SUPPORT BLACK BK COMMUNITY DISPLACED FROM FIRE

****** UPDATE *********

DATE WRITTEN: AUGUST 5TH, 3 PM. 

HELLO ALL, 

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT THUS FAR! WE ARE ALL TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THIS EFFORT TOWARDS REBUILDING OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES AND IT MEANS A LOT! IT HAS NOW BEEN THREE WEEKS SINCE THE FIRE AND I NEED TO GIVE UPDATES.

CURRENTLY:

GOFUNDME IS HOLDING THE FUNDS AT THE REQUEST THAT I MAKE A FULL ACCOUNTABILITY MESSAGE ABOUT THE DISSEMINATION OF THE FUNDS! THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FINE WITH ME, SO PLEASE FIND THOSE DETAILS AND CLARIFICATIONS BELOW! PLEASE KEEP IN MIND I HAVE ALSO BEEN DISPLACED DUE TO THIS FIRE AND HAVE BEEN DOING ALL OF THIS IN THE MIDST OF SALVAGING MY OWN THINGS, FINDING PLACES TO STAY, PAYING OUT OF POCKET, COMMUNICATING WITH MY LANDLORD, AND MORE ! 

I AM NOT SOME THIRD PARTY REPRESENTATIVE I AM SOMEONE DIRECTLY AFFECTED SO PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. 

UPDATED CLARIFICATION AND DETAILS ABOUT THE EVENT: 

THE FIRE ON CHAUNCEY STREET (BK) OCCURRED BETWEEN 12 AM AND 3 AM ON AUGUST 17TH. 

SEVERAL FIRE TRUCKS FROM VARIOUS NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE BOROUGH RESPONDED. 

THERE WERE 4-5 TRUCKS ALTOGETHER. 

THE FIRE FIGHTERS ENTERED SEVERAL BUILDINGS TO FIGHT THE FIRE, THIS WE ALL WITNESSED FROM OUTSIDE.  IN THE AFTERMATH, ONLY 2 BUILDINGS SUSTAINED SEVERE DAMAGE FROM THE FIRE, THIS IS MY BUILDING AND THE ONE ADJOINED TO THE LEFT OF IT WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINALLY OCCURRED. THESE BUILDINGS ARE UNINHABITABLE, MINE FOR EXAMPLE HAS NO WALLS NO FLOORS NO ELECTRICITY NO GAS AND IS BEING COMPLETELY REDONE. IT IS UNKNOWN THE TIME THIS WILL TAKE.

THESE TWO BUILDINGS HAVE 6 UNITS ALTOGETHER, OF THESE 6 UNITS 4 WERE OCCUPIED FULLY--- INCLUDING MY OWN APARTMENT.

THE MONEY IS TO BE DISPERSED EVENLY AMONGST ALL AFFECTED APARTMENTS/HOUSEHOLDS OF THE FIRE. THIS WOULD BE 4 ENTIRE APARTMENTS.

FOR THIS REASON, I CHANGED THE GOAL FROM THE ORIGINAL $50,000 TO $30,000 --- ONCE I HAD A MORE CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE NEED, AS I MADE THIS GO FUND ME 24-36 HOURS AFTER THE EVENT -- I WAS STILL IN A WHIRLWIND AT THE TIME AND STILL FINDING OUT NEW INFO.

IN THE LAST WEEKS I WAS ABLE TO CONTACT TENANTS ON THE MIDDLE AND TOP FLOORS OF MY APARTMENT, AS WELL AS THE TENANTS THAT LIVED IN THE APARTMENT NEXT DOOR, WHERE THE FIRE ORIGINALLY STARTED ON THEIR ROOF AS THEY WERE THE TOP FLOOR APT. 

THE TOP FLOOR APARTMENT IN MY BUILDING HAS DIRECTLY REQUESTED NOT TO RECEIVE ANY FUNDS, AS THEY ARE THE ONLY WHITE HOUSEHOLD AFFECTED, WITH THE OTHER AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS BEING: MAJORITY BLACK AS WELL AS LATINX FAMILIES. 

THIS LEAVES THE FUNDS BETWEEN 3 APARTMENTS, TWO OF WHICH HAVE CHILDREN (PLURAL). 

-------------------BREAKDOWN OF ALL FUNDS COLLECTED: GO FUND ME, CASH APP + VENMO-------------------------------------------

THIS IS A BREAKDOWN OF THE DISSEMINATION OF THE GO-FUND-ME COLLECTED FUNDS:

CURRENTLY COLLECTED: $23,919 (MINUS) 2.9% GO FUND ME PROCESSING FEE CHARGES AND .30 CENTS PER DONATION (630) LEAVES WITH:

(FEE TOTALS) : $693.65 + $189 = $882.65 ROUGHLY 

LEAVING US WITH $23,036.35 FOR RELOCATION FEES FOR 3 HOUSEHOLDS

MY HOUSEHOLD: 1/3 OF MONEY

SPLIT BETWEEN TWO ADULTS: MY PARTNER AND I: 

I RECEIVE: SPLIT 50/50

PARTNER RECEIVE: SPLIT 50/50

ITEMIZATION OF FUNDING FOR US: (SHORT + LONG TERM) 

UHAUL FOR TWO DAYS FOLLOWING FIRE: $200-$300 
MOVING SUPPLIES LIKE GLOVES, BAGS, BOXES, HEAD LIGHTS, AND DOLLY: $150
UHUAL STORAGE UNIT FOR A MONTH: $500
STAYING IN HOTELS FOR 4/5 DAYS FOLLOWING FIRE: $600 
U HAUL TO A NEW SPACE FOR ME (LONG DISTANCE): $1200+
U HAUL TO A NEW SPACE FOR PARTNER (LONG DISTANCE): $1200+
REBUYING OF PERSONAL ITEMS + IMMEDIATE NEEDS (TWO PEOPLE): $600
BUYING FOOD OUT SINCE OUR FOOD WAS ALL DISCARDED (TWO + WEEKS): $600
BUYING CLEAN CLOTHES FOR IMMEDIATE WEAR: $200
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM HOTELS/TEMP LIVING SPACES, THE APARTMENT, STORES & UHAUL (TWO+ WEEKS): $500+
UTILITIES UP UNTIL 08/17: $600+
APARTMENT APPLICATION FEES: $100+
DEPOSIT(S) ON A NEW SPACE: $2,000+
CAR PURCHASE FOR PARTNER TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM THE CITY: $4,000+ (BUYING VEHICLE, MAINTENANCE AND ADDL FEES) 
ADDITIONAL COSTS/UNEXPECTED COSTS: $400+ 


-------------I DO NOT KNOW THE ITEMIZED COSTS OF MY NEIGHBORS FOR CERTAIN, THESE ARE SOLELY BASED OFF OF WHAT I KNOW:

I HAVE NO PERSONAL INFORMATION ON THEIR DIRECT FINANCES, OR IF THEY HAVE INSURANCE, AS THAT IS A BOUNDARY FOR ME. 

FAMILY ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR OF MY BUILDING: 1/3 OF MONEY

GENERAL ITEMIZATION OF FUNDING: (SHORT + LONG TERM) 

RELOCATION COSTS FOR IMMEDIATE STAY 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS 
REBUYING OF FOOD, SUPPLIES, CLOTHES, PERSONAL ITEMS ETC 
CHILD CARE 
CHILD NEEDS 
PET CARE 
PET NEEDS 
UNEXPECTED TRANSPORTATION COSTS 
MOVING COSTS 
IMPENDING LEGAL COSTS? (UNSURE) ETC. 
BILL PAYMENTS 
DEPOSITS ON NEW LIVING SPACE 
INCOME AND SAVINGS SUPPLEMENT 
PPE FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE
UNEXPECTED AND OTHER COSTS I AM NOT AWARE OF ++


FAMILY NEXT DOOR: 1/3 OF MONEY

GENERAL ITEMIZATION OF FUNDING: (SHORT + LONG TERM) 

RELOCATION COSTS FOR IMMEDIATE STAY 
IMMEDIATE NEEDS 
REBUYING OF FOOD, SUPPLIES, CLOTHES, PERSONAL ITEMS ETC 
CHILD CARE 
UNEXPECTED TRANSPORTATION COSTS 
MOVING COSTS ?
IMPENDING LEGAL COSTS? (UNSURE) ETC. 
BILL PAYMENTS  
INCOME AND SAVINGS SUPPLEMENT 
PPE FOR SEVERAL PEOPLE 
UNEXPECTED AND OTHER COSTS I AM NOT AWARE OF ++


TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE ****NOT*** RECEIVED ANY OF THIS MONEY FROM THE GO FUND ME CAMPAIGN AS YET, I TRIED BUT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DOWNLOAD IT. ONCE THIS UPDATE IS APPROVED I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE FUNDS, THIS IS BASED DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNICATIONS WITH GOFUNDME VIA EMAIL. 

THE ONLY MONEY I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEND TO THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN FROM YOUR OUTSIDE DONATIONS VIA CASH APP AND VENMO SO SERIOUSLY THANK YOU THANK YOU!! I DISPERSED THESE DONATIONS AS IMMEDIATE FUNDS, I HAVE NOT TAKEN A PORTION FOR MY "HOUSEHOLD" AS YET, AS I'M PAYING OFF THE OTHER FAMILIES FIRST. 

---------THIS IS IN REGARDS TO FUNDS COLLECTED OFF OF GO FUND ME, THIS INCLUDES CASH APP AND VENMO FOR FULL TRANSPARENCY, I WILL ALSO BE POSTING RECEIPTS ON MY INSTAGRAM PAGE AS WELL ---------------------------------------------------

FAMILY ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR OF MY BUILDING: 

DATE: JULY 23
AMOUNT: $1500 IMMEDIATE FUNDS VIA CASH APP

DATE: AUGUST 3
AMOUNT: $1812 IMMEDIATE FUNDS VIA CASH APP

TOTAL RECEIVED THUS FAR: $3,312


FAMILY NEXT DOOR TO MY BUILDING: 

DATE: JULY 31
AMOUNT: $1500 IMMEDIATE FUNDS VIA CASH APP

DATE: AUGUST 3
AMOUNT: $1812 IMMEDIATE FUNDS VIA CASH APP

TOTAL RECEIVED THUS FAR: $3,312



THESE FUNDS WERE FOR IMMEDIATE USE, I HAVE SENT 4 PAYMENTS THUS FAR TO THE OTHER 2 HOUSEHOLDS, I HAVE NOT DOWNLOADED ANY MONEY AS YET FOR MYSELF OR MY PARTNER AS I AM WAITING FOR EVERYONE ELSE TO BE PAID OUT SO CURRENTLY WE ARE ONLY USING OUR SAVINGS + WHAT MONEY WE HAVE. I HAVE ALSO BEEN SWALLOWING THE CASH OUT FEES FOR BOTH VENMO AND CASH APP AS WELL, SO THAT THE OTHER FAMILIES CAN GET A FULL IMMEDIATE AMOUNT. AGAIN, THEY HAVE CHILDREN AND ARE BALANCING SEVERAL CRISIS AT ONCE, SO I AM PRIORITIZING THEIR NEEDS RIGHT NOW, THAT IS MY CHOICE. 

-------------------------TOTALS ------------------------------------------------------

GO FUND ME AFTER FEES TOTAL: $23,036.35 FOR RELOCATION FEES FOR 3 HOUSEHOLDS

COLLECTED ON CASH APP TOTAL: $2,077

COLLECTED ON VENMO TOTAL: $6,358.50

TOTALS RAISED BETWEEN GO FUND ME, CASH APP AND VENMO: $31,471.85 (DIVIDED BY THREE) 

MY HOUSEHOLD WILL RECEIVE IN TOTAL: $10,491
MYSELF: $5,245.31
PARTNER: $5,245.31

HAS RECEIVED AS OF 08/05: $0 

FAMILY ON THE MIDDLE FLOOR OF MY BUILDING WILL RECEIVE IN TOTAL: $10,491

HAS RECEIVED AS OF 08/05: $3,312

RESIDUAL DUE: $7,179

FAMILY NEXT DOOR TO MY BUILDING: $10,491

HAS RECEIVED AS OF 08/05: $3,312

RESIDUAL DUE: $7,179



ONCE I CAN DOWNLOAD THE GO FUND ME MONEY, I WILL BE ABLE TO BEGIN DISTRIBUTION FOR MY HOUSEHOLD AS WELL AS SEND REMAINING FUNDS TO THE AFOREMENTIONED FAMILIES . PLEASE CONTACT ME OR LEAVE A COMMENT FOR ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS AND THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US. WE ARE DISPLACED AND HAVE **ALL** BEEN COMING OUT OF POCKET FOR THIS TRAGEDY. PLEASE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT US AS WE TRANSITION AFTER THE FIRE. 

-------------------------------------PREVIOUSLY POSTED MESSAGE FROM DAY 1 OF THE CAMPAIGN: -----------------------------------------------------


Hi All, 

Thank you in advance for your consideration. 

I will be adding more photos as I can get them, my neighbors and I are currently overwhelmed and displaced.

My name is Micha B. I am a Black Nonbinary creative based in BK. Last night around 2 AM several houses in my block in Bedstuy caught on fire, including my building and about 3-5 other buildings as well. 

Firefighters from the entire borough came together to stop the fire, about 4-5 different trucks. It originated on a roof next to my house, and quickly spread amongst 3-5 other roofs as well. We live in a Brownstone neighborhood. 

The houses affected, including mine, are facing:

1 extreme damage
2 health hazards
3 pipes burst
4 entire windows missing
5 interrupted plumbing 
6 no electricity 
7 danger of mold development 
8 danger of caving roofs 
9 missing roofs altogether 
10 extreme water damage 
11 damaged and destroyed items 
12 loss of home temporary / permanent 
13 loss of investments in home 
14 loss of food supplies 
15 and more!


Many of us on our block are Black people, so having this traumatic event displace us in the middle of an ongoing Global Pandemic, that disproportionately affects Black people, is extremely straining both emotionally and  financially.

Please materially support my neighbors and I during this time. It's about 10 or so families being affected, likely more. My intention is so have FULL transparency and disseminate the funds amongst as many of my neighbors as I can get in contact with.

We ALL need financial resources to cover temporary losses, permanent losses, and relocation fees. This is not meant to center only me, I am trying to support my neighbors as well. Please consider donating to this cause. 

It is the middle of NYC summer and our homes are completely burnt, under water, and irreparably damaged. 

If you are my neighbor reading this, please send me which building you're in and your name --->  contact me directly at 
micha at new school dot edu !! 

So I can get immediate funds out to you!!

If you cannot support though here, my cash app and Venmo are both: @/ brooklynpisces !!

PLEASE HELP US!! BOOST AND SHARE! WE NEED SUPPORT!