Flooding 2023

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/11/us/alameda-california-storm.html?smid=url-share

Hello, my name is Elena Torres and our family's story was recently featured in a piece by the NY Times (see attached ). My daughter and I have been living in a 4th wheel trailer for the past year. The Trailer was parked on a ranch by Palomares Road in Castro Valley.

Recently we have had to move our trailer onto the public road because of flooding and we have nowhere to put it. We have a 28-day motel voucher that will expire on February 16, 2023. After that we will be homeless and living out of cars, We desperately need temporary help to get on our feet.

This is our background :

Our financial downhill began in May 2021, when I had a stroke that took several months to recover from, Then in February 2022, I had a second more aggressive stroke. I was left with many bad side effects and I have been in and out of the hospital, just after my strokes recovery I graduate from a trade school through The Salvation Army

geared towards a painting apprenticeship,

We lost our apartment and had to move with family but during the shelter-in-place, pandemic, we couldn't pay for our rent, and they asked us to move out, We were lucky enough to find a wonderful person who allowed us to park it on her property. Then in April 2023, I have an accident that keeps me in the hospital for several months from which I'm still recovering, Unfortunately, the recent storms caused a nearby creek to overflow and the rising water started to threaten our trailer and damage all of our belongings that were kept outside. A nearby neighbor was kind enough to pull our trailer to dryer land. We continue to stay in our trailer but on January 19, 2023, it was tagged to be towed since it is parked on a public street. We cannot move it back because of the threats of continued flooding.

We were lucky enough that the sheriff's office arranged for us to get a voucher through First Presbyterian Church and we have been staying at the Extended Stay Hotel in Union City. However, the voucher is only good for one month. We have been trying many different resources to find temporary housing, including Alameda County Social services, but nothing is available, On February 16, 2023, we will have to leave the hotel and start leaving out of our car, which can jeopardize my health recovery because I have a wound healing in the right leg and skin draft healing in the left leg.

The reason why I'm seeking your help is to be able to have temporary shelter for me and my daughter, The easiest solution would be for us to continue to live in our trailer and to be able to park it somewhere. To do this, we would need a truck that can move the trailer and money for the storage deposit. We would also need to pay the $800 to bring the trailer's registration current.

We would also be lucky to have a used motorhome if someone would like to donate it. We just need something temporary to be able to continue to live with a roof over our heads until my husband and I can start working. I consider myself and to be hard workers and responsible people, but my health has been challenged.

Thank you for reading our story and anything you can spare would really help. God bless you.