Simon Searles

Troy is my brother — funny, kind, and one of the most resilient people I know. He's also has Autistim , and for years he's supported himself through work-study, financial aid, and sheer determination while attending Yakima Valley College. Right now, he's facing a crisis: his roommates are moving out, and he cannot cover rent on his own. Within the next 1-2 months, he needs to find and secure his own place — or risk losing housing entirely. Why this is more urgent than it might sound: Washington is one of the hardest states in the country to recover from homelessness once you fall into it. Rents here have outpaced wages for years, and once someone loses stable housing, getting back into it becomes exponentially harder — a fact confirmed by the state's own housing data. I don't want Troy to become a statistic. I want to stop this before it starts. Where the money goes — full breakdown: $1,050 — Security deposit for a new apartment $3,150 — 3 months of rent (Ellensburg's average 1-bedroom rate) $800 — Buffer for utilities and basic living expenses Total goal: $5,000 Why Troy deserves this help: Growing up, Troy faced hardship after hardship — at school, at home, in ways that would've broken a lot of people. Through all of it, he was the one protecting me. He always found a way to look out for his little brother, even when things were hardest for him too. Now it's my turn. Right now, Troy feels like he's run out of options — like the world has stopped giving him chances. I want to prove him wrong. He deserves to see that there's still good out there, that people show up for people, and that he's not facing this alone. Troy is two semesters from finishing his degree. He's not asking for a handout — he's asking for a bridge to get through the next few months so he doesn't lose everything he's worked for. He's got his cat Oliver by his side through all of this — the sweetest little guy, who I remember as a kitten back when I lived with Troy myself. Troy is two semesters from finishing his degree. He's not asking for a handout — he's asking for a bridge to get through the next few months so he doesn't lose everything he's worked for. He's got his cat Oliver by his side through all of this — the sweetest little guy, who I remember as a kitten back when I lived with Troy myself. How you can help: ✅ Donate any amount — every dollar gets him closer ✅ Share this with your network — shares matter as much as donations Thank you for reading this far, and for however you're able to show up for Troy — the way he's always shown up for others.