My Cats Can't Keep Saving My Life

My name is Cynthia Decore and I'm an essayist on social media under the account DisabledDiscourse. I'm also the founder of CRIPPEDmonton, which typically hosts free and virtual events for the disability community to gather, and I also create free digital portraits for anyone who asks. I'm trying to add more kindness into the world, especially for those of us who are often forgotten.

Right now I am urgently seeking aid after two separate instances within a 1-year span where my life was threatened by the conditions of rental units in my city. These were two different units with different property managers.

In the first instance, my cat woke me up in time to discover flooding in my unit after my landlord had improperly repaired my window using only tape. I discovered the flooding only seconds before a fire had started.

In the second, my cats and I became severely ill within only a month of living in the apartment. I lost a sixth of my body weight and the illness was putting strain on my heart while I already have a heart condition. It was my cat who found the cockroaches and brought them to me, so I could understand what was happening and respond to the situation.

The situation was so severe that I had to dispose of everything I owned and, after 6 months of fighting for reparations, I was unsuccessful in proving the significance of my case. The financial cost was around $30,000 to dispose of everything, replace what I could and salvage/store the rest. I’ve been homeless ever since.

It’s been almost a year since I became homeless. I’m staying as a guest in someone’s home right now and I’ve been regularly subjected to humiliation and violence. I’m staying here because I have nowhere else to go and because I can’t bear to be separated from my cats. My cats are the only reason I survived so far.

I don’t think I can rent again, knowing that there’s no guarantee that any justice in the resolution services available for tenants. The cost of rent is also becoming too high to be affordable on a single income, but I’m immunocompromised so a roommate comes with more risk.

I’m asking for funds equivalent to a downpayment that would let me afford a permanent home that’s accessible and safe. I’ve been burnt out for so long and I’ve been in a constant state of hypervigilance to survive my environment.

This request is urgent because I need to get out of here as soon as possible. Thank you so much for your support.