Help My Brother Have a Home

My best friend and brother is homeless.   It breaks my heart when I reflect on how he ended up sleeping in parks, ally ways and now a shelter.

Christian was officially diagnosed with Schizoaffective Mood Disorder in 2015, but his symptoms started when he was around 18 years old. This illness “is a chronic mental health condition characterized primarily by symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression and is seen in about 0.3% of the population.” His mental health declined rapidly before our eyes. He took medications that made him shake uncontrollably. And one medication affected his kidney’s health declining as a result of the high dosage.  His doctors changed his prescriptions frequently which resulted in him stopping the medications and doctor visits altogether and rebelling at our attempts to help.  He has free will and as an adult he can legally refuse treatment.


In the beginning, he would house hop with family members and friends until it became too much for everyone mentally, physically and emotionally. He then denied wanting help completely, including living in a shelter and entering programs he qualified for which resulted with him living on the streets. He would get “mini vacations” at hotels that would accept him when our family was able to afford it. 


It pains me to have watched my brother decline right before my eyes. He is a gifted musician that plays the flute, guitar and bass.  He's an artist, lover of poetry, dancing, singing, concerts, hiking, reading and skateboarding. I remember his sense of humor and I want it to come back. His current fragile state breaks my heart daily. The sparkle in his eyes has dimmed and his body is frail. He’s lonely and we’re lonely for him. 


Yet after all of these years of worry, hope finally arrived. He decided on his own to help himself.  He decided to quit drinking months ago; therefore, my mom and step-dad purchased a piece of raw property where Christian can live safely. (It’s located within walking distance to the market.)  Escrow closes early March then we will get him situated in his own place as soon as possible. No more sleeping on the streets, no more shelters or wandering aimlessly and becoming a focus for trouble. No more having to defend his ‘spot’ and 'things'. He will have his own space with all of his stuff in one place (which he is just so darn happy about).


We need your help to create this dream home that we are calling camp Sonshiny Days.  We are asking financial assistance to buy a travel trailer, composting toilet, water tank, fence for his living area, climate appropriate clothing options, shoes, convert the electrical to solar on the trailer, equipment rental to clear a road, gravel as needed, etc. Our goal is to help my brother be as comfortable and self-reliable as possible, in a safe place where he can garden, make art or do nothing but be safe and have a home.
 
Please help spread the news, share this page, text or call your family and friends, donate or volunteer for projects. ANYTHING will help my sweet brother find some sort of normalcy in a not so normal situation. Words cannot express how heart-wrenching the past 5+ years have been on myself, my family, parents and especially Christian. But now we choose to move forward together with love.


As I’m typing this my brother texted me (by a government funded phone to help the homeless keep in contact with loved ones) saying, “love you sisto” and this is why I’m doing this.


His love conquers all of this heartache. Please donate.  Thank you.