Help Tim afford Housing, College, and GAC! :0)

TW: domestic violence, transphobia, stalking

I'm Tim (most of you met me as Colleen), a junior at Santa Clara University double majoring in Music and an independent program in Diplomacy and Violence Prevention. Some of you met me through SCLOrk and the Music department, and others I connected with through my student leadership positions as the 2022-23 Co-President of the Violence Prevention Educators and a 2023-24 Student Inclusion Educator at the RRC.

I hate to have to bear my soul to the internet, but drastic times call for drastic measures. I'm a survivor of lifelong domestic violence who is now fighting to stay housed and in school after being dealt insurmountable financial abuse.

My mom found out I'm trans over Christmas break, and I had to escape domestic violence. After decades of emotional abuse, I decided to cut her out of my life. I don't have any blood family left in my life to lean on for support, as they all treated me similarly.

On March 11, 2024, I opened my Chase banking app and found that my mom had taken $5,579 from my savings account, which I had earned over three years working minimum-wage jobs. All that was left was $300.

I opened my savings account when I moved to California for college and set it up as a joint account at my mom's insistence. I was 18 and believed the account was opened in good faith. While my mom occasionally added money, I provided the most money and kept the account afloat. After fleeing NYC and cutting off my mom, I dedicated my savings to tuition, along with top surgery (which I've been saving for for three years).

My mom has since financially isolated me, coercing me into either being completely dependent on her or opening credit cards and incurring debt to survive. She has been stalking me and insisting that I be hospitalized for being transgender or being part of what she calls "a contagion". She also notified a SCU official that she took the money out of my account so that I wouldn't be able to access the prescription medications and gender-affirming care (like top surgery and testosterone) I need to stay alive and manage my disabilities.

I've filed a report with the Federal Trade Commission, but getting the money back will be an uphill battle, and I have very little hope.

In the meantime, I have started this GoFundMe to help pay for my basic needs, college tuition, top surgery, medications, and summer rent so I don't have to return to my mom. I'm in the process of selling what few valuables I have to get money for these necessities. I have a $600 credit card balance from buying groceries and necessities that I can no longer pay off. I'm very worried about incurring debt and becoming homeless within the year, and I'm struggling with food insecurity.

My one goal was to finish college despite all this, and now I'm concerned that I don't have the funds to do so. I love SCU and the people here and want to finish both degrees. I'd hate to leave behind the Music department, especially, and the found family I've built here.

Anything helps.

Thank you very much for reading, and I hope you can do something to take care of yourself today. :0)

-Tim Sinnott