❤️Help A Family Stay Together❤️

Let me start by thanking you first for taking the time to read this. My wife and I are in a really tough situation. We are a week to week family. My wife works in insurance while I do my schooling full time trying to finish my psychology degree. To hopefully obtain a job where I can help kids from the same broken home I once came from.

This all began when we received a call that the apartments we had been living at for sometime now, after getting married was informed I was also living in the residence. They called my wife and instructed her to pay the 50$ background check fee to add me to the lease. Without a hesitation we paid virtually our last 50$ to make this happen. Almost immediately after, there automated systems denied me to live in the residence because of charges I had as a juvenile that are now 10 years old. I was tried as an adult for burglary and robbery and went away for sometime to reflect on my life and the choices I had made, and honestly who I wanted to be.

While inside I obtained my G.E.D, did extensive programming, and left incarnation with almost 60 college credits. After my release I went to a 90 day program (that was not mandatory or terms of my release) where I also then received my peer support certification. While there I reconnected with my now wife on Facebook, where I had met while attending high school.

It was love at first sight, we did all of the church, support, and A.A. Groups together. I truly have never had a friend like her. Shortly after reconnecting on Facebook we got married. Where as I can imagine everyone thought we were crazy, but in my heart I know she’s my other half. That this family we’ve created was meant to be. Being able to be a husband to the most amazing women ever, and a step-father to two amazing little boys in the process. I couldn’t ask for more.

So fast forward living at these apartments and doing everything in my power to wash off the stigma of being a felon, we got the worst call ever. I was denied to live here and would have to leave immediately. Our son cried, my wife cried, and I choked back tears to be strong and brave for the two in front me I love so dearly. Not knowing exactly what to do I stayed up all night looking for solutions, but no one wanted to give me a chance. I woke up the next day hitting it hard again, making hundreds of calls. So many that the emotion in my voice turn to monotone from repeating myself so many times. And getting so many no’s. Then my sister said just email a few people maybe you’ll get lucky. Well turns out I did.

This amazing couple who are private owners were just about to wrap up there open house and told me to stop by. Upon hearing about all the things I’ve done to change my life from a felon, and to get people to see me as a husband, a father, a brother, and at my core a human, they wanted to meet my family and I. We showed up 10 minutes before closing and I was trying to contain my emotions but I honestly couldn’t. I was so happy to have people just listen to me instead of saying “well, policy say’s” because it’s like did you not hear me say that my family is about to be torn apart? Is there no humanity left? My mind wondered at the time but seeing these two people in front of me, see me for me, I truly felt they were a god send.

They gave us a grace period to get a deposit together so they could hold the house for us. Passing up plenty of other renters with all the cash together. They actually heard me, and not that paper with a huge “felon” stamped over my name.

So, we made some calls and an amazing friend of my wife’s and I blessed us with the 500$ and we were able to secure the house and now we need to come up with 4,000$ by Monday to keep our family together. Being the week to week family we are and just paying rent at the apartments merely days ago. We truly need help to keep this family together.

And I must say I’m new to asking for help but my family needs this, I need this, and I could never have imagined living without my family in a million years. But now after feeling that fear, we desperately need help. I’m just asking anyone who reads this and feels my pain, heart ache, and fear of possibly losing my family please to help. Anything and everything will help us in this dire situation.

Thank you so much for you time and for just reading these words even if you don’t donate. If you were still inspired or motivated by my testimony I’m okay with that too. Wishing you all the best and I pray no one has to feel how my family and I feel over choices made so long ago. Thanks for you time again.

The Willingham Family.