Brooklyn Apartment Assault: Recovery & Expenses

(My friend who was assaulted wishes to remain anonymous, so I am creating this on her behalf.)

On December 6, a 26 year old woman was attacked on her way home in her apartment building lobby. The attacker attempted to strangle her with the alleged motive of sexual assault. However, she fought him off, threw him down the stairs, and he fled, but has not been caught. If you see the man above, call Crime Stoppers @ 800-577-TIPS.

This fundraiser is to help her with the stress and expense of getting out of her lease, moving, and contract employment so she can focus on recovery.

She is a young college graduate from Massachusetts who just moved to New York in September. She was "excited to finally live in New York to be close to college friends and go on city adventures together, exploring thrift stores, restaurants, and dance-y bars on the weekends."

But now walking down the street, taking public transportation... just being out in the world is even scarier and more full of anxiety, especially for an Asian woman who was already dealing with the increasing fear of anti-Asian hate.

She wants to leave NYC, but Corsair Management will not let her out of her lease (8 months left) or give any assistance even though the attack happened in one of their buildings and she is no longer there b/c she's terrified to sleep there. She also has to find new, safer housing asap b/c she cannot stay much longer in her current temporary housing.

She cannot afford to take time off work because she is a contractor who does not have paid time off, benefits, or a safety net of savings/family money to use to focus on recovery.

In her own words:

“I can’t shake this constant scary feeling that someone is lurking behind me wherever I am. Since the attack, my body trembles throughout the day and I can’t focus on simple tasks. I struggle with regular things like leaving the house, showering in peace and sleeping. And when I am asleep, I have night terrors. To seek help, I’ve had to retell the story and relive the trauma dozens of times, yet to no avail. Now, I just feel exhausted… like I’m pouring from an empty cup every day. All I want is safety and to feel ok again.”

But she hasn't been able to focus on recovery and healing due to the financial burden of her current lease, finding a new home, and no paid time off. This has created a massive new source of stress and anxiety.

This fundraiser will help her:

- get out of her current lease b/c her landlord is unwilling to make any exceptions or offer any assistance

- move to a safer home out of NYC

- get legal guidance on the criminal case

- pay for out of pocket mental health care since she doesn't have insurance benefits

- move around safely to live her daily life without using public transportation

- navigate temporary employment with a little less stress when this contract ends, especially in this uncertain job market

Anything you can give is so appreciated. It will help lessen some of the financial stress so she can find a bit more peace as she gets back to living her life while dealing with the pain and trauma of this attack.