raven minx

Hi… my name is Raven. And this is my story. I never imagined I would be in a place where I had to ask for help like this. But life has a way of turning everything upside down before you can catch your breath. For a long time, my family and I were just trying to survive. We didn’t have stable housing. We were doing everything we could just to get through each day. That kind of life changes you—it wears you down, tests your strength, and forces you to keep going even when you feel like you have nothing left. But to understand how I got here… you have to understand where I came from. I grew up in Las Vegas in the foster care system because my mom was very sick. My childhood was filled with abuse, neglect, and being told I probably wouldn’t survive very long—because of everything I had been through, and the health conditions that came with it. But I survived. I always told myself I would beat the odds. And for a long time… I did. I built a life. I had a family. I found happiness—real happiness—for the first time. And then 2024 happened. That year, everything fell apart. My mom passed away from diabetes and medical neglect. She was in a rehabilitation center trying to get better, and one night she went into ketoacidosis… and no one found her for hours. Just a few months later, my best friend—only 32 years old, the closest person in my life—passed away the exact same way. Then, not long after that, my dog of 17 years—my companion through everything—was hurt while I was gone and didn’t survive. At that point, I wasn’t just grieving… I was broken. I couldn’t stay in the place where all of that happened. It felt like a constant reminder of everything I lost. So I made the hardest decision of my life. About a year ago, after a mental breakdown and relapse, I packed everything I could onto the roof of my car and left Las Vegas with my family. We came to Washington with $200… and a prayer that life would get better. But before we even made it… we lost everything. The roof rack snapped, and everything we owned—our clothes, our memories, our photos, and even my mom’s and best friend’s ashes—fell off the car and over the side of a cliff. When we finally arrived, all we had left was our car, my husband, my daughter, and our three cats. And for a long time… it didn’t get better. We lived in the woods for almost a year. In tents… broken RVs… our car… and sometimes a hotel for a night if I could find help. We moved every couple of weeks. We were constantly pushed out. We dealt with theft, unsafe people, extreme weather, and the daily fear of not knowing what would happen next. I was trying to survive… but just barely. During all of this, I was also dealing with serious health conditions—schizophrenia, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, and other complications. Managing them without stable care, proper food, or consistent medication was exhausting and dangerous. I didn’t have a phone for a long time. I struggled to find work that I could physically manage. I applied for assistance and got denied over and over again. But I kept going. I went to food banks. Churches. Anywhere I could. I did whatever I had to do to keep my family alive. Eventually, after 11 long months, we were able to get food stamps, medical help, and access to basic things like showers. But we were worn down. Sick. Exhausted. The last place we stayed was an old RV on abandoned land. We thought maybe we could finally catch a break. But we were forced to leave. So we came to Tacoma… and finally got into a shelter. And that shelter helped change everything. Now, for the first time in a long time… we’ve been approved for housing. We finally have a place to live. And I should feel like I made it. But the truth is… I’m still struggling. I’m still trying to afford food. Still trying to rebuild from nothing. Still trying to manage my health. I am currently in the process of applying for disability, but that takes time. I am also trying to find work that fits my health limitations, but it has been incredibly difficult. I’m also raising my amazing daughter with special needs, who depends on me for everything. She deserves stability, proper clothes, food, and a safe place to grow—and right now, even basic necessities are a challenge. We also need reliable transportation. Having a car would completely change our situation—getting to medical appointments, work opportunities, and taking care of my daughter safely. Asking for help is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. But my pride comes second to my child. This fundraiser is to help us rebuild—cover basic needs like rent, food, clothing, medical expenses, and transportation so we can finally have a real chance at stability. I’m not where I want to be yet… but I’m not where I used to be either. And maybe that counts for something. I’m going to keep going. For my family. For myself. No matter how long it takes. If you’ve read this far—thank you. Truly. Any support, whether it’s a donation or simply sharing this, means more than I can ever put into words. ❤️