A family in need....

My cousin is an amazing woman, who has faced and overcome more adversity in her life than most people could imagine - and done it all with a heart of gold and a helping hand to anyone in need she comes across. She’s always the first person to be there to help and support others - but wouldn’t ask for it for herself. So, I’m asking - because if anyone deserves the return favours it’s this family.

For the past 12 years - the entirety of her eldest son’s life - they have lived in a rental property, with an understanding with their landlord that when he was ready to sell the house they would buy their family home from him. As recently as May 2023 the estimated time for this sale was still a good 5-6 years away - which gave the family plenty of time to save a decent deposit. In the first week of June 2023 their world was turned upside down without warning when the landlord told them that he had to sell the property quickly.

Why does she need your help?

Sadly for the landlord, his own health issues coupled with rising interest rates a

means that, unexpectedly, he has been unable to honour the timeframe that would have given them the five years to save up - and told her he will have to sell her home within a couple of months. My cousin has done everything in her power to capitalize her assets and boost her savings for the deposit, but is still falling a little short. She has been saving and they are able to service the loan, it is just that the deposit she has readily available is falling short of the minimum amount the bank requires. We are appealing to you to help this family acquire the shortfall in funds as quickly as possible so that they can purchase the home within the limited timeframe they have been given.

Why THIS house is so important.

It’s not just any old home for this family, it is a vitally important place for her 12 year old son. Her oldest child is challenged by autism, ADHD, anxiety & panic disorder. His panic disorder and anxiety has significantly increased since the news broke about the house needing to be sold. It is often overlooked and misunderstood how important the role a steady, unchanging home plays in aiding self-regulation and providing a ‘safe place’ for an autistic child. A child with autism gleans comfort from their home, which helps them cope with the constant changes and potentially overwhelming situations in the world at large, because their home is the one thing that never changes. Having that familiar safe place can prevent or lessen a meltdown that would typically be caused by a triggering environment or situation. After a day of school and the unknown events that occur during daily life, it is important that he be able to come home to the familiar surroundings of his family home.

He is currently afraid to leave the house at all in case he can’t go back to the only safe home he has ever known. It is vital that her son be able to stay in his home environment as removing him from it will be damaging to his mental and emotional wellbeing. The impact this situation has already had on him is devastating.

Please help us make a difference.

Like most people who give selflessly, my cousin is uncomfortable asking for help, even when she needs it - so I am doing it for her. She is struggling to sleep and eat with worry about the impact this will have on her children.

Please, if you can spare anything to help this family, it will make a real difference to their lives. They are so close to having the minimum deposit, if you have anything to spare to help them, it could make the world of difference.