A Sick Man, Old Father, and a Cat need help with their rent.

Hello and welcome to my fundraiser, my name is Storm Tanner Smith. I work for Goodwill, and live with my father, Daniel Joseph Smith, and an adopted cat named Bruiser in Bradenton, Florida, in the United States of America.

I've set up this fundraiser because I and my father are far under the needed amount to pay this month's rent to our landlord, and I'll be upfront. The actual cost of my rent is $1,500 which includes fees for water, sewage, and renting a washer drier hookup, all of which are paid to my landlord. I am asking for $3,000, or twice my rent, so that I and my father may be able to save funds and find ways to reduce our expenses further than we already have had to while having rent paid for two months. If we make the full amount, that money WILL go towards our rent for this month and the next, while my and my fathers paychecks go towards bills, food and necessities. Those of you familiar with me already probably know I've made a GoFundMe before. As with my previous fundraisers, outside circumstances have impacted our income this month, which has resulted in us being unable to pay our rent.

Specifically, as you can see in my cover photo if you are a medical professional, I was stricken with pneumonia, and that condition necessitated that I be out of work for several weeks while I waited for antibiotics (4 kinds including an injection) to help clear away the infection. I still likely have some scar tissue in my lungs from this bout of illness. In addition to this, my father, had previously elected to get his taxes sorted by H&R Block, which ultimately contributed to our condition further. Further compounding all of this, my father is currently trying to get accepted to receive disability payments from the government, and as such has had to reduce his hours at work, which Walmart has recently cut back EVEN further.

I have sought assistance from local programs in Manatee County, Bradenton, Florida. We'd already applied to Season of Sharing's funding, and it is now considered "Once In A Liftime" assistance, so we're unable to utilize their services again. As such, I have applied to the Christian Care Alliance for assistance twice now, once in the middle of August, and once now. The first time in August they informed me funding was not available and that I should check back at the first of the month. This was fine as I was contacting them well in advance of the issues we are facing now. I applied this last Sunday to their program, and today I was called by representatives of Manatee's Christian Care Alliance. However, I was informed when they called me that payment for Rent Assistance may not arrive until the 1st of October, and they would need to speak with my landlord to arrange payment. It occurs to me that there is a distinct chance my landlord may not be able to accept the funds from this charity, and this may leave us again at risk of losing our apartment.

Hence, I'm starting this fundraiser with full transparency about my intentions. I do not wish to lose my apartment due to a bout of illness which I could not prevent. I am asking for at the very least $1,500 to make this month's rent, with the stated goal of $3,000 above to allow us to be able to pay next month's rent and provide us a cushion to actually save money and do something to reduce our expenses. On the topic of reducing expenses, we currently have sent in an application to try and get into residential apartment complex that is considered HUD Housing, which would significantly reduce our cost if we can get accepted as residents there as it is government funded housing. In the meantime we're also going to try and get assistance from a social worker or my father's disability lawyer to apply to receive food stamps. All of this is why my father elected to file his taxes with H&R Block in the first place, to reduce complications with these services.

In conclusion, I'm asking you, if you can, please donate to assist us. If you are not able to donate, then please share this around on social media or with people you know who may be able to donate. We are in desperate straits and need assistance and would appreciate your support. I will, through the site, thank everyone who donates for your assistance. With that said, I hope that everyone who has taken the time to read this over and consider it is doing well and in good health.

Quick Update 9-7-24: The Christian Care Alliance we were hoping would come through for us, have in fact been rejected by my landlord. I don't understand WHY a Christian charity isn't a reputable enough organization to trust to pay for us, but I'm not my landlord.