My Moving Fund
Donation protected
Hello. I am a disabled/homebound mother of a wonderful son who just found out I have to move.
12 years ago my 8 year old son and I moved to Tallahassee in order to be closer to his grandparents. My mother had died the year before and I had little to no family to turn to for help. I was in horrible health and it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to walk.
It was no small miracle that we were accepted into the InnBetween program run by Lutheran Social Services. Thanks to them I was approved for Housing and got a small 2 bedroom apartment just the right size for my son and I.
Over the years my health has declined greatly. I now recieve Social Security Disability which barely covers the necessities such as rent, electricity, and groceries. My son's father and grandparents have died and due to being homebound I have not made many friends here in Tallahassee. Every month was a struggle but my son and I managed to not only survive but to thrive.
My son has managed to graduate high school, learned to play several different instruments, stay out of trouble and work a part time job. All at the same time he is responsible for taking care of all of our normal everyday chores such as cleaning and cooking. In addition he has also become my caretaker as I am unable to walk.
I have always told my son that even though we may not have lots of material goods are lives were filled with the most important thing of all...Love.
I have become a great worrier. Worrying if I am doing a good job as a parent. Worrying if my son will be happy and healthy as he grows up. Worrying if we will make it through that dreaded 4th week of every month when there is no food in the pantry and little to no money in the bank.
But the one thing I never worried about was becoming homeless. Here at the Lutheran Social Services apartments I felt safe and secure that we would always have a home.
That all changed in November. A brief note was placed on my front door informing me that LLSN was going to be renovating the apartments and everyone was going to have to move when their lease ran out. My heart sank, I felt sick to my stomach and was in total and complete shock.
Here I am...living on SS Disability. With no money, no car, no family to turn to being told I have 3 months to figure out where to go.
I know what you are thinking. She has section 8 vouchers...no big deal. Unfortunately that isn't true. I found out the the section 8 vouchers do not cover the application fees and security deposits. With no car I will have to rent a truck and figure out how to get all of our belongings from one place to the next.
The task before me feels daunting and I am truly at my wit's end. I don't really have any family or friends to ask for help so I am taking a leap of faith and asking complete strangers to help me come up with enough money to pay for the security deposit and application fee I figure we need approximately $750.00. That may not sound like a lot of money to some but to me it might as well be a million dollars.
My lease here is up in March. I figure we have at least 2 months to get packed up, find a place to go and make all the arrangements. I will probably have to have to funds for the application fees and security deposit by mid February.
I am trying to be brave for my son and not let him see how upset and desperate I am. But he knows that I am not in good health and our financial situation is dire. I honest to God do not think I would survive having to go to a homeless shelter in my condition.
If anyone out there reading this has any empathy for a mother and her son about to become homeless I would be incredibly thankful for any help. I don't think I know the words to express how much it would mean to me.
12 years ago my 8 year old son and I moved to Tallahassee in order to be closer to his grandparents. My mother had died the year before and I had little to no family to turn to for help. I was in horrible health and it was becoming increasingly difficult for me to walk.
It was no small miracle that we were accepted into the InnBetween program run by Lutheran Social Services. Thanks to them I was approved for Housing and got a small 2 bedroom apartment just the right size for my son and I.
Over the years my health has declined greatly. I now recieve Social Security Disability which barely covers the necessities such as rent, electricity, and groceries. My son's father and grandparents have died and due to being homebound I have not made many friends here in Tallahassee. Every month was a struggle but my son and I managed to not only survive but to thrive.
My son has managed to graduate high school, learned to play several different instruments, stay out of trouble and work a part time job. All at the same time he is responsible for taking care of all of our normal everyday chores such as cleaning and cooking. In addition he has also become my caretaker as I am unable to walk.
I have always told my son that even though we may not have lots of material goods are lives were filled with the most important thing of all...Love.
I have become a great worrier. Worrying if I am doing a good job as a parent. Worrying if my son will be happy and healthy as he grows up. Worrying if we will make it through that dreaded 4th week of every month when there is no food in the pantry and little to no money in the bank.
But the one thing I never worried about was becoming homeless. Here at the Lutheran Social Services apartments I felt safe and secure that we would always have a home.
That all changed in November. A brief note was placed on my front door informing me that LLSN was going to be renovating the apartments and everyone was going to have to move when their lease ran out. My heart sank, I felt sick to my stomach and was in total and complete shock.
Here I am...living on SS Disability. With no money, no car, no family to turn to being told I have 3 months to figure out where to go.
I know what you are thinking. She has section 8 vouchers...no big deal. Unfortunately that isn't true. I found out the the section 8 vouchers do not cover the application fees and security deposits. With no car I will have to rent a truck and figure out how to get all of our belongings from one place to the next.
The task before me feels daunting and I am truly at my wit's end. I don't really have any family or friends to ask for help so I am taking a leap of faith and asking complete strangers to help me come up with enough money to pay for the security deposit and application fee I figure we need approximately $750.00. That may not sound like a lot of money to some but to me it might as well be a million dollars.
My lease here is up in March. I figure we have at least 2 months to get packed up, find a place to go and make all the arrangements. I will probably have to have to funds for the application fees and security deposit by mid February.
I am trying to be brave for my son and not let him see how upset and desperate I am. But he knows that I am not in good health and our financial situation is dire. I honest to God do not think I would survive having to go to a homeless shelter in my condition.
If anyone out there reading this has any empathy for a mother and her son about to become homeless I would be incredibly thankful for any help. I don't think I know the words to express how much it would mean to me.
Organizer
Liese Sparks
Organizer
Tallahassee, FL
