Help Adrian and Alyssum afford safe housing!

This fundraiser is for two people. My friend Adrian and I, are both living in unsustainable conditions, and after much deliberation, we concluded that raising money to try to move in together as roommates might be the best solution for both our problems.

My name is Alyssum, i’m 29 and freelance creative, currently looking for full-time remote employment. I’ve been trying to start my own business for a while now, but for health reasons that are tied to my living conditions, this process has been too slow to be effective. I’m an interdisciplinary artist, with specialized skills in jewelry blacksmithing (including chainmail weaving), painting, sculpting, amongst other mediums. I’m also currently taking a Modern Journalism certification course from NYU, projected to graduate by the end of November.

Most weeks i have maybe one or two good days, since most of the time i’m dealing with migraine auras, non-epileptic seizures and anaphylaxis symptoms due to a condition — possibly post covid related — called Systemic Nickel Allergy Syndrome and what I suspect is prolonged mold exposure from the apartment i’m currently living in. Since my name is no longer on the lease, I have no way of getting this issue fixed. To add insult to injury, my roommate no longer follows covid mitigations, which makes worsens my mental health, since i’m constantly worried about getting covid again in my own home, and i really can’t afford another infection. As frugally as i live, what i make isn’t enough to save money so I have no way of leaving without financial assistance. 

I’ve known Adrian for about a year now, and they’ve been working towards leaving their current situation for a while. In fact they were all set to move to Oregon with a friend, who ended up admitting she was 3 months behind on rent and at risk of eviction. As the plan fell through, Adrian had to spend the money they had raised to start their life in a new state to pay for another month of rent at their current residence, where their roommate has struggled to afford rent for the last few months. They let Adrian know this month that they couldn’t pay rent and need to let go of the lease, which resulted in him paying it and starting to crowdfund all over again. At the end of August, they’ll have nowhere safe to go and likely will have to let their current place go to eviction next month. Securing housing before eviction is crucial!

Clearly Adrian still needs to move out of that place, preferably to a state where they’ll be able to access gender affirming care, affordable housing and better covid mitigation measures. Since I live in Massachusetts — where I can’t afford rent without a roommate — we discussed the possibility of moving in together. We’re both Black and transmasc individuals, with compatible personalities and creative skills. We’re also still following covid mitigation guidelines, because we both have long covid symptoms, and avoiding another infection is crucial for our wellbeing, and recovery process.

Adrian has a secure job lined up at a dispensary here in MA set to open in september and we’ve also found apartments we’d qualify for within our budget — rent price under or equal to $1500. This budget was calculated based on what I make monthly with freelance work, and the amount we both expect to make working part-time at a dispensary opening next month in the city i live. Since Adrian’s classes are online they’d still be able to study and get their bachelor degree working part-time.

Our goal amount is set for $6000, so we’re able to pay for a security deposit and at least 2 months of rent (for $1500 monthly rent that would be $4500), and still be able to cover for GFM withdrawal fees, and moving expenses like uhaul, and purchasing whatever needed basic appliances for the new place.

Thank you for reading until now, and frankly what you read is just the tip of the iceberg of struggle both Adrian and I have been through since this pandemic began. We would appreciate any assistance you’re able to provide, whether that’s a donation, or a share on social media. This is an urgent need and we must meet this goal by the end of the month to be able to afford a deposit on an apartment. 

Please help us catch a much needed break and restart our lives with safety and an actual caring support system! 

Thank you again for your help, we really appreciate it! 

addendum: below you’ll find photos of the kitchen ceiling of the apartment where i (Alyssum) live, and as you can see the situation is getting worse everyday, and i dunno how much longer my already fragile health can take this — seriously there was blood in my phlegm today