Support a 74-year-old Ojibwe mother fleeing abuse

Molly* (name changed for privacy) is a beloved Ojibwe elder who is in immediate need of support as she is homeless and in too much debt to afford a place. She is also and mother to a 40-year-old son recently released from jail after seven years of forcible confinement. She and her son are currently houseless after fleeing financial and physical abuse from her French Canadian husband.

On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we call on the community to help us support Molly with paying off her debt so she and her son can live safely and comfortably as they deserve.

A message from Molly:

"Dear Donor,

Today I am writing to ask to support my cause: I am a 74-year-old woman who has been thrown out onto the street after cohabitation with my spouse for 17 years and with no support from him. I have only my pension to live on which is less than $2000.00 per month. I have twenty thousand dollars of debt, making it difficult to afford rent. After the lenders make automatic monthly withdrawals, I am only left with $1,150/month. This amount of money I am requesting would help me clear my debt and live a decent and comfortable life without this enormous debt. Thank you for joining my cause and for your efforts during this hardship and difficult time. Supportive people like you help us less fortunate people change our life for the better every day."

More Information from Molly about her Hardships:

I am a 74-year-old Ojibwe mother who got out of a common-law relationship of 17 years. My ex is 82 years old. He threw my son and me out of the house. He is white and French Canadian. I don’t have the funds to live a normal life.

Although the ex has money, he never gave us money to pay bills. My ex would argue with me and won’t give me money.

My son Derek was in prison for 7 years. He got released in June.

My ex-spouse told us that we had to leave. He locked the doors and changed to locks. My son is homeless like me and is sleeping in his truck. I am couch surfing.

I receive a pension of less than $2,000. Easy financial and Money Mart take $800. I also borrowed $3,000 from the credit card to pay my bills. I kept going to Money mart to pay the bills.

If I pay my debt, I will be able to take care of myself. It’s hard.

The cops told me we cannot go back to the house. My son went home to take our cat and threatened to put my son in jail.

My husband was financially and physically abusive and tried to take everything from me, including my cat key. He used to hit me. He is a very angry man. I just tried not to aggravate him.

He gave us money to control us. A lot of people owe him money.

I was afraid he’d harm me. He would come back at 3:00 am and wake me up angry.

He is educated and knows how to speak and deceive people, including doctors.

I used to experience his violence, but nobody saw that. He used to call the cops on us all the time.

Finally I just had to get out. I feel free from him, but I am missing my own home. I am living at my nephew's on the couch.

My son sleeps in his truck, unable to get a job.

Easy financial gave me $9,000 and they take $564/month off my pension

Money Mart gave me $5,000 and they take $264/month off my pension.

I owe credit card: $3,600 and $1,100 on the cards

My pension comes in the 27th: less than $2,000

I have car insurance for my car and my son’s car: it’s $377.

My telephone bill: $100

I am juggling my bills. That’s what I am doing. I pay this month this and this month that

I'm trying to balance because I can’t get money anymore from my ex-husband.

I moved in there in 2004.

Please help me get out of my misery!"

Donations can be made through GoFundMe or by e-transfer to the [email redacted] with the message "truth and reparations" and the password "Community" if necessary.

#TruthandReparations #CommunityCareisAbolitioninAction #WeKeepEachOtherSafe