Matt needs help with starting over and legal fees

Matt and his daughter are going through a rough time. He needs help to pay his mounting legal bills in his fight to continue to keep sole custody of his daughter. He wants to keep her safe from harm and make sure she has the life she is entitled to. The addict in his life has ruined him financially and continues to do so. At this point, all he can do is pick up the pieces and try and make a stable life for himself and his daughter. He wants her to have the childhood she deserves. He was temporarily staying with family in NY and family member was providing daycare so he could work.

Update: Matt was court ordered back to NJ while he is appeal is pending. Him and his daughter are staying in a hotel while waiting to find daycare and suitable safe housing. Before he can start his job. Most apartments in NJ are close to 1800 or more for a 1 bedroom and they want security, 1st month's rent and a agent fee. He does not have that kind of money. He has been left to pay all the marital bills and provide for his daughter while getting nothing from his Ex. The Ex only has supervised visit's twice a week.

He can't start work as he has no day care. New Jersey is way more expensive place to live than Rochester. He is not receiving child support. In the 7 months since this whole ordeal began his Ex has not provided any drug testing. Since testing dirty in court. He can't enroll his daughter in Pre K as all the programs in the surrounding areas are closed to new application and there is a waiting list.

Financially he is devastated. Not only did the Ex have 3 car accidents, had the car stolen, ran up over 1500 in toll bills before she finally totaled the car. Due to NJ law he had to keep her on this insurance and the car was registered in his name. But still no drug tests. She says she is unable to work but has never shown proof of a disability that would keep her from working. She also bankrupted the business they owned that had to be closed do to her addiction.

He really needs help to make ends meet until he can find safe housing and daycare. Once he has this he can start his new job.

UPDATE: Matt was able to start work as we found a daycare for his daughter. We have not been able to find housing. He is presently staying in an extended stay motel. We have called on many apartments and have yet to find one that he can afford with what he makes, day care and all the marital bills. We asked a realtor for help and they can't even find us anything. Please send prayers, donations and share this fund raiser if you can. He still has not received any child support from his Ex nor help with the marital bills. She has continued to make allegations which are unfounded but each and everyone has to be answered by our lawyer. Lawyer bills still continue to mount. Thank you for your support. We are taking one day at a time. The main thing is that Matt and his daughter are safe.

Substance abuse is a chronic disease of the brain. People can’t “just quit” once they’re dependent on drugs or alcohol. Drug addiction and alcoholism change the brain. They also frequently co-occur with mental illness. People with depression, anxiety and other co-occurring disorders may abuse substances to cope with psychiatric symptoms. Alcohol and drug abuse can also bring on psychiatric symptoms. Self-medication is a vicious cycle. These facts don’t excuse your loved one’s behavior. It doesn’t invalidate your feelings of anger and sadness. Those emotions are legitimate reactions.