process takes time (likely a month or more).
Right now, we are falling through the cracks with essentially no money. Our bank account is overdrawn, critical bills like our storage unit (holding everything we own) and our phone (needed for VA/housing communication) are overdue, and I'm struggling to afford gas just to get my daughters to school and therapy. I'm unable to work because I take care of young children. I have donated plasma as much as I can to make ends meet, but it's not helping as much anymore.
We are humbly asking for any support you can offer to help us bridge this terrifying gap while we wait for the VA processes to finalize and for Zachery to heal. Funds raised will go directly towards:
- Immediate Needs: Gas, food, diapers, essential toiletries for the girls and myself.
- Critical Bills: Paying our overdue storage unit and cell phone bill to avoid losing everything.
- Future Stability: Saving towards a security deposit and initial costs for a stable apartment once we secure housing through the VA.
Any amount, no matter how small, will make a huge difference in helping us survive this immediate crisis and keep our family together. Sharing this campaign with your networks would also be incredibly helpful.
Thank you so much for reading our story and for considering supporting a veteran's family in need. We are hopeful that with Zachery getting the long-term care he requires and our family securing stable housing, we can begin to heal and rebuild.
With deepest gratitude,
Heather and Family
Organizer
